We docked at The Mill at Ward Cove while stopping in Ketchikan on the Norwegian Bliss. At first, we honestly weren't sure what we were looking at because it looked like an old factory of some sort. Then we found out that's exactly what it was! The owner actually ended up being our shuttle driver over to see the Lumberjack Show and shared some of the history with us. He told us his father was the last person to lock the gates to the old pulp mill when it closed in 1997. We absolutely loved hearing that he now owns the property himself -- such a full circle moment and an incredible story. The building at Ward Cove was filled with merchandise to buy such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, snacks, jewelry... the list goes on and on. There were even a few local vendors set up selling their goods, which we really enjoyed. We also noticed the prices at Ward Cove were a little cheaper and the taxes were less as well. We did take the shuttle bus into town, and it was a very simple process. The ride was maybe 15-20 minutes at most, and they dropped us off and picked us back up at the same location, which made everything very easy and convenient. We really wish we would have taken a video of what the property looks like now so that when we go back in a few years, we can compare all of the improvements. They also shared a few exciting things planned for the next several years, and it sounds like this place is going to become something really special. The atmosphere, history, waterfront views, shopping, and friendly people made this such a memorable stop in Ketchikan. Definitely worth taking the time to explore while visiting Alaska! read more

We visited The Mill at Ward Cove during our Norwegian Alaska cruise on the Norwegian Bliss, and this is the port where Norwegian ships dock instead of downtown Ketchikan. The moment you step off the ship, you walk right into a huge warehouse marketplace filled with multiple shops and tons of Alaska‑themed merchandise. There are so many souvenirs, clothing items, snacks, and gifts that it's easy to spend time browsing before heading into town. To reach downtown Ketchikan, you pass through The Mill to get to the shuttle buses, and sometimes there's even a live singer with a guitar performing while guests wait -- a nice touch that makes the line more enjoyable. Overall, The Mill at Ward Cove is a convenient and lively first stop for anyone arriving on a Norwegian Alaska cruise, with plenty of shopping and an easy setup for getting into town. read more

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This is where NCL ships dock, not in Ketchikan. If you want to see the famous creek street, you'll have to take a shuttle to Ketchikan, which is about 7 miles away. Upon disembarking the ship, one of the first things you'll see is a large warehouse type building that turns out to be a giant gift shop with Alaska themed merch (and is the least expensive so I recommend shopping here, as the merch is pretty much the same at the Alaska ports). It is also meeting place for your NCL booked excursions. We met our captain for our halibut fishing excursion here, and after checking in, we quickly walked to the boat, which was also docked here at Mill Cove (super convenient!) There's also a few dining options, including one that serves Filipino food! There was a food truck featured crab legs but unfortunately ran out of many items by the time we got there, and only had dungeness crab left (which was $50! and the serving we saw people eating was definitely NOT worth the price tag so we passed) read more

The Mill At Ward Cove - Boat Tours Near Me - Ward Cove, Alaska

Ward Cove serves as a cruise ship port outside of Ketchikan for the Norwegian Cruise Lines as well as Oceania, Regent and Seven Seas Explorer (all owned by NCL) and Viking cruise line. Princess and Holland America are lucky enough to dock directly in the town of Ketchikan and everything's in walking distance, but for everyone else on NCL or NCL-owned cruises into Ketchikan (and Viking), you will be shuttled to and from Ward Cove by school buses into town, and depending on your cruise itinerary, will only have a few hours in Ketchikan as traveling to/from Ward Cove will eat up some of those hours, not counting the time you have to stand in a snaking line to get onto the bus from Ketchikan's dock back to Ward Cove. One good thing at Ward Cove is "The Mill", which is a giant one-stop shop/warehouse that you have to pass through to get to the buses that take you into town. It's better to buy things when you come back because then you won't have to haul around your purchases in Ketchikan. Not sure if the stores will let you leave purchases w/ them until you get back. The prices were the best anywhere for souvenirs that we have seen, very reasonable, and the sales tax here was 2.6% vs 8% in town (I found this out from the bus driver). Here you can buy all your T-shirts, coffees, snacks, preserved salmon, candies, magnets, bags, Ulu knives, carvings, jewelry, clothing, stuffed plush toys, crafts, etc. and you won't have to carry it very far, since the ship is only a few hundred feet away. We purchased specialty coffee, chocolates, jams and jellies and preserved salmon. I loved the huge re-usable The Mill at Ward Cove shopping bag they give you when you buy things for no extra charge, I was almost tempted to send my son back in line with a few more things to get another bag. read more

