Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's Tour from Ketchikan
Recommended by 96% of travelers
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Ketchikan, USA
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
If you’re a fan of the Discovery Channel’s hit TV show 'Deadliest Catch,' you saw the Aleutian Ballad, a commercial fishing boat, escape a rogue wave in the Bering Sea. On this fisherman’s tour from Ketchikan, hop aboard the Aleutian Ballad and navigate through the waterways of the Inside Passage with a seasoned fishing crew. Touch some of the catch, take photos, and listen to entertaining sea lore.
- Travel through the beautiful Inside Passage aboard the Aleutian Ballad
- Watch the crew prepare long-line barrel pots and 700-pound king crab pots
- See king crab, box crab, prawns, rockfish, and eel
- Listen to stories about life as a commercial fisherman in Alaska
What's Included
- Raincoats and ponchos provided, as needed
- Food and drinks, unless specified (snacks, such as chips and chocolate bars, are available for purchase on board)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Berth 3509 Water St, Ketchikan, AK 99901, USA
Make your way to Berth 3 where the Aleutian Ballad is docked. You must meet no later than 15 minutes prior to the departure time. If you are arriving at Ward Cove, take the free shuttle downtown. Please allow yourself 45 minutes to take the shuttle and walk to our boat.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Find out what life is like as a commercial fisherman in Alaska on this Bering Sea fisherman's tour from Ketchikan. Step aboard the Aleutian Ballad, the 107-foot (33-meter) ocean-going vessel. Soak up the views from the open-air upper deck, or take a seat in the heated, enclosed amphitheater on the lower deck.
Your crew ‘ties loose,’ push away from the dock and cruise through the waterways of the Inside Passage. Stay warm with a cup of provided hot chocolate, coffee, or tea, and hear about the Aleutian Ballad’s history as a commercial fishing boat, including how it became famous on season two of 'Deadliest Catch,' when the boat was struck by a 60-foot (18-meter) swell and survived to tell the tale. Ask them questions—the crew loves to share stories about life at sea!
En route, keep your eyes peeled for eagles, sea lions, whales, and porpoises. Upon arrival at the fishing grounds, see firsthand how the crew bait the fishing gear with salmon and squid and toss the long-line barrel pots overboard. Then, watch in wonder as Bering Sea king crab is hauled up in 700-pound (320-kg) crab pots. Other sea creatures hauled on board include Dungeness crab, rockfish, ratfish, wolf eel, box crab, octopus, gray cod, prawn and more. The crew sorts through the catch, and places the fish and other marine life in a tank on the deck for your observation. Feel free to snap pictures and touch some of the catch before it is released back into the sea. Set voyage back to the dock after the crew has stowed all the fishing equipment.
Your crew ‘ties loose,’ push away from the dock and cruise through the waterways of the Inside Passage. Stay warm with a cup of provided hot chocolate, coffee, or tea, and hear about the Aleutian Ballad’s history as a commercial fishing boat, including how it became famous on season two of 'Deadliest Catch,' when the boat was struck by a 60-foot (18-meter) swell and survived to tell the tale. Ask them questions—the crew loves to share stories about life at sea!
En route, keep your eyes peeled for eagles, sea lions, whales, and porpoises. Upon arrival at the fishing grounds, see firsthand how the crew bait the fishing gear with salmon and squid and toss the long-line barrel pots overboard. Then, watch in wonder as Bering Sea king crab is hauled up in 700-pound (320-kg) crab pots. Other sea creatures hauled on board include Dungeness crab, rockfish, ratfish, wolf eel, box crab, octopus, gray cod, prawn and more. The crew sorts through the catch, and places the fish and other marine life in a tank on the deck for your observation. Feel free to snap pictures and touch some of the catch before it is released back into the sea. Set voyage back to the dock after the crew has stowed all the fishing equipment.
1
Bering Sea Crab Fishermen's Tour
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Minimum age is 5 years, no exceptions due to coast guard regulations.
- You MUST BE ON BOARD THE ALEUTIAN BALLAD for check in 15 minutes before your departure time.
- If you are concerned about seasickness, please note that this tour stays in the calm, protected waters of the Inside Passage and does not go out into the open ocean; large waves and rough seas will not be encountered. You WILL NOT be in the Bering Sea.
- Wheelchair accessible, please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required.
