Sun in Alaska

[readingfast]

Can anyone tell me where the Sun docks at the Alaskan ports?

I understand that in some cases it docks miles away from the relevant town and you have to catch a shuttle.

Many thanks

 

[Cruise5life]

3 hours ago, readingfast said:

Can anyone tell me where the Sun docks at the Alaskan ports?

I understand that in some cases it docks miles away from the relevant town and you have to catch a shuttle.

Many thanks

 

You may want to give more info.    What ports is the sun going to in the cruise you’re looking at ?    

[GeezerCouple]

1 hour ago, Cruise5life said:

You may want to give more info.    What ports is the sun going to in the cruise you’re looking at ?    

 

It might also depend upon what other ships are at the same port as your ship on that day.  We took the Sun northbound several years ago, and we docked right in town everywhere.

 

Watching the reports, there were times when some ships had to tender, but to the same port area.  Also, sometimes when a ship was announced to need to tender, we noticed it ended up at a dock, but I have no idea why the change.

 

And as Cruise5life wrote, just which ports might make a difference, too.

 

We thought the views were just amazing, and Hubbard Glacier was by far the hight point.

 

GC

[www3traveler]

Looking at the 10 Day Sun itinerary:

  Juneau-- depending on where you dock you might be able to walk but there will be buses available

  Skagway--dock- can walk into town

  Sitka--does have a dock but your cruise might have to tender.

  Icy Strait Point-- does have a dock but has a "People Mover" to move you closer to the attractions

  Ketchikan (Ward Cove)--Docks but several miles from downtown but there will be lots of buses

 Victoria-- docks a distance from downtown-- walkable but suggest only in daylight hours.  There will

   lots of buses and bicycle cabs available near the pier

 

Enjoy your cruise   Alaskan is beautiful especially in the very early part of the season.

 

[BirdTravels]

5 hours ago, readingfast said:

Can anyone tell me where the Sun docks at the Alaskan ports? I understand that in some cases it docks miles away from the relevant town and you have to catch a shuttle. Many thanks

 

 

If you are on a shore excursion, the buses (NCL and private) will pick you up at the dock. 

 

Juneau - NCL normally uses the AJ dock. It's about 1 mile walk to the base of the tramway which is the start of town. (Not the nicest walks and it is up/down hill). Complimentary buses run every 15 minutes. Since we have been to Juneau many times, we normally just catch the shuttle and poke around the shops in town for an hour and return to the ship. 

 

Skagway - NCL normally uses the Railway dock (next to the White Pass Railway cruise pick-up). It's about 3/4 mile walk to the start of town. The Railway Dock has been open/closed a bunch last season due to landslides. There is a city shuttle (for-fee) that runs along the main street picking up at multiple points taking you to/from the dock. 

 

Icy Strait Point - NCL uses their own terminal at the Wilderness Landing. There is a complimentary gondola that will take you over to the Adventure Center/Ocean Landing with a few restaurants and shops (not a whole lot at ISP). It's about a mile's walk (dirt/mud and hilly) if you don't like heights. From the Adventure Center you can walk into town or there is a for-fee shuttle.

 

From the Wilderness Landing, there is also a for-fee (around $45pp) gondola to the top of the mountain and the Sky Peak area (to be developed) which is a nice easy hiking area. We went up on our last cruise. There is an AT&T cell tower up there (which you can not get from the docks), so spent time facetiming. 

 

Ketchikan - NCL uses their own terminal at Ward Cover which is 7 miles from the center of town and a 15 minute complimentary shuttle ride. It is kinda of an industrial port and we have never tried to walk out and see what is within walking distance of the dock (we were on the first NCL ship to use that facility in August 2021). 

 

Victoria - NCL normally uses the Ogden Point Terminal A pier. It is about a 1.5 mile walk from the dock to the start of town. It is residential areas and there are a lot of people walking. If you just want a stroll, it about 3/4 miles to Fisherman's Warf which has a bunch of food stalls on a floating dock. There is a shuttle to/from town, which we have never used. If we are in town, we just catch a taxi back to the cruise terminal 

Edited January 26, 2023 by BirdTravels

[Yo Adrienne]

We've been to Sitka multiple times (including on the Sun--most recently in May 2022)...and each time we've docked at an expanded pier area which is about a 10-15 minute shuttle/bus ride outside of town.  The bus is free and the drivers are usually pretty entertaining...and it's a very pleasant and mostly scenic ride.  They've actually created a nice visitor center at this dock--some shops and a restaurant are now there--so it's a fun way to begin a visit to Sitka.

 

In the past, we've seen a few ships out in the harbor in the center of town where a tender was required, but have never actually tendered there. 

 

And just FYI...if you do have the opportunity to visit Sitka on a cruise, I'd definitely recommend it.  Not many of the itineraries include it...so it can be much less crowded than the other ports.  Of course, it has its share of shops and restaurants...but it's also beautifully scenic.  Plus, the Alaska Raptor Center is located there--a must if you enjoy seeing eagles and other raptors. 

[jimsig]

Every year they publish a list of ports and what docks each ship will be using.  Here is the 2023 schedule last updated on Jan 23.  

 

https://claalaska.com/?page_id=1250

 

You can then do a web search for where the specific dock is.   

[arpie05]

4 hours ago, jimsig said:

Every year they publish a list of ports and what docks each ship will be using.  Here is the 2023 schedule last updated on Jan 23.  

 

https://claalaska.com/?page_id=1250

 

You can then do a web search for where the specific dock is.   

Thank you! This is very helpful! (I can't believe how many ships will be in Alaska this summer season!