Icy Strait Level Cruise Port, owned by the Huna Totem Company, affords a singular and culturally wealthy expertise for guests. It options the Ocean Touchdown pier and the newer Wilderness Touchdown pier, together with entry to the SkyGlider gondola, nature trails, and the 5,495-foot-long ZipRider!
Situated close to Hoonah, Alaska, cruise passengers can even take pleasure in a restored salmon cannery, native retailers, and entry to genuine Tlingit tradition, making it a standout vacation spot for Alaska.
Icy Strait Level Cruise Port Location and Deal with
As talked about, Icy Strait Level is positioned roughly 1.5 miles from the city of Hoonah, Alaska. The city and the distant cruise are each located on the rugged Chichagof Island.
This distant island is a part of Alaska’s breathtaking Inside Passage, roughly 30 miles west of Juneau, Alaska. Though it’s inaccessible by highway and might solely actually be reached by seaplane or ship, the port’s deal with is:
108 Cannery Street, Hoonah, Alaska, 99829.
As of 2024, 85% of the cruise port’s everlasting workers stay in close by Hoonah, which is sensible given the port’s distant location. The remaining workers are largely flown in quickly to assist function the port through the cruise season.
Whenever you go to, you’ll instantly discover that the port is surrounded by a dense forest and rugged shoreline, which add to the sense of serenity and isolation.
Whereas there is no such thing as a assure of what you will note throughout your go to, the world can also be residence to considerable wildlife, serving to to immerse you within the Alaskan wilderness the second you’re taking your first steps off your ship.
Whereas it’s definitely distant, Icy Strait Level was constructed to offer guests with a cushty and memorable expertise. Plus, visiting is a good alternative to expertise the native Tlingit individuals’s well-known hospitality, because the port is owned and operated by the Huna Totem Company, an Alaska Native company that directs all earnings to the local people and tribe.
With over 1,400 Alaska Native shareholders, your entire port has a deep connection to the local people and other people, making visiting really feel all of the extra particular.
Icy Strait Level Cruise Port Piers and Terminal
Icy Strait Level options two cruise ship docks: Ocean Touchdown, often known as Journey Touchdown, and the newer Wilderness Touchdown Dock.
The newer Wilderness pier was accomplished in 2021 and sits simply south of Ocean Touchdown. Earlier than the 400-foot-long floating Ocean Touchdown Dock was constructed in 2016, your entire port consisted of a single tendering pier known as Icy Strait Level Dock.
The choice to construct the Wilderness Touchdown Dock was an actual game-changer for the port. It eradicated the necessity for tendering, and its location half a mile from the remainder of the port meant it could possibly be constructed within the deeper waters required to dock mega cruise ships.
Wilderness Touchdown was a joint $17 million venture accomplished by the Huna Totem Company in partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line. Its building allowed for each bigger ships and better visitors quantity, bringing much-needed tourism {dollars} to the world and the city of Hoonah.
In 2021, Norwegian Encore really sailed from Seattle to Icy Strait, offering her passengers with the chance to be the primary to discover the brand new Wilderness Touchdown Dock and the ZipRider Gondola System.
Having the choice to keep away from tendering additionally means passengers can now stroll instantly onto a dock linked to the land through the disembarkation course of. Many who’ve visited earlier than and after 2020 really feel that the Wilderness Touchdown Dock makes the port rather more accessible and handy.
For these with mobility challenges and even younger youngsters, disembarking on the Wilderness Dock can also be far much less daunting than getting out and in of a smaller tender boat.
Learn Additionally: Your Information to the Greatest Alaska Cruise Ports
That mentioned, one benefit of utilizing the older Ocean Touchdown pier is that it’s nearer to the brief path resulting in the historic salmon cannery. The cannery’s existence is definitely the explanation your entire cruise port was constructed the place it at present sits.
Total, most individuals discover the port compact and simply walkable. Properly-maintained strolling paths join the piers and the primary sights. The Ocean Touchdown Dock is nearer to the historic cannery, whereas the Wilderness Touchdown Dock is barely farther away however has a extra fashionable really feel.
Facilities and Services
Though the rugged setting and remoted location are the primary attracts of Icy Strait Level, the port can also be very well-equipped to deal with cruise passengers.
There are clear restrooms and loads of indoor and outside seating areas, and all visiting passengers can simply entry free Wi-Fi inside and outside the terminal.
