How much of Sitka can you see in one port call? Visit Sitka says the main cruise terminal is about six miles north of downtown, and a complimentary shuttle runs to Harrigan Centennial Hall in about 10 to 15 minutes. From there, Visit Sitka says most downtown restaurants, shops and attractions are a short walk away. St. Michael's Cathedral, Sitka National Historical Park and the Alaska Raptor Center can fill a day, as long as you plan around your ship's hours and the weather.
Here's the plan for that one day. For how Sitka compares with the other stops on the route, see our Alaska cruise ports of call guide.
Where Cruise Ships Dock in Sitka
Visit Sitka calls the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal the primary docking location for most major cruise lines, about six miles north of downtown. Celebrity puts it around five miles north of the city and Princess says about six, so expect a short ride either way. Celebrity says the terminal has food outlets, locally owned gift shops and Wi-Fi.
On busy days, some ships anchor and send passengers ashore by tender. Celebrity says ships may anchor off Crescent Harbor, and Princess says guests on its shore excursions get priority tender boarding. Visit Sitka says tenders land at Crescent Harbor, within easy walking distance of downtown, or at the O'Connell Bridge Dock, about a five-minute walk from Harrigan Centennial Hall. Check your itinerary for which one applies.
Getting Into Town
Visit Sitka says the complimentary shuttle runs between the terminal and Harrigan Centennial Hall, and that you'll need to reserve a time in the shuttle queue at sitkadock.com, ideally early. Without a reservation, you can use the standby line: guests with reservations board first, and standby passengers ride first come, first served as space becomes available.
The hall also has an information desk. Visit Sitka says that in summer it offers printed maps and travel materials, and that tour vendors are often there for same-day bookings. The hall is home to the Sitka History Museum. Visit Sitka says the public bus, The Ride, runs Monday to Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and is primarily for residential transit in and out of the city center.
Sights in and Near Downtown
Holland America says you can stroll past the onion dome of St. Michael's Cathedral and the Russian Bishop's House, both National Historic Landmarks. Celebrity describes the cathedral as a replica of the historic church, rebuilt after a 1966 fire, and says most shops are on Lincoln Street.
Princess lists Castle Hill, where it says the 1867 Alaska Purchase transfer ceremony took place, and Holland America says a walk up it gives a view of Mount Edgecumbe, a dormant volcano. Princess also lists the Sheldon Jackson Museum, with Alaska Native artifacts, and Celebrity adds Whale Park, a boardwalk with a hydrophone for listening to whalesong.
Princess says Sitka National Historical Park has totem poles and is the site of the 1804 Battle of Sitka. Holland America says the visitor center has Russian and Native Alaskan artifacts and that rangers lead tours of the battlefield.
Wildlife Stops
Celebrity describes the Alaska Raptor Center as a home for rehabilitating birds of prey, including bald eagles, and Fortress of the Bear as a bear cub orphanage where you watch brown and black bears from a viewing platform. Princess and Holland America each list an excursion that pairs the two, and Holland America's version adds the national historical park.
Holland America lists humpback whales, sea otters, seals and bald eagles as common sightings near the port. Celebrity also describes a high-speed boat ride across Sitka Sound that passes Kruzof and St. Lazaria islands.
Plan Around the Rain
Visit Sitka calls the weather unpredictable and suggests layers, with a light waterproof jacket and comfortable, weather-resistant walking shoes. It describes Sitka as a temperate rain forest with roughly 95 inches of precipitation a year and gives July's average high as 61°F. Princess also says conditions can change through the day. If it pours, the Sitka History Museum at Harrigan Centennial Hall and the Sheldon Jackson Museum keep you indoors. Our Alaska cruise packing list covers the rain gear.
Three Ways to Spend the Day
- Short call, all downtown: the shuttle to Harrigan Centennial Hall, St. Michael's Cathedral, Castle Hill and the Sitka History Museum.
- The wildlife day: the Alaska Raptor Center and Fortress of the Bear, with time left to wander downtown.
- The history day: Sitka National Historical Park and the Russian Bishop's House, then the Sheldon Jackson Museum.
Match the choice to your ship's call times and the weather. Visit Sitka's cruise ship calendar shows where your ship is scheduled to arrive, so check it to see whether you'll dock at the terminal or tender in. If you've got Juneau or Ketchikan on the same route, our Juneau day guide and Ketchikan day guide work the same way. For first-time planning advice, our Alaska cruise tips for first-timers is the place to start.
