NCL New Dock Report

Question

Just a heads up Ketchikan travelers, that Norwegian Cruise Lines has developed an exclusive new dock some 7 miles from downtown Ketchikan with an old pulp mill building acting as a visitors center after a multi-million dollar remodel. The visitors center has some shopping, some entertaining diversions and a few local shops setting up kiosks. Travelers today were outraged to find out they had to take a shuttle to town, arriving only at Berth 4, a half mile walk from downtown and Creek St., and could only stay 90 minutes as NCL wants to stagger return times. One enterprising family called a cab and found it was $40 each way to town and back. Our one Uber driver had no comment. Not a great situation for the NCL passengers. That said, if you are doing excursions only, you might find it a better option because it's closer to many drop off points and flight seeing operations.

Edited: 3 years ago

Answer

Ketchikan travelers should be aware that Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) has established a new private dock located approximately 7 miles from downtown Ketchikan. This facility was developed using an old pulp mill building, which has been remodeled into a visitors center. The center includes some shopping options, entertainment diversions, and a few local shops setting up temporary kiosks.

The new dock arrangement has drawn some criticism from passengers due to the logistics involved. Passengers must take a shuttle to reach downtown, which delivers them at Berth 4 — roughly a half-mile walk from the heart of downtown and Creek Street. To manage shuttle traffic, NCL limits passengers to a 90-minute window in town, which can feel restrictive, especially for those wanting to explore more leisurely.

Alternative transportation options from the dock to downtown include taxis and rideshares. Some travelers reported taxi fares of about $40 each way, while Uber service seems inconsistent. This setup is less convenient for those planning to explore the town independently.

However, the new dock can be advantageous for passengers focused primarily on excursions. Being closer to many excursion drop-off points and flightseeing operations can save travel time and simplify logistics for these activities.

Pros of the new dock: Closer access to certain excursion departure points, private facilities, remodeled visitors center with some shopping and entertainment.
Cons of the new dock: 7 miles from downtown, limited time in town (90 minutes), potential high taxi costs, shuttle dependency, inconsistent Uber availability.
Best use: Ideal for passengers mainly doing excursions or tours rather than independent town exploration.

In summary, while the NCL private dock offers modern facilities and convenience for excursions, it poses challenges for those wishing to explore Ketchikan’s downtown area freely. Travelers should plan accordingly, considering shuttle schedules, transportation costs, and time limitations.