Ketchikan duck tour: road, then harbor.

Then the road runs out. The duck heads down to the water and splashes into the harbor on the Tongass Narrows, still carrying everyone in the same seats. That moment is the one people talk about afterwards: a road vehicle becoming a boat in a few seconds, with a cheer from the passengers and a spray of water at the front.

Afloat, the pace slows. The duck moves along the channel past fishing canneries, seaplane docks and the waterfront, with wildlife when the season brings it. By the time it climbs back onto land and returns to the pier, you have seen the town from both sides, the street and the sea, in about 1.5 hours.

The town has a long maritime story. It was incorporated in 1900 and became the port of entry for ships arriving from the south, which gave it the nickname First City. Five species of wild Pacific salmon move through the nearby waters, and they earned Ketchikan the title Salmon Capital of the World.

Today the visitors come by sea as well. Nearly 1 million arrive on cruise ships every summer season. Those who dock downtown step off at the very berths where the duck departs. For a short port call, a ride that starts where your ship ties up and covers town and harbor at once is hard to beat.

Underneath the average, 2,447 ratings are five stars and 338 are four stars. At the other end, 100 guests gave three stars, 51 gave two and 41 gave one. The shape says that most guests got what they came for: a fun, easy look at the town with a talkative guide.

No rating tells you everything. It does not show the weather on the day, the guide you had or how full the vehicle was. Read the newest reviews on the booking page for the detail, and especially the low ones, to see whether their complaints are the kind that would bother you.

Summer days in Ketchikan are long. In mid-June the sun is above the horizon for 17.4 hours, and in mid-July for 16.9 hours. Early and late departures still have daylight, which leaves you free to pick your time by your ship's schedule rather than by the light.

Temperatures are mild rather than warm. The average daily high is 17.5 °C in June and 18.9 °C in August. On the water it can feel cooler, so a layer to put on during the harbor section is a good idea even on a bright day.

Rain is less of a problem on the duck than on a walking tour. You stay seated for the whole ride, and the guide keeps the mood up whatever the sky is doing. The water section runs in the calm, protected waters of the Inside Passage rather than the open ocean, so rain rarely means rough water.

Heavy weather is another matter, and there the operator decides. It can cancel a departure for bad weather and then offers an alternative or a full refund. If you wake to storm warnings, check with the duck tour representatives on the pier before you build your day around the ride.

That is unusual in Ketchikan. The Potlatch and Herring Cove tour and the cultural excursion, for example, can each be cancelled for free until 24 hours before they start. The duck's rule does not make it a bad choice, but it does change how you should book it.

The fix is simple. Book once your cruise itinerary and port times are confirmed, choose a departure with a comfortable gap before all-aboard, and keep the booking details on your phone. If your plans are truly uncertain, tours can also be bought on the day at the visitors center on Berth 2 or the dock kiosks.

On land, the duck moves slowly but does not stop for photos. Creek Street, with its boardwalk and stilted buildings over the creek, is the subject everyone wants. Use burst mode and shoot through the gaps between window frames; one frame in a burst is usually clean.

Afloat, look for floatplanes at the seaplane docks and the fishing boats in the harbor. Turn around at least once to catch the town from the water with the mountains behind it. Then, after the ride, walk back to Creek Street for the careful, framed photos a moving seat cannot give you.

Keep your bag small. You sit for the whole ride, and there is not much room around the seats, so a small backpack or a cross-body bag works best. Bring your ticket on your phone or on paper, a charged phone for photos and a little cash or a card for the guide's tip, which is not included.

There is no restroom on board, so use the ones on the cruise pier or in the visitors bureau before check-in. Snacks and drinks may come with you, but alcohol and smoking are not allowed. If you travel with children, a small treat for the wait on the pier keeps everyone cheerful.

Wheelchairs, walkers and strollers do not ride along. The crew takes them at the bottom of the ladder, keeps them in a dry, secure area during the tour and hands them back when you return. For a guest who can climb a few steps but walks with an aid, that arrangement works well.

Service animals are allowed on board. If someone in your party has specific needs, contact the operator before you book; because tickets are non-refundable, it is better to ask first than to discover a problem at the ladder.

In season, the creek itself is the show. The planks of Creek Street are a good spot to watch salmon swim upstream, and the bridges over Ketchikan Creek give good views of fish working against the current. Salmon runs typically come in late summer, so earlier visitors may see the creek without the fish.

Further up, the creek passes the Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery, a working salmon hatchery with daily tours in summer. Married Man's Trail, the old path used to slip away from Creek Street during raids, makes a short climb with a story attached. All of it is within easy walking distance of the cruise berths.

It suits less well if you want depth or nature. The ride stays in town and the harbor; the totem parks, the rainforest and Misty Fjords need other tours. Ketchikan lies 22 miles west of Misty Fjords National Monument, well beyond the duck's route.

The caveats are few but real: tickets cannot be refunded, boarding is by a ladder and seating is first come, first served. If those suit you, the duck is a strongly rated way to see Ketchikan from the pier. If one of them is a dealbreaker, the comparison on this page shows the alternatives.