Alaska
Alaska
Icy Strait Point Cruise Port Guide: Things to Do & Practical Tips
Alaska
Ships dock directly at the Icy Strait Point cruise pier, a purpose-built facility located at the historic Hoonah cannery site in Hoonah, Alaska — no tendering required.
Choose the Right Port Day
Best Overall
A whale-watching trip is the best overall use of time here if wildlife is your priority; if not, do a simple scenic walking day and do not force expensive add-ons.
Best Beach
Not really a beach port. The shoreline is scenic for a walk and photos, not for swimming.
With Kids
Pick one paid attraction max: the SkyGlider plus nature trails, or the wildlife center area and beachside walking if you want a cheaper day.
Only 3-4 Hours
Walk the port boardwalks, visit the restored cannery area, take the free gondola if operating, then do the Forest and Nature Trail or a short beach walk before heading back.
Cheapest Option
Stay in the port area and walk: cannery exhibits, shoreline views, trails, and wildlife spotting can be done for free or near-free; bring layers and skip the big-ticket rides.
What To Avoid
Do not book multiple paid attractions on one short call. Also do not expect Hoonah itself to feel like a big browse-around town right outside the pier.
Quick Take
- Port Type
- Purpose-built Alaska cruise port
- Best For
- Whale watching, easy wildlife spotting, short hikes, scenic views, simple shore days
- Avoid If
- You want a real city, independent transport options, or lots of free things right off the pier
- Walkability
- Good inside the port area; limited beyond it unless you use shuttle, tour, or plan a longer walk
- Budget Fit
- Mixed; you can do a cheap walking day, but many headline activities are expensive
- Good For Short Calls?
- Very good if you pick one main activity and keep expectations realistic
Port Overview
The key decision is simple: either book one serious wildlife or adventure excursion, or keep it cheap and scenic and enjoy the port itself. Trying to do everything usually means spending a lot and rushing.
Top Things To Do
1
Hoonah Whale-Watching Cruise - Near Icy Strait Point
Stand on deck as a humpback surfaces close enough that you can hear the exhale — these waters draw some of the densest concentrations of feeding whales in Southeast Alaska, and the small-group format means you are not watching over a hundred shoulders. Custom-built vessels with a heated cabin mean the cold won't drive you inside right when something surfaces.
Book on Viator2
River Fishing and Bear Watching
Old logging roads lead you out to a remote river where brown bears fish the same banks you will — Chichagof Island holds one of the highest brown bear densities anywhere, so a sighting is genuinely probable rather than hopeful. The drive through the Tlingit village of Hoonah adds real context you won't get from the port area, and the choice of spin or fly fishing means the river is worth your time even if the bears stay in the trees.
Book on ViatorBook with the ship, or on your own?
Booking independently
- Often noticeably cheaper than the ship’s version of the same tour.
- Smaller groups and local operators, with traveler reviews you can read before you pay.
- Free cancellation on most tours, usually up to 24 hours before.
When the ship’s excursion makes sense
- Short port calls or long transfers where the timing is tight.
- Tender-only stops where getting ashore can run late.
- The ship waits for its own delayed excursions — it won’t wait for independent ones, so leave a buffer before all-aboard.
Going independent? Compare tours in Icy Strait Point → — the best-reviewed ones sell out first.
We may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you — it’s how we keep these guides free.
Is It Safe?
If you go beyond the central port area, pay attention to posted bear guidance and stay on marked paths. You are in Alaska, not a theme park, even if part of the port feels curated.
Accessibility & Walkability
Wheelchair users and travelers with limited mobility can usually enjoy the immediate waterfront, shops, and some viewing areas, but not every trail or hillside attraction will be realistic. Check directly with your cruise line or excursion operator for current accessibility details on specific tours and lifts.
Outside the Terminal
Within the first 10 minutes you can be on a boardwalk, by the old cannery buildings, or heading toward a trail or shuttle. That convenience is the main strength here.
Beaches Near the Port
Icy Strait Shoreline
There are no traditional swimming beaches at Icy Strait Point — water temperatures hover around 40–50°F year-round and weather is typically cool, overcast, and damp. The shoreline is scenic and worth walking for wildlife spotting, but pack away any expectations of a beach day.
Local Food & Drink
If you go into Hoonah, options are more limited than in Alaska's bigger ports, but that can feel more local. Either way, do not expect a major food scene.
Shopping
If you want serious shopping, this is not the port for it. Buy something small if you like, then move on to the scenery or wildlife.
Money & Currency
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- USD Accepted?