- If your ship is docking at Ward Cove, take the free shuttle provided by the cruise lines into downtown which will drop you off at Berth 4. Our boat is located at Berth 3, just a short 5 minute walk from there. Please allow yourself 45 minutes to take the shuttle and walk to our boat with a few extra minutes to spare. The shuttles run every 3-5 minutes into town and back out to Ward Cove
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 150 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
This was such a fantastic experience! Hubby is a big Deadliest Catch fan, so he wanted to check this out. I was so impressed by this whole excursion. The crew was amazing! Very interactive, and informative. The heartfelt stories were captivating. I would definitely recommend this one to anyone visiting Ketchikan.
Reviews
4.9
based on 889 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Great experience. Very informative. They were friendly and did a great job. Would recommend. Seeing the bald eagles was so cool.
Money well spent. Wonderful time learning fishing techniques and hearing about personal experiences from the crew.
Really enjoyed my trip on the Aleutian Ballad. Captain and crew took good care of us and really Enjoyed the hands on experience. Seeing eagles was a great bonus.
Great trip, educational, exciting and beautiful afternoon on the boat. Unbelievable watching an eagle grab fish out of the ocean and seeing a whale up close. Did not see those extras coming!
We were on a cruise that had three ports of call which included this one. If I could only choose one thing to do on my entire trip…. This would absolutely be the one!! From Captain Ron - to Big D - to Dave - and the rest of the crew….. this was a once in a lifetime opportunity!! From the second we stepped on the crab boat….. we felt like part of their family. They had so much knowledge. They shared personal stories and answered any questions. We saw bald eagles and were lucky enough to see a whale. We held crab and sea urchins. My daughter is in a wheelchair. Big D and Dave - as well as the rest of the crew - made sure she was included in the entire experience!!! We all highly recommend this excursion!!! IT IS A MUST!!
GREAT excursion! The wildlife didn’t cooperate but everything else was perfect! Really convenient to get on right at where the Cruise ships park.
We were lucky to see bald eagles. The weather was perfect, the staff was very friendly and the stories were amazing. We were able to touch the crabs. A must do!
Really great experience! Highly recommend! Loved the stories, personal connections and seeing the process of crabbing. Enjoyed some tasty crab onboard as well.
I knew my family would enjoy this but it by far exceeded what we could even of thought! The crew is awesome!! Learning how crabbing is done with up close showings & hands on fun! Hands down this was my favorite thing we did in Alaska!
This was an absolutely outstanding experience. The Deadliest Catch Crab Fishing Tour is far more than just a sightseeing excursion; it is a raw, authentic look into the reality of the Bering Sea.
Captain Ron and Big D: These two veterans made the tour unforgettable. They didn’t just demonstrate the mechanics of crab fishing; they opened up and shared their entire life stories. Hearing them talk about heading out into the unforgiving Bering Sea at just 19 years old made the entire experience incredibly real and grounded.
The Unfiltered Reality: They were completely transparent about the brutal lifestyle of the industry. They openly discussed battling treacherous weather, navigating the sudden influx of crab money at a young age, and the hard life lessons they had to learn along the way. Seeing how they have transformed their lives and now dedicate themselves to sharing that journey every day is genuinely inspiring.
A Mission That Matters: The most impactful part of the tour is the cause behind their work. They are out there to support the survivors and families of those who have lost their lives in this highly dangerous industry.
A Profound Perspective: Their storytelling is a powerful mechanism for giving back and creating awareness. It completely shifts your perspective, leaving you with the sobering realization that real human lives are risked…and sometimes lost…just to put the seafood we eat onto our plates.
If you are looking for an excursion with genuine depth, grit, and purpose, I cannot recommend Captain Ron, Big D, and this entire crew highly enough.
Early tour scheduled, signage was vague and no representatives present to direct people to tour. Be that as it may, Big D, Andy and the captain were outstanding. Truly enjoyed their stories, knowledge and Hospitality. Very much enjoyed the presentations and hands on activities. Very much worth it and I give this tour my highest recommendation!
This was an amazing experience. With a very experienced and friendly staff. I would highly recommend this to anyone. Our party is right it’s very education, with beautiful landscape and a lot of wildlife. We loved the experience, the stories and the views.
Very hands on and informative
Enjoyed the involvement of crowd and picture opportunities. Saw eagles and whales
Holy cow!! What a fun experience. Not only were the Captain and officers experienced, they were funny too!! It rained on us and they provided raincoats for anyone who wanted one. We got to see bald eagles, seals and even a whale breaking the surface and blowing. These people have such deep knowledge and respect for this land and sea. No wonder this excursion is rated #1! It was completely full - even on a rainy and chilly day. My hats off to all involved in the morning on the Aleutian Ballad. If you’re a fan of Deadliest Catch, this is not to be missed!
