Ketchikan Ward Cove?

[Hrhbob]

Do Celebrity ships (Edge) dock at Ward Cove in Ketchikan or at the original docks in downtown Ketchikan?

[Georgia_Peaches]

Also interested in this answer.  One of the piers is walkable to town and the other isn't?

[Northern Aurora]

Ward Cove is about 8 miles outside of Ketchikan. It was developed by NCL so is used by NCL and NCL's affiliated lines.  Celebrity has not in the past used Ward Cove but instead has used downtown docks (there are several downtown docks).  

[Hrhbob]

Thanks. Excellent news. I read on another forum this was so and now feel better that my Edge cruise won’t have to bother with Ward Cove and the hassles that entails!

[Northern Aurora]

7 minutes ago, Hrhbob said:

Thanks. Excellent news. I read on another forum this was so and now feel better that my Edge cruise won’t have to bother with Ward Cove and the hassles that entails!

 

Checking docking locations at Alaska ports is easy -- just google Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska.  The cruise schedule on this site lists all Alaska ports.  If you look at Ketchikan it appears that Edge is docked at pier 3 (I didn't check every summer day), which is right downtown.  Double check your particular date that you will be visiting Ketchikan to confirm your dock location and learn which other ships will also be in town that date.

[Focacta]

@Northern Aurora NCL did not develop the dock at Ward Cove. The dock was developed by the Ward Cove Dock Group. It’s a common misconception because NCL has proprietary use of the dock under an agreement with WCDG. But all in all it’s a private operation owned by two multi-generational Alaska families! 

[screwsmcernst]

@Georgia_Peaches  I googled the Ward Dock June Schedule, and there are no ships scheduled to dock at Ward Cove on June 2nd.  So it looks like all 4 ships will be at the downtown piers that day.

Edited Sunday at 10:41 PM by screwsmcernst

[Georgia_Peaches]

8 minutes ago, screwsmcernst said:

@Georgia_Peaches  I googled the Ward Dock June Schedule, and there are no ships scheduled to dock at Ward Cove on June 2nd.  So it looks like all 4 ships will be at the downtown piers that day.

Meaning we can just get off the ship and walk to the town, right?  Woohoo!  That's great news!  We have the lumberjack show reserved at 11 and was hoping to just walk there from the ship.  We are also doing our own pub crawl...self guided.

[screwsmcernst]

26 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Meaning we can just get off the ship and walk to the town, right?  Woohoo!  That's great news!  We have the lumberjack show reserved at 11 and was hoping to just walk there from the ship.  We are also doing our own pub crawl...self guided.

It sounds like you have a fun day planned.  

[Jim_Iain]

Darn -- you all are rubbing it in.   I'm on Ocania and just checked the schedule that @Northern Aurora referenced.     On our September cruise we will be docking at Ward Cove.   I'm guessing they will have a shuttle.   

 

Just looked at the CC article on it and looks like it might just work if we wanted to go hiking

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles/just-back-from-ward-cove-what-you-need-to-know-about-alaskas-newest-cruise-port

[Northern Aurora]

8 hours ago, Focacta said:

@Northern Aurora NCL did not develop the dock at Ward Cove. The dock was developed by the Ward Cove Dock Group. It’s a common misconception because NCL has proprietary use of the dock under an agreement with WCDG. But all in all it’s a private operation owned by two multi-generational Alaska families! 

 

Thanks for the clarification -- and I even am an acquaintance with a member of the multi-generational family which resides in Fairbanks.  

[Northern Aurora]

57 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Darn -- you all are rubbing it in.   I'm on Ocania and just checked the schedule that @Northern Aurora referenced.     On our September cruise we will be docking at Ward Cove.   I'm guessing they will have a shuttle.   

 

.....

 

 

Jim:  Hiking or not -- Ward Cove is in a lousy location.  And in September, particularly in Ketchikan, be prepared for heavy rain and be eternally thankful if you have decent weather that date.  

[rcrabb1513]

On 4/24/2024 at 5:52 PM, Hrhbob said:

Do Celebrity ships (Edge) dock at Ward Cove in Ketchikan or at the original docks in downtown Ketchikan?

You won't like this answer. 

 

You might.   We were on Royal's Ovation of Seas in August 2022 and we docked at Ward's Cove. We were informed via email about a month before the cruise of the port change.  They told us the change was to due to port congestion.   They provided a free shuttle service to and from Ketchikan.

[SusieAV8R]

On 5/19/2024 at 12:01 PM, Focacta said:

@Northern Aurora NCL did not develop the dock at Ward Cove. The dock was developed by the Ward Cove Dock Group. It’s a common misconception because NCL has proprietary use of the dock under an agreement with WCDG. But all in all it’s a private operation owned by two multi-generational Alaska families! 

Cool!  thanks for the interesting information, Focacta!

[Jim_Iain]

On 5/19/2024 at 5:32 PM, Northern Aurora said:

 

 

Jim:  Hiking or not -- Ward Cove is in a lousy location.  And in September, particularly in Ketchikan, be prepared for heavy rain and be eternally thankful if you have decent weather that date.  

 

I had much the same feeling.... maybe we will just stay on the ship.

[trivia addict]

I’m not understanding the vitriol over Ward Cove.

Two years ago we were on  RC ship that docked there. We got off the ship, immediately bordered a bus shuttle and went into Ketchikan.

The driver gave us an overview of the land and the history of where we were as we were driving.

After walking around the town, ( not much there but tourist shops), we bordered another shuttle that as soon as it was full, took us back to the ship. 

Easy Peasy.

BTW Three cruises to Alaska, Take rain gear!