Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's Tour from Ketchikan

★★★★★ 4.9 (879 traveller reviews)

Meets downtownWorking crab crew

Three hours aboard a real crab boat, with a crew who fished for a living. You board the Aleutian Ballad, the boat Deadliest Catch viewers know, at Berth 3. The crew hauls pots on deck and hands round the catch. You stay in the sheltered Inside Passage the whole time, never the Bering Sea.

Hours, prices and access verified by the Ketchikan Alaska Tours team — last checked 2026-09-17.

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Aboard the Aleutian Ballad

Pots on deck: king crab, box crab and prawns

The Aleutian Ballad is a 107-foot ocean-going boat that appeared on Deadliest Catch. On this trip it works as a floating stage. The crew prepares long-line barrel pots and a 700-pound king crab pot, then brings the catch aboard for you to see. King crab, box crab, prawns, rockfish and eel can all come up.

You can touch some of the animals and take photos with them. Between hauls, the crew tell stories of life as commercial fishermen in Alaska. Travellers rate those stories as highly as the crab. One reviewer came as the partner of a Deadliest Catch fan and left a fan herself.

Sheltered water, not the Bering Sea

The name says Bering Sea, but you never go there. The boat cruises the Inside Passage toward Annette Bay, and you will not meet large waves or rough seas. If you worry about seasickness, this is the calmest boat trip on offer.

The weather still reaches you. Raincoats and ponchos are handed out as needed, and the lower deck is heated and enclosed. From the open upper deck you watch for wildlife. On their trips, travellers have seen bald eagles, seals and whales. For the rest of the town's most-booked trips, see the best tours in Ketchikan Alaska.

Three hours from Berth 3

1. Berth 3, 15 minutes before. Board the Aleutian Ballad at 509 Water Street.
2. Cast off. The crew ties loose and heads out through the Inside Passage toward Annette Bay.
3. Setting the pots. Long-line barrel pots go over the side as the crew explains the gear.
4. The king crab pot. A 700-pound pot comes aboard with the catch inside.
5. Hands on. King crab, box crab, prawns and more, brought round for you to hold and photograph.
6. Stories and eagles. Tales of the fishing life, and eagles diving for fish on the way back.
7. Back to Berth 3. Three hours after you sailed, a short walk from the other berths.

Who this suits, and who should book something else

What the fare covers

Boarding at Berth 3

The Aleutian Ballad ties up at Berth 3, 509 Water Street. Walk to the boat and be on board 15 minutes before your departure time, because the crew checks you in on the boat itself. Early morning departures can be quiet on the dock, and one traveller found the signs vague, so head for the boat rather than looking for a greeter.

If your ship is at Ward Cove, take the free shuttle into town. It drops you at Berth 4, about a five-minute walk from Berth 3, and shuttles run every 3 to 5 minutes. Allow 45 minutes from Ward Cove, with a little to spare. Where every ship docks is on the Ketchikan cruise port page.

Know before you go

• Be on board 15 minutes early. The Aleutian Ballad sails on time from Berth 3, so reach the boat before your check-in time.
• From Ward Cove, allow 45 minutes. Take the free shuttle to Berth 4, then walk about five minutes to Berth 3.
• No child under 5 can sail. Coast Guard rules set the minimum age at five, with no exceptions.
• Bring snacks or buy them aboard. Food and drinks are not in the fare, but chips and chocolate bars are sold on the boat.
• Wheelchairs are welcome. The boat and its surfaces are accessible, so say at booking if you need help boarding.
• Expect wet weather. Raincoats and ponchos are handed out as needed, and the lower deck is heated and enclosed.

What travellers said about the crew and the catch

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