Our 2nd full day onboard the Brilliance of the Seas brought us to Sitka, our first stop finally in Alaska! We got breakfast at the Windjammer after deciding against a long line for the sit down breakfast at the Minstrel Dining Room. If you do want a sit down breakfast I’d recommend sending someone from your party to wait in line or heading down early together.
After a quick stop at Starbucks we headed up to the top deck where we could see Mt. Edgebombe, the active volcano outside of Sitka! I definitely recommend spending some time up top or taking advantage of the views from your rooms early each morning to get the best views of each town you visit on this itinerary. We pulled into port around 10 am and were so ready to get off the boat and start exploring!
When you book an excursion directly with Royal Caribbean they make it super simple to get to your destinations. The 1st day of the cruise you are give
n tickets for each excursion that include instructions on where to meet up with your group for the excursion. There are tons of friendly staff ready to help get you where you need to go. Once you give them your tickets, they show you exactly where to wait and you will get a sticker with your group number on it. I would recommend putting this on your outer layer of gear!
The port at Sitka was definitely easy as far as getting on and off the ship and getting to our
destinations and downtown Sitka. There was a great little shopping center right when you get off which offered tons of souvenirs and necessities for cruising. We made a mental note to stop back by here before boarding the ship later on. We had to head straight to our excursion tour boat which picked us up on the same dock our ship was already at. We decided on an excursion that promised us sea otters, whales, and other marine life and it definitely delivered! The entire excursion was about 3 hours and included a tasting of Alaskan snacks. There were bathrooms on board and more food and drinks available for purchase. The tour ship itself was decently sized and had both outdoor and indoor viewing spaces so you can escape the elements if needed.
We spent most of our time outside to get the best views of the wildlife. We had great views of the town and shore for the first part of our tour and within minutes saw our first eagle! The tour team did a great job of getting close to all the animals but still respecting their space and keeping the animals safe. After another few minutes we saw our first whale tail and some sea otters shortly after. I would definitely recommend bringing your binoculars and camera for this type of excursion to see everything up close. We saw a few minke whales and ended up following one for quite a while. We also spotted some humpback whales and were told that there are sometimes orcas in the area as well.
We had great views of both the back and tail and learned a lot about these beautiful whales! Between looking for wildlife, the team on board had samples of some of the local food available for purchase including some delicious salmon dip which made us all the more excited for the salmon capital in Ketchikan later in the week!
We ended up chatting with the captain of the ship and he gave us all kinds of information about the local wildlife, where to eat, and things to do in Sitka! After about 2 1/2 hours of chasing whales, seals, sea otters, and eagles, the boat made its way closer to land and some of the sites at Tongass National Forest. This is the US’ largest national forest and I could not get over the vast trees, mountains, and just how large everything was. Pictures really don’t do Alaska and the Northeast justice! Make sure to pack your layers and a wide variety of gear because we went from rainy and cold, to windy, to sunny and warmer in the span of a few hours. Definitely have a pair of sunglasses, a warm hat, and a water resistant (even better if its waterproof) jacket!
Once we toured some of the Tongass National Forest area it was time for us to head back to port. The boat travelled much faster while it was heading in and this was the perfect time to try some more local snacks inside the boat. Once we got back to the docks we hopped on the bus to downtown Sitka. This was about a 15 minute shuttle ride and dropped us right in the heart of the small town of Sitka.
We decided on lunch at Mean Queen which had insane views of the water (check out my instagram highlights for a video!). We tried some pizza, wings, and a few deep friend appetizers. Everything was super yummy and we enjoyed watching some other ships come into the bay right outside. We still had a little time before we were due to be back on board so we wandered around the shore front and a few of our crew went shopping in town and to St. Michael’s Cathedral, the first orthodox church in the “new world” and it was gorgeous! We met back at the same spot where we were dropped off and were back at the ship with some time to check out all of the shops on the dock. We ended up buying some souvenirs and playing cards to use on our next day at sea. We did not know it at the time but there was a ton of shopping coming our way in the next few days. 
We got back on board with our purchases and it was a very quick process. Just make sure anytime you leave the ship to have your room key and a photo ID. Your items will be going through security so make sure you follow the restrictions that are given. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time when returning to the ship in case there is a long line. The ship will leave without you!
We went up for a quick wardrobe change and made our way to the Minstrel dining room for dinner onboard. We had great views of the forests and mountains while on our way out to sea! After dinner we went to the theatre for the Late Night Comedy show. Our family all agreed that this was the only show we felt was worth seeing. While not the best comedy ever, it wad definitely entertaining and held our interest unlike some of the other shows. Nighttime on board is the perfect time to check out the bars, casino, and clubs on board. Be sure to check in the Royal Caribbean app for all of the available entertainment each night.
If I could recommend anything for your day in Sitka, it would be to find an excursion at sea to see the amazing scenery and views! There was not too much in terms of a food scene or shopping from our experiences so take the time to wander around and enjoy the area and pack for the weather! Our day in Juneau is up next on the blog!
Adventure is out there! -Ashley
