Behm Canal, Alaska
Cruise Port Guide

Behm Canal is a 108-mile natural channel in Southeast Alaska's Alexander Archipelago, separating Revillagigedo Island from the mainland and connecting the Clarence Strait to Revillagigedo Channel. Named by Captain George Vancouver in 1793 in honor of Magnus von Behm, the canal today is known primarily as a scenic cruising passage — not a traditional port of call with a dedicated cruise terminal, visitor infrastructure, or organized shore operations. Ships transit or anchor within the canal to view the wilderness, New Eddystone Rock, and access to Misty Fjords National Monument. The canal also hosts the U.S. Navy's Southeast Alaska Acoustic Measurement Facility (SEAFAC). Because Behm Canal is a scenic cruising area rather than a developed port, there are no confirmed cruise line shore excursion operations conducted directly from a Behm Canal landing point; most organized excursion activities associated with this area are operated out of Ketchikan, approximately 5–30 miles (8.0–48.3 km) to the south, where shore excursion pricing typically ranges from $60–$350 per person depending on activity type. You should confirm all operational details with your cruise line before your voyage.

There is no terminal building, gate, or port facility at Behm Canal. Passengers who step ashore at a wilderness landing encounter raw Southeast Alaska terrain: dense temperate rainforest, rocky shoreline, and no built environment of any kind. There are no restrooms, shops, food vendors, Wi-Fi, ATMs, or visitor services within reach. Navigational decisions are made by the expedition team, not the passenger. Weather is the dominant operational variable — rain, low cloud, and cold temperatures are common throughout the May–September cruise season, and conditions can change within minutes. Passengers should be prepared for an entirely self-sufficient, expedition-style shore experience with full dependence on the ship's crew for safety, logistics, and return transport.

Behm Canal is a 108-mile saltwater passage wrapping around Revillagigedo Island on Alaska's Inside Passage, placing it squarely within the orbit of Ketchikan — self-styled 'Salmon Capital of the World' — which functions as the primary port town for cruise passengers transiting this waterway. The food culture here is inseparable from the commercial and subsistence fishing economy that has defined the region for centuries. The Tlingit people fished Ketchikan Creek and the surrounding channels long before European contact, smoking and preserving salmon as a winter staple; that practice survives today in every smoke house and seafood counter in town. Norwegian and Filipino cannery workers arrived in the late 1800s and early 1900s, adding layers to the culinary fabric — you'll find traces of this multicultural cannery history in the Asian-influenced diners and Filipino-run cafes still operating alongside strictly Alaskan seafood houses. The cold, clean waters of the Behm Canal and Tongass Narrows yield five species of Pacific salmon, halibut that commonly exceed 100 pounds, Dungeness and king crab, spot prawns, and Pacific oysters, all of which reach restaurant kitchens within hours of harvest. Because Ketchikan receives over 150 inches of rain annually and road access to the outside world does not exist — the town is reachable only by boat or plane — the food supply is conditioned by isolation and season. Restaurants double down on preservation techniques: cold-smoking, brining, hot-smoking, and curing are not merely artisan affectations here but practical traditions rooted in the need to extend the bounty of a short fishing season. Dining in this port means eating protein that was almost certainly alive in local waters within the past 24–72 hours, a claim few cruise ports in North America can honestly make.

Behm Canal is a 108-mile scenic waterway in Southeast Alaska's Alexander Archipelago, separating Revillagigedo Island — home to Ketchikan — from the Alaskan mainland. Ships transiting Behm Canal are overwhelmingly doing so as a scenic passage, typically in combination with Misty Fjords National Monument. There is no shore-side commercial district, no dock in the wilderness sections of the canal, and no retail infrastructure at the Behm Canal waypoint itself. Shopping on a Behm Canal call is concentrated in Ketchikan, either before or after the scenic transit. Ketchikan is one of the richest shopping ports in Southeast Alaska, known for the world's largest collection of standing totem poles, a concentrated waterfront retail district along Front Street and Creek Street (), and genuine Alaska Native artisan commerce. When your itinerary lists 'Behm Canal,' treat it as a scenic day on the water — any shopping is done in Ketchikan. Look for the Alaska 'Silver Hand' hallmark and the 'Made in Alaska' logo on every purchase; both are state-certified marks confirming Alaska Native-made or Alaska-produced goods, respectively.

The current U.S. Customs duty-free exemption is $800 per person for goods purchased in U.S. ports, including Alaska. Because Ketchikan is a domestic U.S. port of call, standard duty-free rules apply on return to the continental U.S. — you should confirm the current exemption threshold at cbp.gov before your voyage, as U.S. CBP allowances are subject to revision. Goods commonly triggering declaration requirements at Alaska ports include commercially packaged smoked salmon (declare if value exceeds your exemption threshold, though the product itself is permissible), fresh or live seafood (subject to USDA and Alaska state regulations — do not carry fresh fish off the island without verifying current rules), and any items containing ivory or bone. Mammoth ivory is legal to sell and transport within the United States; contemporary marine mammal ivory (walrus, whale) is regulated under the Marine Mammal Protection Act — purchase only from licensed dealers who can provide provenance documentation. Alaska has no VAT; this is a domestic U.S. transaction. No VAT refund mechanism applies.

USD is the currency throughout Alaska — no currency exchange is required. Major credit cards are accepted at virtually all Front Street and Creek Street retailers and at established jewelry stores. Small market stalls, independent art vendors at Saxman Village, and some boardwalk food vendors prefer or require cash. Carry at least $40–60 USD in small bills for market and artisan purchases. The highest concentration of authentic goods versus tourist-facing souvenir volume is found at Saxman Native Village () approximately 2.3 miles (3.7 km) south of downtown, and at the Totem Heritage Center at 601 Deermount Street (), which sells certified Native artwork from its gift shop. Creek Street boutiques offer a mix of local and tourist-facing goods — inspect labels carefully. The Tongass Trading Company at 301 Front Street () is a reliable general Alaska-gift retailer with a broad range.