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Prince Rupert cruise port guide

Cruise visitors should head to the Grizzly Bear Sanctuary - Getty
Cruise visitors should head to the Grizzly Bear Sanctuary - Getty

Why go?

Prince Rupert on the Inside Passage, 40 miles (64km) south of the Alaskan border, is of growing appeal to cruise passengers, thanks to the charm of the small town, upgraded cruise port facilities and a beautiful position overlooking an archipelago of islands and fjord-cut coastline. The town is also one of North America’s premier wildlife and whale-watching destinations.

Cruise port location

Cruise ships arrive at the Northland Terminal two minutes walk from the northern edge of downtown Prince Rupert. The local visitor centre is just left out of the terminal at 210–215 Cow Bay Road. Further information is also available from Hello BC.

Can I walk to places of interest?

Prince Rupert is small and all places of interest in town are within walking distance. Turn left on Cow Bay Road out of the terminal and a few moments’ walk brings you to Cow Bay, the quaint old part of the town. Turn right and cross the park and two minutes’ walk brings you to 1st Avenue and the start of Prince Rupert’s downtown grid.

Getting around

Public transport can be used for independent visits to the North Pacific Cannery Historic Site (see below) south of the town. To reach the Cannery, take the #60 service (May–Sept only) from outside the Museum of Northern British Columbia (see below) on 1st Avenue.

What to see and do

A short stopover allows enough time to see the town of Prince Rupert, and in particular its fine museum and old Cow Bay district, plus a trip out to one of the largest and most historic of the many salmon canneries that once scattered this coastline. Longer stops are best devoted to bear- and whale-watching excursions.

An old cannery building in Prince Rupert - Credit: iStock
An old cannery building in Prince Rupert Credit: iStock

What can I do in four hours or less?

Depending on the timing of your arrival and tour departures, you may just be able to squeeze in a whale-watching tour (see below) on a half-day visit. Otherwise, devote time to the town, and include trips to the tiny Kwinitsa Station Railway Museum for insights into the story of Prince Rupert’s railway, and the larger Museum of Northern British Columbia, whose beautifully presented exhibits and silent archive films explore the region’s wildlife, history and indigenous peoples.

From the museum it’s a short walk north to Cow Bay, Prince Rupert’s old heart, where you’ll find historic buildings, good eating options and interesting galleries and other shopping options (see below).

Use a taxi or local transit (see above) to visit the North Pacific Cannery (open May to September), a superb medley of historic buildings that operated as a salmon cannery until 1981. A visit provides a compelling introduction to an industry that for decades was a cornerstone of the economy here and in other parts of coastal Canada and Alaska.

Butze Rapids Trail - Credit: Getty
Butze Rapids Trail Credit: Getty

Scenic flightseeing tours typically last an hour and cost around $300 (Canadian Dollars)/£176.50 per person, notably the Misty Mountain Fjord excursion, which can be booked through an operator such as Inland Air.

If you want a reasonable hike, the best bet for a short, self-guided walk is the Butze Rapids Trail (3.5 miles/5.4km): you’ll need a taxi or bike to make the three-mile (5km) trip to the trailhead on Highway 16 east of the town. For guided half-day and longer hikes, contact Outer Coast Outfitters, which can also organise guided boat and canoe trips.

What can I do in eight hours or less?

Prince Rupert’s most popular longer excursions are wildlife tours, in particular to the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary. A typical excursion with an operator such as Prince Rupert Adventure Tours involves a six to seven hour boat trip and costs around $300/£176.50 per person.

Seal Cove Prince Rupert - Credit: Getty
Seal Cove on Prince Rupert: visitors could try a fishing trip Credit: Getty

Prince Rupert Adventure Tours is one of several local companies that also run whale-watching trips, with a good chance of seeing orcas and humpbacks in late summer: most tours last around four hours and cost around $150/£88.20 per person.

Prince Rupert is also a superb area for fishing, and several operators offer half-day charters, typically lasting five hours (full-day charters usually take 10 hours). Haida Fishing has five-hour charters from $850. July and August are the best months for most of the common species in local waters, notably halibut, ling cod and coho, sockeye, pink and Chinook salmon.

Eat and drink

Salmon, halibut and seafood are the local specialities. Some of the best and longest-established dining places are in or close to Cow Bay, notably the Breakers Pub, Cow Bay Café and Cowpuccino’s.

Cow Bay Road - Credit: Getty
Cow Bay Road Credit: Getty

Don’t leave without…

Head to Cow Bay for restored historic buildings that house galleries and stores selling local crafts and antiques. Coastal Fusion Art, Homework and the Ice House Gallery are good places to start.

Need to know

Safety

Prince Rupert is a small, close-knit town where you can feel safe exploring under your own steam.

Best time to go

July and August are both the warmest months, with average highs of 66F (19C), and the driest months, with an average of 13 rainy days monthly. May, June and September have similar temperature and rainfall figures. The best time for bear watching is May to early July and late August and September for whale watching.

Closures

Many sights and tours close or have restricted opening from early September to late April.