Skagway or Ketchikan?

[TxT365]

We're looking at an Alaska cruise in 2026. However, I'm trying to decide which a better itinerary: one that includes Skagway or one that includes Ketchikan? I would appreciate any input you have. For context, it will be 61F, 52F and 14M. None are particularly the hiking type. Thanks!

 

[Disnsyncey]

I would check out what options for excursions (you can look at outside companies) might interest you more......

I would say for me, I would prefer Skagway for the train, scenery in Canada, even bike or boat tours.....

Ketchikan has been more difficult for me to find something I REALLY wanna do, so we settle for more low key things.....but both times we have done the lumberjack show! haha They do have more options for totem exploration (outside parks and the museum in town) if you are interested in more native culture than the gold rush history of Skagway.....

 

[gmi3804]

The Lumberjack Show looks fun (and a bit cheesy), but I have to choose between that and doing the Misty Fjord seaplane tour. There won't be time for both. I'm leaning towards the latter, as it seems more fulfilling.

We'll be on Regent, not DCL.

 

[Disnsyncey]

The Lumberjack Show looks fun (and a bit cheesy), but I have to choose between that and doing the Misty Fjord seaplane tour. There won't be time for both. I'm leaning towards the latter, as it seems more fulfilling.

We'll be on Regent, not DCL.

It is cheesy! but also fun! If you had the money to spend on the seaplane, that for SURE. We splurged everywhere else as there were more tours of interest in other ports and we were ok with a low key day.....

 

[Girl of the South]

Seaplane would depend on the weather.

 

[Bostonjetset]

Ketchikan is a great town to spend the day in even if you don’t want to book a tour but Skagway has the train up to the Yukon which is AMAZING so I’d pick that given the choice.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

^^^ so agree with this. I had a fun walking around Ketchikan and we did the lumberjack show, but the scenery and the Yukon would win my vote. Not a fan of small planes, so my feet stayed on the ground-LOL. We used Chilkoot Tours for our adventure.

 

[Disnsyncey]

^^^ so agree with this. I had a fun walking around Ketchikan and we did the lumberjack show, but the scenery and the Yukon would win my vote. Not a fan of small planes, so my feet stayed on the ground-LOL. We used Chilkoot Tours for our adventure.

YESSSSS We used Chilkoot too! And we wandered around Ketchikan up to the Totem museum (there was some sort of "walk" on some map we followed to pass all the important things) and then did the lumberjack show! The second time we went we did a cruise line tour to a totem park and then wandered about and did the lumberjack show that afternoon. It seems like the biggest "town" of the small towns that we visited, with normal things in it.....I saw they even had a Salvation Army! HAAH

 

[ladyofthetramp]

YESSSSS We used Chilkoot too! And we wandered around Ketchikan up to the Totem museum (there was some sort of "walk" on some map we followed to pass all the important things) and then did the lumberjack show! The second time we went we did a cruise line tour to a totem park and then wandered about and did the lumberjack show that afternoon. It seems like the biggest "town" of the small towns that we visited, with normal things in it.....I saw they even had a Salvation Army! HAAH

Alaska is so amazing! I can't wait to go back

 

[jimmymc]

Skagway has more to do in terms of excursions, but I think Ketchikan is better if you just want to get off the ship and walk around town. I agree that you should check out the excursions in each.

 

[sadiecatie]

I would agree with picking Skagway over Ketchikan. We also used Chilkoot for the train up into the Yukon and it was my favorite excursion we did. (We did train up then a bus further into the Yukon and then back into town)

 

[HollyH]

Loved the train in Skagway. We splurged and did the excursion that gives you the last carriage. Beautiful scenery, storyteller explaining history, wine, beer & appetizers served in comfy chairs. We were roughing it! Lol.

We had an amazing fishing charter in Ketchikan which turned out to be one of our highlights! Would absolutely recommend doing this. We saw orcas up close and everyone caught fish! Also, Ketchikan is the port for souvenirs.

 

[TxT365]

Thanks, everyone! Looks like Skagway is the way to go since we'd love to do the train excursion! Now to go look into it so we can decide WHEN we want to go!