Icy Strait Point Hoonah, Alaska

666 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

Azamara Club Cruises (19 Cruises)

Celebrity Cruises (58 Cruises)

Cruise CEL Celebrity Ship Solstice

Celebrity Solstice

2852 Passengers
121878 tons
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Cruise CEL Celebrity Ship Summit

Celebrity Summit

2218 Passengers
91003 tons
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Holland America Line (52 Cruises)

Cruise HAL Holland America Line ms Eurodam ship

ms Eurodam

2104 Passengers
86273 tons
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Lindblad Expeditions (40 Cruises)

Norwegian Cruise Line (103 Cruises)

Cruise NCL Norwegian Cruise Line Bliss Ship

Norwegian Bliss

4004 Passengers
168000 tons
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Norwegian Jade

2402 Passengers
93558 tons
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Princess Cruises (25 Cruises)

Regent Seven Seas Cruises (38 Cruises)

Cruise REG Regent Seven Seas Cruises Explorer ship

Seven Seas Explorer

1294 Passengers
55254 tons
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Seven Seas Splendor.

Seven Seas Splendor

1296 Passengers
55254 tons
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Royal Caribbean Cruises (48 Cruises)

royal caribbean  serenade of the seas cruise ship

Serenade of the Seas

2110 Passengers
90090 tons
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Seabourn Cruise Line (70 Cruises)

Seabourn Encore.

Seabourn Encore

40350 tons
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Viking Ocean Cruises (106 Cruises)

Viking Orion.

Viking Orion

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Viking Venus

Viking Venus

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Icy Strait Point, Alaska | Cruise Port Guide

Old red buildings lined up along the water, a forest of spruce climbing behind them, and a strait where humpback whales blow: Icy Strait Point is unlike any other port in Alaska. This destination was built entirely from scratch by the Huna Totem Corporation, a company owned by the Tlingit people of Hoonah, around a salmon cannery dating back to 1912. The proceeds from every stop go directly back to the community, which gives the day a distinctive feel: here, tourism works for the village, not the other way around.

Two Landings Linked by Gondola

Ships dock at one of the site's two landings, Ocean Landing, near the cannery and shops, or Wilderness Landing, on the adventure-activities side. Shoreline paths and a free gondola system connect the two areas; a second lift, the SkyGlider, carries visitors up Hoonah Mountain for a sweeping view over Icy Strait and the Chilkat Mountains. Everything here is designed for getting around without a car, in a compact, well-kept setting.

The Cannery and Tlingit Memory

The restored cannery houses a museum where the 1930s canning line remains intact: you follow the salmon's journey, from the seine net to the shipping dock, through machinery, photographs, and firsthand accounts. The local Tlingit, whose ancestors left Glacier Bay as the ice advanced several centuries ago, also tell their own story through dance and song performances. Taking a moment to talk with the staff, almost all from the village, teaches far more than any display panel.

Whales, Bears, and Forest

The waters off Point Adolphus, just a few minutes away by boat, rank among the best humpback whale-watching areas in all of southeast Alaska: excursions depart right from the dock and, depending on the day, also cross paths with orcas, sea lions, and porpoises. On land, guided outings head to the Spasski River valley, frequented by brown bears fishing for salmon in summer. Independent walkers can enjoy the site's coastal and forest trails, among towering cedars, ferns, and pebble beaches.

The Record-Breaking Zipline

Thrill-seekers come to Icy Strait Point for one specific reason: a giant zipline about 1,600 m long, with a drop of more than 400 m, where six parallel cables let riders race down the mountain side by side, at speeds exceeding 90 km/h. The ride itself lasts less than a minute; the laughter usually lasts quite a bit longer. Those who prefer a calmer experience can simply take the gondola ride up instead, just as scenic and considerably more peaceful.

Hoonah, the Real Village

2.4 km from the site, reachable on foot along a lovely coastal road or by shuttle, Hoonah is the largest Tlingit community in Alaska, home to about 900 people, an active fishing harbour, and a carving workshop where totem poles and canoes come to life. The walk is well worth it for anyone wanting to see local life beyond the tourist area: a school, a church, boats pulled up on land, and easy conversation at the coffee counter.

  • Book the whale-watching excursion early: demand often outpaces availability in summer.
  • Bring waterproof clothing; the rainforest lives up to its name.
  • The site is easy to explore on foot, but shuttles make the round trip to the neighbouring village more convenient.

Late in the day, from the ship's deck, the red cannery shrinks at the foot of its mountain. The stop leaves an impression rarely found in the cruise industry: that of a place where welcoming visitors strengthens a community instead of reshaping it. You leave with images of whales, of course, but above all with the memory of a village that chose, on its own terms, how to share its corner of the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

At one of the site's two piers: Ocean Landing, beside the former cannery, or the farther pier. The two are linked by a gondola, so no walking is forced on anyone.
A cruise destination built around a former salmon cannery, owned by the Tlingit community of Hoonah. It is the only cruise port in Alaska owned and operated by an Indigenous community.
The restored cannery and its museum, a whale-watching outing, and the walk or shuttle to Hoonah village. Book excursions early: demand often exceeds supply in summer.
Yes, and it is the main reason to come. The waters off Point Adolphus, a few minutes away by boat, are among the finest humpback whale watching grounds in all of Alaska.
A restored salmon canning plant, now housing a museum where the 1930s production line remains intact. Around it, shops and workshops present Tlingit craft.
Yes, one of the longest in the world: it drops from the mountain above the site in a single run, at high speed. It is the signature thrill activity of the call.
Yes. Hoonah lies 2.4 km from the site, reachable on foot along a pleasant coastal road or by shuttle. It is the largest Tlingit village in Alaska and the only place to see daily life outside the developed site.
It is possible, with no guarantee. The island holds a brown bear population, and guided excursions run to the salmon streams. Sightings depend on the season and the salmon run.
The US dollar and English, with Tlingit present in place names and cultural interpretation. Credit cards work throughout the site.
Yes. The gondola delights everyone, the museum is short and tangible, and the whale outing leaves a lasting mark. Bring warm waterproof clothing, even in July.