First, it is super accessible! Pretty hard to find accessibility in Alaskan cities. Two the staff were absolutely amazing and attentive. I am very disabled but super helpful getting into the boat and making sure I was good. Bringing the fish to me and take pictures. It was the best excursion of the entire trip. Dont hesitate to book!
The Bearing Sea Aleutian Ballad Crab excursion is a 5 Star Show and well worth it. The crew was very interesting and informative as well as excellent interaction with the crowd.
The sharing of their stories was wonderful! Loved getting a chance to handle the animals too! Enjoyed the photo op with them all at the end.
This was a fun experience, especially if you watch the show Deadliest Catch. The hands-on experience of holding different creatures was fun. But for me, the highlight was the eagles swooping down to catch fish tossed in the air and into the sea. It was magnificent! The crew told personal stories and adventures that were interesting and heartfelt.
What an awesome experience! Highly recommend. Loved the stories and history of the boat and crew! A must see!
I cannot more highly recommend this tour!! It was fun and interesting from beginning to end for my entire family. Every single person who worked on the tour was kind, friendly and so knowledgeable. We learned so much and didn't even realize it. That's how good they are. AND most importantly, do not miss the King Crab they sell on the boat. Yes - its pricey. But it was literally the best crab, I've ever eaten and worth every single penny.
We were disappointed that the cruise didnt happened due to engine trouble. You can't predict the weather or engine trouble either.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Greetings,
As you mentioned you cannot predict engine troubles. We were equally as disappointed to have to cancel our departure as well. A 1 star review for something that is 100% out of our control doesn't seem fair though, as this unforeseen event has absolutely nothing to do with our customer service or the excursion its self. Please consider removing this review as it really hurts our business.
Thank you for your consideration.
They cancel at the last minute, totally disappointed. No explanation, just saying the ship was not available, the weather was incredible.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Correction, we canceled this departure because we had an engine failure, that was explained three different ways to you. You will also notice the other 1 star review from this day says "becasue of engine failure" We are sorry that we could not operate, this was completely out of our control but we did direct you to the visitor center and tried to assist you with booking another reservation. The title "THE WORST" doesn't seem fair as we couldn't even operate the excursion.
I am lucky enough to work (naturalist) on the cruise ships. As such, I get to bring a lot of friends on their first visit to Alaska. Whenever the itinerary includes Ketchican, I make sure we do this excursion. It checks all the boxes: scenery, wildlife, history, and great stories. I am using the seven times this summer, and will be back for more next season. DO IT!
The eagles were main attraction! They were up close and spectacular. It was great to hear about life on the Bering Sea and sea the crabs !
Enjoyed!! The men and women were all very energetic and enthusiastic!! All seemed to enjoy their jobs which bled to all the attendees.
PHENOMENAL!! One of the 2 shore excursions that were important to us. The cove where we went into with the 4-50 eagles flying down out of their trees was amazing - how close to the boat they came. Definitely used slow motion while video recording - sooooo graceful.
We watched many of the Deadliest Catch Shows.
Would do it again
Great stories from seasoned fishermen and crabbers. We saw many bald eagles, crabs, and an octopus. Fun day on the water.
An unforgettable experience from start to finish! The crew was incredibly personable, welcoming, and passionate about sharing life on a crab boat. Their storytelling brought the history, challenges, and excitement of crab fishing to life, while the breathtaking scenery made every moment even more memorable. The smaller guest size made the experience feel personal and allowed everyone to actively participate of the adventure. The hands-on activities were a true highlight, giving guests the opportunity to hold the equipment/crustaceans and answer questions. This experience was educational and genuinely fun. A must-do adventure for anyone visiting Ketchikan.
I booked this tour based on excellent reviews-and it still exceeded my expectations. We were out on the water for three hours, but it felt even longer, we heard and saw so much.
The guys really have an excellent program and it’s clear they love their jobs. It was fun an informative to hear about their history, learn more about the dangers of crabbing, see the sea creatures.
Highlight for us were the bald eagles. So majestic and came so close to the boat.
You won't get to actually fish on this trip - those trips cost a lot more - but you will get to see what and how they catch - you'll also get to see bald eagles up close. Wheelchair accessible. All in all it was totally awesome. Crew is awesome.
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$236.55
per personWas $249.00(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's Tour from Ketchikan
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