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That’s why it’s best to dress in layers, to where you can add or subtract clothing as needed to keep comfortable. One other thing to know is that May and June are the driest months (with about 3-4 inches of rain), but July-September get much wetter. In total, the city gets about 235 days of precipitation, so you should always be ready for the wet stuff. In Sitka, there is a public library (right next door to where the shuttle from the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal drops off) with free wi-fi.
A Complete Guide for San Antonio Fiesta
A great spot for pizza, the toppings change seasonally, but the Mean Queen with cream cheese sauce, mozzarella, roasted chicken and spicy pepper spread is a year round menu item. Visit the Sitka Sound Science Center gift shop and have some chowder and baguette sandwiches with fillings like prosciutto or salmon made by Ludvig’s Bistro. Sitka is home to the Tlingit people, and you can find dishes influenced by their traditional food practices. Examples include smoked salmon, herring eggs, seaweed, and dishes like hooligan (a small fish) oil. Salmon, halibut, Dungeness crab, shrimp, and various types of shellfish are commonly enjoyed. Local specialties include grilled or smoked salmon, fish tacos, seafood chowder, and crab legs.
Featured Shore Excursions
At the cruise terminal building at Sitka Sound, there are washrooms, several gift shops featuring local products and high-speed WiFi. Here is also where passengers with shore excursions would meet their tours. Most of the cruise ships that visit Sitka dock about six miles north of the town at what locals call the “Old Sitka Dock,” which has now been renamed the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal. There is a free shuttle service running between the dock and downtown Sitka, so you won’t need to worry about transportation to the town.
Stay Longer to Explore Glacier Bay, Alaska
Listen to whale songs and view enormous whale bones from a killer whale. The Sheldon Jackson Hatchery is salmon hatchery under the auspices of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. You could spend hours in this small museum learning about Tlingit, Russian and American history through the incredible collections of everything early Sitka. It was at the top of Castle Hill in 1867 that the transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States took place. Today, there is a wide, accessible walkway that leads to the top or take the more challenging stairway. The view from the top, especially at sunset, provides a beautiful overlook of Sitka Sound.
16 cheap and free things to do on an Alaska cruise to avoid spending hundreds on shore excursions - Royal Caribbean Blog
16 cheap and free things to do on an Alaska cruise to avoid spending hundreds on shore excursions.
Posted: Mon, 14 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The expanded 2-berth passenger terminal now has capacity to handle two large liners (neo-Panamax-sized cruise vessels) simultaneously. Cruise ships to Baranof Island dock (anchor) at Sitka AK (port town on the island's eastern coast). Sitka visitors won’t want to miss the views of downtown Sitka from atop Castle Hill.
Sitka has two places for ships to dock; Old Sitka Dock (just renamed Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal) and Crescent Harbor. About six miles out from the city’s downtown, Old Sitka Dock is where most large cruise ships tie-up; from Grand Princess to NatGeo expedition ships. The Alaska Raptor Center offers a great opportunity to get close to magnificent birds of prey which have been brought in for rehabilitation. The center depends on donations and provides a vital facility for bald eagles and other raptors which have been injured.
Cruises to Sitka
Although the movie wasn’t filmed here, a particular aspect of the film remains in this place. Castle Hill, also known as Baranof Castle State Historic Site, is one of Alaska’s most historically significant places. I highly recommend a wildlife tour with Allen Marine Tours while you are in the Sitka Cruise Port. With its location on Baranof Island and nestled in the heart of the Tongass National Forest, Sitka is a perfect spot for seeing wildlife. The aquarium offers a hands-on experience that will leave you with a greater appreciation for the diverse marine ecosystem of Alaska.
The center is one of Sitka’s most popular attractions, and visitors will get to meet the resident birds and watch their rehabilitation process in action. Be part of this small and adventurous tour as you explore the area’s history and wildlife. Take in the sweeping view as you cross the O’Connell Bridge as you head to Silver Bay. Move on to Fortress of the Bear where you’ll see brown bears in its naturalized setting, before heading to Totem Park.... This overview article will get you familiar with how to get to downtown from the Sitka cruise port, what to around town on your own, wifi, dining and shore excursion suggestions.
Visit the Fortress of the Bear
The best time of year to get an up-close encounter with whales is between September and December. Unfortunately, most Alaskan cruises sail well before these dates, so you might not be able to see any whales while in Sitka, Alaska. But you’ll likely be able to see plenty of sea lines, harbor seals, and sometimes sea otters. Over one million people voyage on an Alaskan cruise every year, and many of those cruise ships include a stop in Sitka, Alaska. If you visit between May and September, don’t forget to explore the historic Russian Bishop’s House, where guided tours teach you about the area’s Russian history. The free shuttle is luxury motorcoaches that leave from the cruise port to downtown Sitka.
Castle Hill provides a beautiful view of Sitka Sound and is well worth the climb, especially if you are lucky enough to view the sunset atop the hill. Birds who are too severely injured to be re-introduced into the wild become “permanent residents” and take on a new role in educating visitors. The Alaska Raptor Center is a must-see attraction where visitors can learn about these magnificent birds. Check out the Alaska Raptor Center if you are interested in another close-up wildlife encounter. Like the nearby Fortress of the Bear, this facility provides medical treatment and rehabilitation to bald eagles, golden eagles, falcons, hawks, and owls. When your ship arrives, you are greeted by the stunning mountain view and beautiful waters surrounding Sitka Sound.
It’s a minute ride from port with a drop off at Harrigan Centennial Hall in downtown Sitka. The shuttle service runs every 15 minutes with the last shuttle leaving downtown 30 minutes before all aboard time. Sitka cruise ships dock at the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal at Halibut Point, around five miles north of the city. On busier days, when all the berths are occupied, ships may drop anchor off Crescent Harbor and ferry guests ashore by tender.
See indigenous artifacts, view exhibits on traditional Tlingit life, and hike the mile-long Totem Trail to see the park’s 20 original and replica totem poles. It can be a subject upon which people have strong opinions, but fur is an item that is native to Alaska’s heritage. It is located at 108 Lincoln Street, a 5 minute walk from Centennial Hall. If your ship is unable to dock due to multiple ships in port, you will be tendered into downtown Sitka. Located diagonally across the street St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral right in the center of downtown.