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I really love the set up here at The Mill at Ward Cove. It may be an unpopular opinion, but I don't really care. Most people see it as a money grab. What I saw was a very well-organized terminal where you can buy souvenirs, find your tour group, or head into town on a complimentary shuttle bus. I was quite impressed with the facilities as well. The restrooms are spacious and clean. There's a café that serves local coffee that I didn't get to try. It has a museum that gives a brief history of this site that was once the Ketchikan Pulp Company. The actual store has a ginormous selection of Alaskan products. I thought the prices were much more affordable than any I saw in the cities that we visited. The reversible waterproof fleece jackets were a little under $30. That's a great deal! I wanted to get the huckleberry and blueberry jam that was in these cute mason jars that can be later used as salt & pepper shakers. We planned on purchasing them after our tour, but time ran out for us. I also liked the entertainment. It was so relaxing and comforting to browse through the store while listening to live music. They were all classic rock hits, and she played them so well on the piano. Check out the Global Piano Bar website to learn more about Diane Slagle. I wish we could have stayed in Ward Cove/Ketchikan longer. That was my only disappointment with this NCL itinerary. I can understand why others are frustrated with that, but it's more of a time constraint issue than a port issue. I actually loved being docked at Ward Cove versus Downtown Ketchikan. There's more wildlife to see in this area around Refuge Cove such as Bald Eagles (and maybe Sasquatch, lol). I wouldn't have seen the "Road to Nowhere" near the airport on the way to Ketchikan had we not been here. The Mill is a hidden gem tucked away in a cove. read more

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The Mill at Ward Cove in Ketchikan Alaska is where the NCL ships dock, and it really does feel like it is tucked away from the action. Downtown Ketchikan is about 7 miles out, and depending on traffic and the road construction, it can take 30 to 40 minutes (sometimes longer) to get there. NCL runs a free shuttle bus, out of here but the catch is that the last one heading back from downtown leaves about 1.5 hours before ship departure. That part is a little rough if you have only got a short port stop. We happened to dock at the same time as the NCL Encore, and wow... chaos. The Encores last shuttle bus back from downtown left at 11 AM which is way too early if you want to actually explore, while ours thankfully ran until 3:30 PM. But that final shuttle line in downtown to return to the ship was nuts. Picture hundreds of people funneled into downtown at once. The line for the shuttle snaked across the street, wrapped around a building, and looked like it might never end. It felt like the entire town was waiting to get on those buses. The Mill itself is interesting because it used to be a real lumber mill that was the main economic driver for the area before shutting down. NCL turned it into their own port hub, and they did a nice job weaving in a lot of history about both the mill and the city, which makes the stop more meaningful than just shopping. It is also kind of like a big holding area since there are usually two ships docked here at once. Departing from mill cove can feel a little slow with the shuttle lines, but they keep things moving and we only waited about 15 to 20 minutes at the Mill. Inside, it is a massive shop with souvenirs that I thought were pretty reasonably priced. In fact, it ended up being the second cheapest port for souvenirs on our cruise. Juneau was the cheapest. We found lots of edible goodies like chocolates, salmon spread, and salmon jerky, plus the usual trinkets. The white blueberry chocolate is delicious. There was even a live entertainer singing for folks in line, which added some fun to the wait. For food and drinks, there is a small restaurant and a beer garden. Pro tip as you disembark, look to the left near the water. We spotted bald eagles swooping around and even landing on the grass which was one of the coolest sights of the stop. All in all, while it is a bit of a trek from downtown, the Mill at Ward Cove is organized, full of history, has some solid souvenir finds, and gives you a neat glimpse into Ketchikan's past and present. Just brace yourself if you are around for that last shuttle back. read more

