Icy Strait Point is unlike any other Alaska cruise destination. It’s privately owned by the Huna Tlingit community of Hoonah — the only indigenous-owned cruise port in Alaska — and purpose-built in a converted 1912 salmon cannery complex on the shore of Icy Strait. No downtown strip, no jewelry stores competing for your attention. The entire port experience is designed by and for the community.
Ships anchor offshore and tender passengers to the dock. The tender adds 15–20 minutes each way but the dock arrives you directly at the port complex, where all excursions depart.
What to Expect at Icy Strait Point
The port complex is built around the restored cannery buildings — a small cultural museum, restaurants, gift shops, and the excursion booking center. Everything is walkable from the tender dock. The complex itself sits on a rocky forested shoreline with views across the strait toward Chichagof Island.
Icy Strait Point’s best feature: wildlife density. Humpback whales regularly feed in the strait (you can sometimes see them from the dock). Brown bears are present in the surrounding forest. Bald eagles perch in the trees above the cannery. This is one of the few ports where wildlife shows up without an excursion.
Top Things to Do at Icy Strait Point
Brown Bear & Whale Watch Combo
The most popular tour at the port. A boat tour through Icy Strait for humpback whale watching, combined with a stop at a bear viewing site. Duration: 3.5–4 hours. Cost: $180–$220 per adult. High success rate on both species. Book in advance.
ZipRider
A gondola hauls you to 1,300 feet above the port, where a mile-long zip line drops you back to the waterfront at up to 60 mph. The views over Icy Strait and the Fairweather Range are extraordinary. Cost: ~$129 per person. The line to ride moves quickly but book early in peak season.
Cultural Heritage Tour
A Huna Tlingit-guided tour through the cannery museum and surrounding sites, covering the history of the Hoonah community, traditional subsistence practices, and the port’s development. 60–90 minutes. This is the best cultural experience in any Alaska cruise port.
Wildlife Forest Walk
A guided 2-mile walk through the old-growth forest surrounding the port. Naturalist-led, focused on coastal rainforest ecology, bear tracks, and bird identification. Easy terrain. Good for families and non-hikers.
Tender Tips
Tender lines can be long at peak sail-away times (last two hours before departure). Plan to be back on the tender dock at least 90 minutes before your ship’s departure time. The port is well-organized but the tender ride itself is weather-dependent — rough days mean slow rides.
Traveling as a group?
Make your Alaska cruise memorable with matching group shirts. Dozens of Alaska cruise designs — from glacier teal to midnight navy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Icy Strait Point different from other Alaska cruise ports?
Icy Strait Point is privately owned by the Huna Tlingit people — it's the only Alaska cruise destination owned and operated by its indigenous community. All revenue stays in Hoonah. The port was purpose-built for cruise ships in a converted 1912 salmon cannery, which means the infrastructure is clean and well-organized, and the focus is genuinely on experience rather than retail.
Is Icy Strait Point a tender port?
Yes — ships anchor offshore and tender passengers to the dock. Tender tickets are distributed on board (typically first-come, first-served). Budget 15–20 minutes each way for the tender ride. The dock is at the port complex itself, so there's no additional transit once you arrive.
Is bear viewing better in Icy Strait Point or other Alaska ports?
Icy Strait Point is one of the best bear viewing ports in Southeast Alaska, with consistent brown bear sightings at nearby Pack Creek (seasonal) and along the shoreline near Hoonah. The combo whale watch + bear viewing excursion is the most popular tour in port and worth booking in advance.
What is the ZipRider at Icy Strait Point?
The ZipRider is a zip line that runs from a mountaintop 1,300 feet above the port down to the waterfront — a mile long, up to 60 mph. It's the world's largest zip line by its operators' count. Cost: around $129 per person. It's genuinely thrilling. Book in advance as it fills quickly.