Crest Hotel sits at 222 West 1st Avenue in Prince Rupert, on the waterfront in the Cow Bay part of town. It is one of the larger hotels in the port city that most travelers reach from Ketchikan by sea or air, and it has the services you would expect of a full-service property: a staffed front desk that stays open around the clock, a concierge, luggage storage, a gift shop, laundry facilities and an elevator. With a little over a hundred rooms, it can absorb the arrivals that come with a ferry or rail connection without the cramped feel of a very small inn. The rooms are a practical size and come in two flavors. City and mountain view rooms are the lower-cost choice, available with a queen bed or with two double beds. Harbour view rooms, sold as the Crest class, are available with a king bed or two doubles and look out over the water, which is the reason many guests pick this hotel. Rooms include free Wi-Fi, a coffee and tea maker, a desk, an in-room safe, an iron, blackout drapes and a private bathroom, so a one-night stop between ferry and train is easy.
Dining and facilities. The Waterfront Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with ocean views, and Charleys Lounge and a coffee shop round out the on-site options. A cooked-to-order breakfast is available for a fee, so confirm whether it is part of your rate when you book. For relaxing after a day of travel there is a gym, a hot tub and a steam room, which are welcome after a cold, wet day on this coast.
Location and getting around. Cow Bay is the most walkable part of Prince Rupert. The Museum of Northern British Columbia is about a minute away on foot, Sunken Gardens Park and the Kwinitsa Station Railway Museum are within a few minutes, and the Port Interpretive Centre is a short stroll along the harbour. The train station is a short drive, and the airport is a longer ride, so allow generous time on departure days.
Practical notes. Check-in starts in the afternoon and check-out is at noon. The minimum age to check in is 19, pets are not allowed apart from service animals, and parking is available on request, so contact the hotel in advance if you are arriving by car. Border papers matter if you are coming from Alaska, and ferry and flight schedules change with the season, so read the details before you commit to a tight connection.
Who it suits. Couples, rail travelers and anyone who wants a full-service hotel on the Canadian side of the Inside Passage will find it a comfortable base. It is not a base for Ketchikan sightseeing, so book it only if your route passes through Prince Rupert. If you extend your stay, the harbour, the museum and the wildlife tours in the surrounding waters give the town plenty to fill an extra day. Rates move with the season, so check when you book.
Why stay here
- ✓Waterfront Restaurant with ocean views
- ✓Charleys Lounge and coffee shop
- ✓Harbour-view rooms
- ✓Hot tub and steam room
- ✓Gym
- ✓24-hour front desk and concierge
- ✓Free Wi-Fi in rooms
- ✓Luggage storage
Good questions
Why is a Prince Rupert hotel included for Ketchikan?+
Ketchikan has a limited number of bookable hotels, and Prince Rupert is a realistic add-on for travelers linking Alaska with British Columbia.
Are the rooms harbour view?+
Some are. The hotel sells harbour view rooms and city and mountain view rooms, so choose the view when you book.
Can I park at the hotel?+
Parking is available on request, so contact the hotel in advance if you are arriving by car.