3.5 stars This is the place that cruise ships dock at and they provide free shuttle services to and from downtown, Ketchikan. The Mill is very much like a warehouse housing all the souvenirs you can imagine. They even have a whole clearance section for us tourists. In my other review on Ketchikan, this store is organized and ready to sell! Designs are cute, but the prices are wild. Like Skagway, cute womens' clothes are $$$. There's research showing that women tend to veer right when walking into a retail store. Guess what? The jewelry & womens' clothing are on the right side! Within this warehouse of goodies, there is a men's section and kids corner. On the far right of the building is a cafe/restaurant area where one can purchase beverages, grab n' go food, and crab legs (to be eaten there). Towards the back right corner is where all the excursion shuttles pick up. The free shuttle service is in the back left corner. To the left, near the kids corner, is a little museum that explains The Mill's history & logging history a bit. This is the most organized, neat, & clean port I've been to so far that will gladly help you with your wallet ;) read more

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Best Shopping place for Souvenir, one stop shop, everything is here. Great Prices compare to other shopping are and take note sales tax here is only 2.5% read more

Drake at the cashier was so delightful! From her initial greeting to her knowledge to her attentiveness to her beautiful smile and wonderful personality she was amazing I could have sat and chatted with her all day long can't wait till my next trip I will make a special effort to say hello to her again! And apparently I couldn't leave the store without purchasing more items! My second encounter was with Brianna King who was just as delightful as Drake! She was beautiful inside and out and shared a personal story with me that was truly inspirational! Where else can you purchase souvenirs and receive a a blessing of Hope and inspiration! WARD COVE THAT'S WHERE !!!!! read more

The Mill is the cruise ship port facility at Ward Cove in Ketchikan. The Mill serves as the departure point for excursions, and also a free shuttle to downtown. However, The Mill is a great shopping destination of its own. The retail store has all manner of clothes and authentic Alaskan souvenirs. You can buy the typical T-shirts and key chains, but there is also a great selection of locally made arts and crafts and even locally sourced foods and snacks. If you are so inclined, there is a fine jeweler with Alaskan-inspired items and even luxury watches. There is a coffee shop, as well as a restaurant with beer and wine. You can even listen to live music while you shop and sip some coffee. The staff at The Mill are very efficient, and handle large crowds every day. There are always signs to inform people of the ship's schedule, and employees even make announcements when departures times are getting close. If you want to venture downtown for shopping on Creek Street, that is cool too, but don't overlook the great shopping that is right outside your ship at Ward Cove. Highly recommended! read more

Lots of great shopping and Colton was awesome super helpful and got us out efficiently and quick since we needed to get to our ship.... Also the tax is only about 2% great for souvenirs b4 leaving Alaska. read more

When our ship docked, we had an excursion that departed from the docks so we did not go into the building to exit the docks. Due to this we were not aware there was a shop when we returned that you could get souvenirs. We took advantage of our 4 hours or so in Ketchikan and headed back to Ward Cove. When we arrived back, we were shocked there was this massive building with a store that we could pick up items that we didn't have time to purchase in town. The prices were higher than the stores in Ketchikan, but only slightly. The store was very nicely organized and had so much variety. Everything from clothing, bath and body, snacks and candy, just about everything. I personally was really appreciative of this store and the opportunity it gave me to pick up a few last things for others. read more

This is the place cruise ships dock at and have shuttles for tourists to get to downtown Ketchikan for shopping, restaurants and excursions. This is a huge warehouse that has souvenirs, food, picturesque props and restrooms . Pricing is reasonable. Clearance section is available and jewelry stand as well. It's literally a one man shop . read more

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Not much to say. There isn't much here. Either you're buying souvenirs or waiting in line to get on or off the bus.

