Brittany Chrusciel, ContributorIcy Strait Point is a privately owned and operated cruise port, located on Chichagof Island about 1.5 miles from Hoonah, Alaska. Visitors to ISP will be awed by its waterfront location along Port Frederick, where whale and other marine life sightings are common from the shoreline of its beach.
Icy Strait is a small but mighty destination. The port offers guests top-tier wildlife viewing, rich cultural presentations, and marquee attractions in stunning natural surroundings.
It will be infinitely more difficult choosing something to do than finding something to do here. Still, Icy Strait Point offers a piece of true Alaska to everyone who visits. This guide will outline why ISP is so special and what you can expect to do during your day in port on your Alaska cruise.
Best Things to Do in Icy Strait Point, Alaska on a Cruise
What is Icy Strait Point known for?
Icy Strait is 100 percent Native owned and operated, which makes it a standout among Alaskan ports. Located within the city limits of Hoonah, Alaska’s largest Native Tlingit village, Icy Strait Point has very strong ties to Native Alaskan culture. In fact, about 85 percent of the port employees are from Hoonah.
The Huna Totem Corporation oversees Icy Strait Point and all profits directly support the local community. The port is known best for its excellent whale-watching opportunities, a restored salmon cannery that now serves as a museum, and one of the world’s longest ZipRider zip lines. Additionally, Icy Strait Point boasts a dozen retail shops that are all fully Alaskan-owned.
Where do cruise ships dock in Icy Strait Point?
There are two cruise ship docks —Wilderness Landing and Adventure Landing — as well as the ability to tender into port. Adventure Landing drops passengers right into the heart of the Adventure Center and close to the zip line. Wilderness Landing gives disembarking passengers a gorgeous view into the woods, to the west of Adventure Landing. It’s common to spot bald eagles here.
While various cruise lines call on Icy Strait, Norwegian Cruise Line has contributed a significant amount of money to the port’s development. Joint expansion, resulting in the newer Wilderness dock, means that NCL has priority docking rights there.
How do you get around Icy Strait Point?
Your cruise line might offer transportation from the dock into port for those with mobility issues. Otherwise, the port is very walkable. It hugs the coastline giving consistently breathtaking views as you go.
A shuttle bus into Hoonah runs from Icy Strait. The cost is about $5 for a roundtrip fare or $3 one way. The kiosk is located near the doughnut hut.
If you book an excursion for a hike or the ZipRider, transportation is included.
What to do in Icy Strait Point while visiting on a cruise?
Icy Strait Point Gondola
Introduced in 2022, the Sky Glider gondola is one of Icy Strait’s newest attractions. The electric gondola cars not only provide a thrilling ride through the surrounding rainforest, but also accomplishes an eco-friendly, vehicle-free zone across the port.
Soar among the treetops offering views to Glacier Bay with an all-day gondola pass (about $50). The green Transporter Gondola runs between Wilderness Landing and Adventure Landing; fare to this gondola is included when an excursion is booked. The red Mountain Top gondola will be used to replace buses as transport up the mountain for those booked on the ZipRider.
The Country’s Longest ZipRider
Even those a bit spooked about heights should still consider the epic ZipRider, one of the most popular things to do in Icy Strait. The views from the top include your cruise ship below, as you drop 1,330 feet in elevation over 5,330 feet of zip line.
Secured comfortably in a suspended seat, riders reach up to 60 mph and the entire ride is over in 90 seconds. There are six lines in total, so you and your family can descend to the ground below simultaneously.
Once a 45-minute tour through Hoonah, riders can now zip up the Mountain Top gondola for an additional thrill before strapping in to the ZipRider. A safety briefing and lockers are located at Adventure Landing before you depart. Even better — you can watch other ZipRiders land here from the base of the zip line.
Not so high up in the air is an adventure park and zip line course that operates from platforms in the rainforest. It’s a milder option for those not up to the elevation gain.
