Haines felt a lot quieter than the other cruise stops, more like a small Alaskan town than a tourist port. The streets were calm with just a few shops and cafés, mountains rising straight up in the background, and we learned that only one large cruise ship usually comes in at a time, though the Ruby Princess was docked alongside the smaller National Geographic Sea Lion during our visit. It all had a laid-back, lived-in feel, with friendly locals and none of the flashy tourist traps, which made Haines seem especially down-to-earth and welcoming. We heard a rumor that Haines will be expanding to support three supersized cruise ships at the same time.