This is the mysterious place Cruise Ships Dock when they Dock in Ward Cove. The Mill is a few yards from when you walk out of your cruise ship and is very user friendly after you get the lay of the land. When you exit your cruise ship you are ushered into this giant warehouse. You are initially greeted with Totem poles. After you walk through the giant store if you go left you go to the free shuttles to town. We were told that they take driving time 20 minutes. Remember that doesn't account for the time you spend in line waiting for the shuttle. We had a could hours before our tour, but due to the amount of time the shuttle took and the time it took to get in line we just hung out in the Mill till our tour. If you go right you are greeted with a mirid of signs all for different excursion. They are not in any sort of order. Not alphabetical or anything. We panicked because we didn't see our excursion listed. We asked at the booth and they told us because our excursion doesn't leave for a while that it wouldn't be posted yet. It will be posted closer till the time it leaves. We stayed in a panic till it was posted then got in line immediately. In the end it was a success. We stood in in line till we were given boarding passes in exchange for our tickets. We were led out in a line and boarded an old school bus and were taken to our excursion. After the tour the school bus met us and we took the bus back to ward cove. Due to the logistics of taking the shuttle we passed on hanging out around town and being scared we'd miss our cruise ship due to we were in line for the shuttle so we just hitched a ride back on the school bus after our excursion. The mill is a nice shopping area. Probably most of the goods are made in China, so if you're ok with it then it's a nice place to shop. I heard that the price of the goods there were cheaper then some of the shops in town. I wouldn't know because we didn't go to town. If you are looking for Alaskan made souvenirs you're probably in the wrong place. I could be wrong. The cases of knives may actually be made in Alaska, you'd have to ask. When checking out you have the option of shipping your purchases home. That's a great option as you can't take the knives back on board. I love shopping local, but logistics were not on my side for finding nice mom and pop shops so I was ok with shopping at the Mill and I was thankful for the opportunity to do a little shopping so close to the cruise ship and not having to take the shuttle. I found some cute whale shaped sponges ($5) and a large fleece blanket ($52) with a map of Alaska on it. I am very happy with my purchases. I highly recommend doing your final shopping of Alaska at the Mill. It's the perfect place to find something for everyone. They had great deals on clothing and even a clearance section. It was our last Alaskan port on our Cruise. read more

As other reviews have mentioned, The Mill is kind of an inevitable stop when visiting Ketchikan via cruise ship. This is a giant warehouse full of history and souvenirs. We were lucky, because it was full of music on the day we visited too. Local singer and pianist Diane Slagle works out of The Mill and fills it with song. While I wish the lines for the shuttle buses was shorter, this was a much better option than standing outside on a damp Ketchikan day. read more

So many fun things to look at and buy! Great tourist vibes! My husband liked a shirt he bought there so well, I am having another shipped to us in the lower 48!! read more

Cruise Port used by Norwegian Cruise Lines when visiting Ketchikan. It is situated outside of Ketchikan, and is next to the Pier which has space for 2 ships at a time. We came in late October on the Encore, and the Sun was here as well. Because of timing, we only got to be at Ketchikan between 8 and 12:30 pm, and had no time to walk the town since we had an excursion. Because there were two ships in, it was quite hectic inside. There is a free shuttle near the back, that should take you into town. Towards the back, there are many lines for the various excursions and it was kinda of a zoo with people trying to find spots to wait...plus the gentlemen manning/directing the lines was not in a great mood. Not a great experience. read more

The Mill At Ward Cove - Inside - Boat Tours Near Me - Ward Cove, Alaska

All passengers must go to through the terminal or Mill ward to board their ship. Great place to do last minute shopping if you have time. Anything from sweatshirts, tee shirts, kitchen stuff, food items and souvenirs can all be found here. There was even an entertainer on the piano singing. Prices were reasonable and comparable or even cheaper than the shops in the town. Definitely worth walking around before boarding the ship. read more

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While in Ketchikan, we took a boat to town instead of taking the buses. I am so glad we did but I had no idea this existed until we came back, and we waited until pretty much the last possible time to come back! Luckily, when we arrived back to the port via our Uber, we got to enter through The Mill. It is a really neat place. There are places to sit, have some beer but also a gigantic souvenir shop. There is literally everything you can think of. There had been a picture frame I wanted in town but didn't get and ended up actually finding the same one at the Mill. There were a great mix of cheaper items from overseas and also locally produced items. I ended up getting some locally made chocolate and candies and we found a few other items. There were tons of shirts and sweaters, clothing, kitchen goods and really anything you could image plus more. Yes, it is a tourist trap and it was build specifically for cruisers and really there is nothing wrong with that, especially when you only get 5 hours in a town where you could easily spend a couple of days. I was thankful for The Mill at Ward Cove. read more

