tracid Posted July 18, 2017 #1 Share Posted July 18, 2017 Hi guys. Getting ready for first Alaska trip in August. Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan ports. Need to pick up few souvenirs, trinkets, tees, etc. for few friends and family. Any suggestions on items native to Alaska that you would suggest? Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKStafford Posted July 18, 2017 #2 Share Posted July 18, 2017 Ulu knives are my to-go item. Just remember it can't travel in your carry-on baggage on the airlines. BUT: look for the "Made In Alaska" logo. Otherwise you are buying something made somewhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseguy1016 Posted July 18, 2017 #3 Share Posted July 18, 2017 You will be able to find all kinds of small totem poles in Ketchikan. Most come with a story about the totem. Some are made in China. Look for the ones that are hand-carved by the locals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracid Posted July 18, 2017 Author #4 Share Posted July 18, 2017 Will look at knives and thanks! OF COURSE.... do not want any imports Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKStafford Posted July 18, 2017 #5 Share Posted July 18, 2017 Made in Alaska Logo: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Made-In-Alaska-140636832634005/posts/?ref=page_internal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peety3 Posted July 18, 2017 #6 Share Posted July 18, 2017 My wife got an Ulu in Juneau and loves it. It's a curved knife. She got one in a kit that included a wooden "cutting bowl" with a handy cutout and magnets in the back to hold the Ulu for storage. It's apparently fantastic for chopping vegetables and such, as they don't roll away in the bowl and the blade works with the curved bowl just right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rguy123 Posted July 18, 2017 #7 Share Posted July 18, 2017 Can you take the Ulu knife on the ship? Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy69 Posted July 18, 2017 #8 Share Posted July 18, 2017 Can you take the Ulu knife on the ship? Sent from my iPad using Forums I've read they will take the knife when you board but return it the night before you disembark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaKa2002 Posted July 19, 2017 #9 Share Posted July 19, 2017 We have provided a number of jade animals - walrus, seal, eagle, bear, and others made by native carvers as gifts; totem poles are another possibility. We always check for authenticity! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpcello Posted July 19, 2017 #10 Share Posted July 19, 2017 Can you take the Ulu knife on the ship? Sent from my iPad using Forums As someone else said, they'll take it when you get back to the ship and return it the last night. Just remember you can't put it into carry on. When we bought some a few years ago, the shop shipped them directly home. I still use my almost every day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunfer Posted July 21, 2017 #11 Share Posted July 21, 2017 I got three Ulu's August of 2015, and was able to board the Radiance with all three. No one said anything to me about them, and they were in a plastic shopping bag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peety3 Posted July 21, 2017 #12 Share Posted July 21, 2017 Can you take the Ulu knife on the ship? We had no trouble bringing the knife on the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowmc Posted July 22, 2017 #13 Share Posted July 22, 2017 My favorite store for souvenirs is in Skagway and Juneau. Alaska t-shirt company. I tend to prefer the one in Skagway...seems more open. It is at the end of the main street closest to the harbour, right across the street from the train engine. Ulus are fun, but I have not used mine since I got home. Have used the dish towels, oven mitts, socks and salad claws so much more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xlxo Posted July 23, 2017 #14 Share Posted July 23, 2017 We had no trouble bringing the knife on the ship.You were lucky.... on my trips.... metal detectors are waiting when you reboard the ship. They will hold your Ulu's until the end of the cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherryf Posted July 23, 2017 #15 Share Posted July 23, 2017 You were lucky.... on my trips.... metal detectors are waiting when you reboard the ship. They will hold your Ulu's until the end of the cruise. There have been metal detectors on every ship I've been on too, but we have been allowed to take on ulus. It depends on the cruise line's policy about them. I've also taken aboard pocket knives, bought for my sons. However, when my son's friend bought a bigger knife in one port, it was confiscated when he entered the ship and handed back to him as we disembarked at the end of the cruise. Each line has their own policies about what you can and cannot bring aboard. Princess seems to have no problem with ulus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timkatmom Posted July 23, 2017 #16 Share Posted July 23, 2017 The knives look awesome, and a really different type of gift. Are they expensive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKStafford Posted July 23, 2017 #17 Share Posted July 23, 2017 The knives look awesome, and a really different type of gift. Are they expensive? If they are cheap, they probably aren't made in Alaska... You can see what the Ulu Factory has for pricing: http://shop.theulufactory.com/ Expect to pay 25% more if bought outside of Anchorage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hokiegalcruiser Posted July 24, 2017 #18 Share Posted July 24, 2017 Bought a 6 inch ulu with bowl set made at the ulu factory in Anchorage at the Tongass Trading company in Ketchikan last week. It was labeled $29.99 but they had a $5 coupon in their tourist book picked up in Juneau. On the Ulu website this lists for $41.95. Our HAL ship put it through the scanner, but did not confiscate it. Ymmv. Also, if buying trinkets at Tongass, take the coupon booklet, they will stamp all the ones you use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarimaJ Posted July 24, 2017 #19 Share Posted July 24, 2017 Are there certain places to get the authentic hand carved items? Or do you just have to look carefully in any shop? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trouble1964 Posted July 27, 2017 #20 Share Posted July 27, 2017 Check out the Christmas store right at the port in Ketchikan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare geoherb Posted July 27, 2017 #21 Share Posted July 27, 2017 I also use my ulu knife and bowl set frequently. It's great for chopping herbs. Smoked salmon is another nice gift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janmcn Posted July 27, 2017 #22 Share Posted July 27, 2017 At the end of the Creek Street Boardwalk in Ketchikan is a terrific artist who has wonderful magnets of his artwork...i bought almost a dozen to bring back for friends...unique AK art (can't possibly afford his real pictures though!) Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghia007 Posted July 27, 2017 #23 Share Posted July 27, 2017 The store/gallery is SOHO COHO and the artist is Ray Troll. The store carries a large assortment of different items featuring his original art. Another good gift item is Glacier Smoothie soap that can be found in Juneau. The small shop is located on Franklin St. near the ships. They will ship your items for a fee. They carry soaps and creams and other items made with glacier silt. My uncle loves the shaving soap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowmc Posted July 28, 2017 #24 Share Posted July 28, 2017 You might get a few ideas from the following post: https://zest4travel.wordpress.com/2017/07/24/must-have-souvenirs/ There are several ideas for Alaska. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmberCascades Posted July 28, 2017 #25 Share Posted July 28, 2017 We found Ketchikan had the best prices. Creek Street had lots of stores with original (i.e. made in Alaska) items including knives, jewellery, Christmas ornaments, food items, carvings and art work. We love the Glacier Smoothie store in Juneau as well. We brought back lots of silt soap as gifts and everyone loved it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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