No more tendering for HAL in Sitka, AK

[rkacruiser]

Copper 10-8,

 

Welcome back from your Grand World Cruise! And, your return to our Message Board so soon after your arrival home is greatly appreciated by all of us, I am sure. (Maybe your wife had a very small "honey-do list"?)

 

Glad to know that Sitka may well be a port that can regularly be visited regardless of the weather. It is a really good addition to an Alaskan itinerary.

[Itasca]

I won't miss the actual tendering, but I will certainly miss the outstanding views from the anchorage spots.

 

Yes indeed. I use shots from the anchorage position for the backgrounds on all of my electronics.:):):):):)

[murphy*kitty]

Is the old Industrial Dock as unattractive as it sounds? We have always enjoyed the beautiful anchorage while in Sitka and are disappointed by the change. Please tell me it's not as bad as it sounds-----

[POA1]

Is the old Industrial Dock as unattractive as it sounds? We have always enjoyed the beautiful anchorage while in Sitka and are disappointed by the change. Please tell me it's not as bad as it sounds-----

If it makes you feel better, most ports are "industrial." Both Port Everglades and Port Miami are working ports. There are some rare exceptions, like Grand Turk, purpose built for Cruise ships.

[Rowsby]

This is a link to the Halibut Point website....and photo of the dock....click on "Cruise Port" for more information about the terminal and shuttles.....

 

http://halibutpointmarine.com/

 

Edited May 3, 2016 by Rowsby

[CowPrincess]

Is the old Industrial Dock as unattractive as it sounds? We have always enjoyed the beautiful anchorage while in Sitka and are disappointed by the change. Please tell me it's not as bad as it sounds-----

 

Either Middle Aged Mom or The Second Sister did a pretty extensive blog/review of their cruise to Alaska, and their experience at the dock, which they found quite attractive. I'll try to find it later.

[Old As Dirt Mom]

Either Middle Aged Mom or The Second Sister did a pretty extensive blog/review of their cruise to Alaska, and their experience at the dock, which they found quite attractive. I'll try to find it later.

 

I thought I heard my name:) Here's some info from my sister, "The Second Sister", regarding our docking experience in Sitka last year on the Westerdam in early May:

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=46524422&postcount=20

 

 

Rowsby's link above also works very well:)

[murphy*kitty]

Thanks so much for your replies. This is trip number 7 to Alaska on Holland, so you'd think a little change might be a good thing. Will keep an open mind (more or less !) and try not to miss anchoring by all those lovely little islands.

[CowPrincess]

I thought I heard my name:) Here's some info from my sister, "The Second Sister", regarding our docking experience in Sitka last year on the Westerdam in early May:

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=46524422&postcount=20

 

 

Rowsby's link above also works very well:)

 

I think it was either you or your sister made comment (in some thread) that the dock area scenery was still enjoyable. Or was that someone else? I know I paid attention because DH and I were heading to Sitka on our cruise

[Old As Dirt Mom]

I think it was either you or your sister made comment (in some thread) that the dock area scenery was still enjoyable. Or was that someone else? I know I paid attention because DH and I were heading to Sitka on our cruise

 

Yes, one of the links above in my sister's post shows how pretty the setting is around the Old Sitka dock area (Halibut Point Marina). Here's a few more photos of the area, click on them to enlarge. The top four photos are of the pier and the area around it.

 

 

https://twocruisingsisters.wordpress.com/2015/05/06/a-whale-of-day-in-sitka/

[murphy*kitty]

Yes, one of the links above in my sister's post shows how pretty the setting is around the Old Sitka dock area (Halibut Point Marina). Here's a few more photos of the area, click on them to enlarge. The top four photos are of the pier and the area around it.

 

 

https://twocruisingsisters.wordpress.com/2015/05/06/a-whale-of-day-in-sitka/

 

Great pictures and I feel better already. We're leaving Saturday on the WESTIE--------thank you again for your help.