- Yes
- Card Payments
- Cards are widely accepted in the port area
- ATMs
- Limited but usually available in or near the port complex
- Tipping
- Standard US tipping applies for guides, drivers, and food service
- Notes
- Carry a little cash for small purchases, but most cruisers can manage the day with cards.
Weather & Best Time
- Best months
- June – August
- Avoid
- Cruise visits are mainly seasonal; shoulder months can be colder and wetter
- Temperature
- About 45-65°F / 7-18°C
- Notes
- Rain, fog, and wind are common. Views can be excellent or completely socked in within the same day.
Airport Information
- Airport
- Hoonah Airport
- Distance
- Roughly 3 km from Icy Strait Point area
- Getting there
- Local transfer arrangements only; not relevant for most cruise passengers
- Notes
- This is not a practical fly-in cruise base for most travelers. Juneau is the larger regional gateway.
Photos of Icy Strait Point
Getting Around from the Port
Walking
The port complex, old cannery area, boardwalks, and some trails are walkable on your own.
Free transport within port area
Icy Strait Point typically has internal transport options such as the free gondola or shuttle connections between zones when operating.
Paid gondola or attraction transport
Some upper-area access is tied to paid attractions or optional transport products.
Shuttle to Hoonah
A shuttle commonly links the cruise area with Hoonah for those who want to see the local community beyond the port complex.
Book a transfer 5% off with code TPO5 at checkoutExcursion transport
Whale watching, fishing, wildlife, and cultural tours usually include their own transport logistics from the port.
Details last checked May 2026
Check The Port Traffic
Cruise Ships in Port
Once you have your shore plan, use the schedule to see how busy the harbour will be on your date, plus the ships, lines, and published call windows.
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
1 ship
4
5
6
7
8
9
1 ship
10
2 ships
11
3 ships
12
13
1 ship
14
1 ship
15
1 ship
16
17
4 ships
18
3 ships
19
2 ships
20
2 ships
21
2 ships
22
23
1 ship
24
2 ships
25
2 ships
26
1 ship
27
2 ships
28
1 ship
29
3 ships
30
2 ships
31
3 ships
Quiet (1–2)
Busy (3–4)
Packed (5+)
0 scheduled calls
August 22, 2026
No scheduled cruise ship calls were found for this date selection. Pick a highlighted day on the calendar above, widen the range, or search for a different ship or line.
Planning a cruise here?
Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises & more sail to Icy Strait Point.
Practical Tips for Cruise Passengers
- Pick one main paid activity at most; this port is easy to overspend in without actually doing more.
- If your priority is whales, book early because that is one of the strongest reasons to go ashore here.
- If the weather is poor, skip view-based paid add-ons unless you are fine with the risk of fogged-out scenery.
- Wear waterproof shoes or at least shoes with grip; wet boardwalks and trails are common.
- Do not expect a big independent town day right off the pier; this is mostly a managed port area.
- A free or low-cost walking day works better here than many cruisers assume, especially on a shorter port call.
- Bring layers, a rain shell, and binoculars if you have them; they are more useful here than extra shopping money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Ships dock at a pier, so this is usually an easy walk-off port rather than a tender hassle.
The port complex itself is very walkable. Beyond that, options are limited unless you use a shuttle, excursion, or plan a longer walk.
Not really. The port is a purpose-built cruise area near Hoonah, not a classic downtown directly outside the pier.
For most cruisers, whale watching is the standout choice. If you do not want to spend much, the best plan is a scenic walking day around the port and trails.
Only if you specifically want that thrill. It is one of the port's signature attractions, but it is not the best value for travelers who just want scenery.
Sometimes, yes. Eagles and other wildlife are often spotted around the port and shoreline, but whales and bears are never guaranteed from a casual walk.
No, independent options exist. But in a small port like this, ship-sponsored tours can be the simpler choice for logistics.
Usually yes, especially if you like nature and wildlife. Just keep expectations realistic: this is better for scenery and excursions than for town wandering or shopping.
Find cruises to Icy Strait Point, Alaska
Compare sailings and book with no fees — best price guaranteed.
We may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you — it’s how we keep these guides free.
✉ Sailing to Icy Strait Point? Get your port-day plan
Tell us your sail date and we’ll email you a short Icy Strait Point plan about 60 days out — when the good excursions start selling out — plus a final checklist 2 weeks before. Two emails, then done. We’ll send one note to confirm it’s really you — unsubscribe anytime.
Same itinerary network
View All
Ports Often Paired With Icy Strait Point
Alaska
Mexico & Pacific Coast
British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Cruise Port Guide: Embarkation, Getting There & Pre-Cruise Tips
Alaska
