Weather cancels Sitka's first cruise ship of the season

Sitka’s first cruise ship of the season canceled its port of call due to bad weather. With over 2000 passengers aboard, the Eurodam was scheduled to tie up at the Old Sitka Dock from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. tomorrow, as it will every Wednesday this summer. But with a storm on the horizon, the Holland America ship will proceed directly from Skagway to Ketchikan. Sitka’s port director Fred Reeder, said a May cancellation is rare. The storm is expected to last 24 hours. “Cape Fairweather down to Cape Ommaney, [the forecast says] maybe 70 knot winds and seas to 22 feet. Tonight and tomorrow. And then lessening Thursday, down to 15 knots and seas to 14 feet,” Reeder said. The first cruise ship of the season will now be the Oosterdam, which arrives 8 a.m. on Thursday.