[Marigold252]

This is mostly positive news. The only bad weather we had on our Alaska cruise was in Sitka, and many people stayed onboard rather than using the tenders. But on the negative side, I really liked the town location which made it easy for us to explore on our own after our shore-ex concluded. We chose our itinerary because of the Sitka port.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Thanks for the info.

[Rockfan2]

We docked in Sitka last fall on the Statendams last Alaskan cruse. Took the bus into town and met up with a wildlife excursion which was awesome. The best part was at the end of the tour they brought us right back to the ship on their boat. :)

 

Rockfan2

[CowPrincess]

I thought I heard my name:) Here's some info from my sister, "The Second Sister", regarding our docking experience in Sitka last year on the Westerdam in early May:

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=46524422&postcount=20

 

 

Rowsby's link above also works very well:)

 

Thanks for the link. I was pretty sure it was the two of you ;) (sometimes my brain is scary-good.... and then there are those other times :D )

[SunLakesBob]

We docked in Sitka last fall on the Statendams last Alaskan cruse. Took the bus into town and met up with a wildlife excursion which was awesome. The best part was at the end of the tour they brought us right back to the ship on their boat. :)

 

Rockfan2

 

Interesting, we were on the Statendam last year and we tendered in. Sailed in July

[Himself]

I thought I heard my name:) Here's some info from my sister, "The Second Sister", regarding our docking experience in Sitka last year on the Westerdam in early May:

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=46524422&postcount=20

 

 

Rowsby's link above also works very well:)

 

Karin:

 

Thanks for the information and the links.

 

Himself

[Himself]

Yes, one of the links above in my sister's post shows how pretty the setting is around the Old Sitka dock area (Halibut Point Marina). Here's a few more photos of the area, click on them to enlarge. The top four photos are of the pier and the area around it.

 

 

https://twocruisingsisters.wordpress.com/2015/05/06/a-whale-of-day-in-sitka/

 

I love these picyures

[SunLakesBob]

Question to those who have docked in Sitka. Is there only one dock?

[Shebba]

This is good news. We'll be there in July. Thanks for the info!

[Old As Dirt Mom]

Question to those who have docked in Sitka. Is there only one dock?

 

Yes, only one dock.

 

https://twocruisingsisters.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/wpid-20150506_062910.jpg

[SunLakesBob]

Yes, only one dock.

 

https://twocruisingsisters.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/wpid-20150506_062910.jpg

 

Thank you. So there still is a good chance many of us may still tender. A good example is last year's Statendam. Some docked and some tendered. We tendered in July

[Old As Dirt Mom]

Thank you. So there still is a good chance many of us may still tender. A good example is last year's Statendam. Some docked and some tendered. We tendered in July

 

Maasdam will be the only ship in port for almost every time she's in Sitka. Which makes me think they'll dock, but what do I know?:D The day we docked in Sitka last May, the Westerdam was the only ship in town (May 6th, 2015).

 

 

http://claalaska.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Sitka-2016-SIT.pdf

 

I'm waiting with interest for you to report back from your June Maasdam cruise, because we are doing the same itinerary the end of August/early September:)

[SunLakesBob]

Maasdam will be the only ship in port for almost every time she's in Sitka. Which makes me think they'll dock, but what do I know?:D The day we docked in Sitka last May, the Westerdam was the only ship in town (May 6th, 2015).

 

 

http://claalaska.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Sitka-2016-SIT.pdf

 

I'm waiting with interest for you to report back from your June Maasdam cruise, because we are doing the same itinerary the end of August/early September:)

 

Thank you. It may be a blessing if we dock, then I could possibly use my scooter. If we tender, I'll have to use my walker, which limits where I go.

[Copper10-8]

Thank you. So there still is a good chance many of us may still tender. A good example is last year's Statendam. Some docked and some tendered. We tendered in July

 

Negative; There will be no more tendering in Sitka by HAL effective this year. The reason some HAL ships, i.e. WEDM, SADM and AMDM, used the Old Sitka Dock during the 2015 Alaska season was due to weather. It was unsafe to tender.

 

The Old Sitka Dock is a private venture and there is only space for one cruise large ship