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If conditions are right, there’s a chance to explore lava-formed sea caves. We work with reputable, local tour operators to offer you a wide variety of excursions to choose from, in every port you’ll visit. Sitka is definitely worth visiting if you are looking for a uniquely Alaskan experience.
Sitka (Baranof Island Alaska)
Tours of the Fortress of the Bear are often combined with a trip to the Alaska Raptor Center and other historic Sitka sites. Craft beer fans can find local Baranof Island Brewing Company beer around town or can visit the brewery’s tasting room to enjoy a flight of beer. When Russia sold Alaska to the United States on October 18, 1867, the transfer ceremony was held on Sitka’s Castle Hill. This small hill overlooking the harbor also commemorates the spot where the United States flag was first flown when Alaska was officially proclaimed a state in 1959. Initially settled by native Tlingit people thousands of years ago, Russian explorers settled here in the early 1800s and designated Sitka the capital of Russian America. Sitka is delightfully different, curiously quirky and one of the most special places you’ll ever visit, whether on a cruise or a land-based vacation.
Tours Excursions Transportation:
Jeff Budd will meet you at the terminal and take you on a private tour of the town while visiting many of Sitka’s historical sites and wildlife centers. Sitka Fishing Charters – Sitka is one of the best spots in Alaska for saltwater sport fishing. Several fishing charters offer half and full-day fishing trips for cruise ship passengers and often ship your fresh catches home to you. From the shuttle bus drop point in front of Harrigan Centennial Hall, you’re on Lincoln Street, the main downtown drag. There are a a couple of very nice upscale shops right across from Centennial Hall, opposite the harbor. Whether a cruise or a land tour, nothing’s cheap and this includes most shore excursions.
Where You Dock in Sitka – Alaska
There are plenty of shops in downtown Sitka, so be sure to set aside some time for shopping during your visit. Unlike other Alaskan cruise ports, you won’t find the same souvenirs in every shop. Most likely your large ship will dock about 6 miles north from town at what the locals call the Old Sitka Dock. There’s a complimentary shuttle bus that runs back and forth about every 10 minutes to the center of town. Is examined in a free museum on the ground floor of Russian Bishop’s House which tells the story of the Russian traders who built the town.
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This museum was founded in 1888 by Rev. Dr. Sheldon Jackson, who wanted to display his collection of Alaskan artifacts. The octagonal building is the oldest museum in Alaska and the first concrete building in the state. Constructed in 1842, the Russian Bishop’s House is one of the oldest surviving buildings of Russian America. It served as one of the Russian Orthodox church’s administrative headquarters to spread its influence in Alaska. Hand-crafted Alaska sea salt from the Alaska Pure Sea Salt Company makes an excellent souvenir, and you can find Alaskan herbal soaps and bath products at the Wintersong Soap Company.
Captain JuJu’s – Another seafood mobile unit, Captain JuJu’s is owned by a local fishing family and they cook up what they’ve caught that morning. Their truck is a pumpkin-orange color and sort of tucked away around the corner and across from St. Michael’s Cathedral, on Seward Street. This didn’t sit well with the Tlingit people and a bloody uprising took place. In 1804 Russian reinforcements stormed ashore in revenge for the attack two years prior. Russian forces succeeded in driving the native Tlingit from their ancestral home, to resettle on the other side of the island. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry.
Alongside Tlingit carvings, woven baskets, silverware, herbal soaps, and masks, you’ll find Russian lacquer boxes, nesting Russian dolls, and recreations of Russian icons. There are plenty of edible gifts, too, from smoked salmon to berry preserves. Spend time browsing the local galleries; this is a very creative community, and you’ll find original paintings, photographic art, prints, mosaics, and ornaments. Buying from a gallery supports local artists, but always look for the “Made in Alaska” mark to ensure the authenticity of goods. Like other towns along the Inside Passage, Sitka is surrounded by natural beauty and is a prime location for spotting wildlife. The town lies on the 100-mile-long Baranof Island, only accessible by air or sea, and covered by the dense Tongass Forest.
The oldest museum in Alaska also holds the honor of being the first concrete building in the state. Live performances are held in the summer months, with drumming and the chance to join native dance around the fire pit. Tlingit clans inhabited this area long before the Russians began to settle there.
THE 25 BEST Cruises to Sitka, AK 2024 (with Prices) - Sitka Cruise Port Terminal on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 25 BEST Cruises to Sitka, AK 2024 (with Prices) - Sitka Cruise Port Terminal on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 15:46:00 GMT [source]
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. Totem Park is the main attraction, with 20 hand-carved totem poles scattered along the nature trails. The Visitor Center can get you up to speed on the park’s history for inquisitive visitors.
An offshoot of award-winning Ludvig’s Bistro, the food cart serves Ludvig’s renown seafood chowder by the gallons every day. Slightly spicy, not too creamy-thick, this is one of the best chowders I’ve eaten. There are also freshly-made baguette sandwiches, an assortment of cold drinks and picnic-type tables to sit at and enjoy your lunch.
After various skirmishes, a fierce battle in 1804 drove the Tlingit back to the forest, and Sitka became a permanent Russian fort called Novoarkhangelsk, or New Archangel. A majestic Russian Orthodox cathedral was built on this site between 1844 and 1848 and stood for more than 100 years until it was destroyed in a fire in 1966. Until then, the church was Alaska’s oldest religious structure, dating back to the Russian era. It’s not a busy tourist town and it retains its’ small-town charm.
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.
This Russian Orthodox cathedral is a replica of the original church building built in 1848 and destroyed by a fire in 1966. St. Michael’s Cathedral requests a donation if you want to enter the church. If your smaller ship tenders in Sitka Sound, it’s only a five-minute boat ride into town. I hope you enjoyed reading this Cruise Port Guide and that it will be useful to you. If we’ve tempted you to visit XXX you can search for a cruise here..
When you embark on a cruise to Sitka, Alaska, you’ll find yourself nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the stunning Alaskan wilderness. Known for its rich Tlingit heritage and Russian colonial past, Sitka is a cultural jewel of the Last Frontier.
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