Whale Watching Tour
Icy Strait Point is so confident that you’ll see whales, they offer a $100 cash refund to any adult who doesn’t ($50 to kids). The magic comes from Point Adolphus, considered one of the best destinations for whale-watching in the world, and right around the corner from ISP.
Tons of humpback whales make this area their home during the summer, when ships call on Icy Strait. This guarantees some tremendous viewing opportunities. Alaska is always full of surprises, so you might also spot orcas, sea lions, porpoise, and of course tons of birds along the way.
Consider pairing your whale-watching cruise with a bear search or seafood feast. These all-day excursions are on offer from nearly every cruise line.
Tribal Dance and Cultural Legends Show
The Tlingit community of Hoonah brings their traditions to you during this hourlong live show. You can find the theater on the east side of the port, with totem poles marking the entrance.
Local performers combine music, dancing, and storytelling to convey their Tlingit history and customs, as well as the value of Icy Strait Point.
It’s a worthwhile way to break up an afternoon of exploration and activities.
Fishing
Part of what makes the area surrounding Icy Strait so rife with whales (and also bears) is its nutrient-rich waters. It makes sense then that a visit to Icy Strait also presents an opportune day of fishing.
Chase halibut, salmon, and more on a day out on the water. Halibut can be processed and shipped home to you, while stream fishing excursions participate in catch-and-release. A limited amount of fly-fishing gear is available for stream fishing.
You can charter an entire fishing boat and guide to yourself by purchasing all six tour tickets for your time slot. Kids can join in on the fun, but children must be 16 years old to participate unaccompanied.
In Alaska’s Wildest Kitchen
Learn how to prepare fresh Alaska seafood from the locals during a demonstration called “In Alaska’s Wildest Kitchen.” This hands-on 90-minute lesson is presented in a professional kitchen with personal anecdotes by Dodie Lunda, a fisherwoman and wilderness expert with a knack for fileting fish.
Guests will be able to season their own locally caught filets before bringing them out to an alder wood grill to cook. Paired with plenty of side dishes and fantastic storytelling, anyone age 8 and older can take part in this authentically Alaskan tour. Recipe cards are included. Foodies can’t miss out on one of the best things to do in Icy Strait Point, often sold as an excursion through your cruise line.
Lunch Along the Waterfront
Grabbing lunch in Icy Strait is not something that should be rushed. Choose any of the three waterfront venues for fresh seafood and brews: The Duck Point Smokehouse, the Cookhouse, or the Crab House.
Casual fare meets local flair with the hard-to-beat halibut fish and chips, crab tater tots, salmon dip, or Alaska Blue burgers made with reindeer meat. Wash it all down with Icy Strait Point’s own specialty ale, the Cannery Red.
Free things to do in Icy Strait Point
Tour of the Salmon Cannery
The Hoonah Packing Company built their first cannery here in 1912. While the cannery stopped producing canned salmon in 1953, it was retained as a maintenance and storage facility for the Hoonah fishing fleet into the ‘90s.
Today, the Salmon Cannery greets cruise ship guests as a renovated museum with a working assembly line, fascinating collections of old can labels, and tons of history about the area in the early 20th century.
Admission is free and it’s well worth spending some time inside, where shops selling Alaskan wares are also located.
Hike Along the Beach and Nature Trails
You don’t need to book a guided tour to simply walk along the beach here in Icy Strait. In addition to free beach access, there are a number of marked nature trails that are friendly for self-guided walks.
Grab a map and speak to a guest relations attendant at the Adventure Center to plan out the best hike for you based on the availability of time and endurance. Easy nature loops run alongside more strenuous hikes, ensuring that there is a satisfactory path for every ability.
Walk Around the Town of Hoonah
If you’ve been to Icy Strait before, consider getting to know the greater town of Hoonah. Anyone up for a walk on flat pavement can stroll about a half-hour into town from Icy Strait.
Grab a drink or a bite at the Fisherman’s Daughter, and possibly catch a Tlingit carver working in their outdoor studio. There are two totem poles in town; one near the Misty Bay Lodge and another by Colette’s Cupboard.
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