Great spot for cruisers to do last minute shopping, live music, small museum, and waiting for boarding. Norwegian Cruise Line in cooperation with The Mill at Ward Cove does a great job in taking care of passengers who are exiting and returing to NCL vessels. The shopping is very good vs what's in town...prices, selection, etc. Even after seeing what was in town, I bought my one souvenir (tshirt) here for $25. I especially liked the t-shirts made by local artists. Enjoyed it! read more

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Take a port of call, an old very large fishing or shipping wearhouse, and throw in some of the more inexpensive souvenirs you can find in town, then up the ante slightly by placing some staged scenes of miniature mounts, stuffed animals, and actual running water through the scene to act as a river, and you have a great set up for a souvenir shop that must be passed through in order to get into Ketchikan's wonderful fishing town. This is a total NCL cruise line thing, their port is a 10 minute bus ride into town, and you must pass through this building to get to the buses. It is very massive and open. The prices are considerably less expensive than the shops in town. It's a great old building in a very run down port area. I thought it was really cool and genius. Would loved to have seen signs or something that gave the history of what the place used to be. read more

The Mill At Ward Cove - Boat Tours Near Me - Ward Cove, Alaska

Phenomenal place! Great souvenirs, good music by the lady who plays her keyboards, was very entertaining and cafe was great and being just where NCL docks made it perfect! And the free shuttle to town and back is amazing! Definitely worth checking out for all your souvenir needs!!! read more

Rode the bus back to my cruise ship. The driver was really nice and knowledgeable, and we got to the destination safely and quickly

Appears to be an example of NCL cost cutting. Rather than berthing in Ketchikan, NCL ships berth at this industrial port (with a made to order gift shop) and proved converted school buses for the half hour ride into Ketchikan... where you'll see the other cruise liners. read more

The Mill At Ward Cove - Boat Tours Near Me - Ward Cove, Alaska

NCL was clever to route us through this gift shop upon disembarking/embarking. The prices of souvenirs were notably cheaper than the gift shops in town. We pretty much bought all our souvenirs here since it was at the tail end of our cruise. Everything was going well until the check out process. Stormy, our cashier was actually friendly, but she is also a few fries short of a Happy Meal. She engaged in small talk with us while ringing up our items. However, her short attention span ended up double, sometimes triple charging us for some items. She would scan an item, talk to us, or her co workers, then scan the item again. I called her out on it and rather than owning up to it, she blamed it on the scanning gun. I could see a summary of the credit card screen on the counter and asked her why there were 2 or 3 of some items and rather than check, she dismissed it and said I PROBABLY bought more than one of that item. When in fact I didn't have any duplicate items. She tried to correct the problem and rather than delete the item, she would scan it and end up adding it to my bill. I ended up calling over the cashier next to her for help and she was able to remove the duplicate items from my bill. Had I not noticed what Stormy was doing, I would've been overcharged well over 100 dollars. read more

Our NCL cruise ship docked here, which I was not pleased with. I'm sure NCL is doing this to save money vs docking in Ketchikan. The shuttle ride to and from Ketchikan chips away at your limited time there. BUT, I will give The Mill a glowing review. The souvenirs and items at The Mill are priced lower than in Ketchikan. The Mill has a fabulous selection of anything you could possibly want as a momento of your Alaska vacation. They have lots of local handmade items along with a big selection of Alaska apparel. You will find jewelry (some handmade with the artist selling it), a kids' section, apparel, pottery, Christmas ornaments, chainsaw carved wooden bears, and on and on. If you're on an NCL cruise, don't just pass through The Mill on your way to Ketchikan, thinking it's a tourist trap. It's a great place to shop...you will find a huge selection and great prices. I was also impressed with staffing at The Mill. The checkout line was long because everyone was doing last minute shopping before boarding the ship. They had 4 or 5 cashiers working...every cash register was staffed. This helped the line to move much quicker. read more