If you wish to keep linked, the sign is surprisingly respectable for such a distant location, although it could actually get spotty when numerous individuals are on-line directly. The nearer you keep to the constructing on the finish of the Journey Dock, the higher the sign.
The superbly restored historic cannery constructing now serves as a free museum with reveals showcasing the area’s historical past and the native individuals who have known as it residence for tons of of years. This museum is one of many highlights of the port. Inside, you’ll discover retailers, eating places, and reveals detailing the world’s historical past.
Accessibility can also be glorious all through the port, with ramps and paved or gravel-lined strolling paths making it simple for everybody to navigate.
In case you are simply trying to soak up the views somewhat than take part in any of the various shore excursions accessible to guests, you possibly can see rather a lot with no need to journey far. The thick forest and wildlife-filled waters surrounding the port are an attraction.
ZipRider
One of many port’s extra distinctive options is the close by ZipRider, one of many longest zip strains on the planet. This attraction begins excessive within the mountains and affords gorgeous views as you zoom down at speeds as much as 65 mph.
It may be accessed through a gondola or mountain climbing path. Simply be ready for an adrenaline-fueled descent, because the 5,495-foot-long zipline cable has a vertical drop of 1,320 toes!
As we are going to talk about in additional element later, you possibly can take pleasure in a number of eating places and eateries when you go to Icy Strait Level, so you’ll not need to journey far to seize a chunk to eat.
Cruise Strains that Go to Icy Strait Level Cruise Port
Whereas the distant location may make you suppose it’s a cruise port that few ships go to, Icy Strait Level is an extremely fashionable cease on a variety of Alaskan cruise itineraries.
Actually, in 2024 alone, the port welcomed simply over 240 cruise ships, bringing roughly half one million guests to Icy Strait Level.
With its array of shore excursions and a shocking backdrop, a few of the world’s most recognizable cruise strains embrace a go to to Icy Strait of their schedules. These cruise strains embrace:
Carnival Cruise Line
Superstar Cruises
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Oceania Cruises
Princess Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Royal Caribbean Worldwide
For essentially the most half, these cruise strains have a tendency to incorporate a cease at Icy Strait Level as a part of their Southeast Alaska itineraries. These cruise voyages usually embrace stops at Juneau Cruise Port, Ketchikan Cruise Port, and Skagway Cruise Port. Their itineraries usually incorporate different vastly fashionable Alaskan sights like Glacier Bay Nationwide Park.
How you can Get to Icy Strait Level
Other than a single land, two-mile highway, and sidewalk that join the port to the city of Hoonah, the one option to attain Icy Strait Level is by cruise ship or passenger ferry.
That is really an enormous a part of the allure of Icy Strait Level Cruise Port. Its distant and difficult-to-access location makes you’re feeling like you might be getting into a special world if you arrive at both dock.
Since it’s a personal port owned by the Huna Totem Company, it is just open when a cruise ship is docked or will dock shortly. This implies your entire port and its experiences are tailor-made to visiting cruise passengers.
Whereas some passengers have complained about it seeming too touristy, the very fact you’ll not have to fret in regards to the port and its sights being crowded with vacationers who didn’t arrive by cruise ship ought to be seen as a significant plus.
What Can You Do Close by?
Whereas Icy Strait Level is filled with issues to do and see, some wonderful sights are only a brief distance from the port. Whether or not you might be planning to e-book a shore tour or just stroll into close by Hoonah, the next are simply a few of the many actions you possibly can take pleasure in:
E book a Wildlife and Nature Tour
Due to its distant location and pristine nature, Icy Strait Level is without doubt one of the finest locations in Alaska to identify wildlife.
Whale watching might be the most well-liked possibility, because it permits guests to identify humpback whales, orcas, belugas, porpoises, and extra of their pure habitats.
Most tour operators will take a small variety of passengers out to the waters off Level Adolphus, one of many state’s most fruitful whale-watching places. Whereas whales are the primary attraction, these excursions additionally present ample alternatives to view different species, together with sea otters and seals.
Bear viewing excursions are additionally fashionable, as Chichagof Island has an extremely excessive focus of coastal brown bears. Most excursions go to the Spasski River Valley, the place individuals can safely view these distinctive bears as they eat and sleep of their pure habitat.
You can even e-book a bird-watching nature hike with an area Native information. With a excessive focus of bald eagles calling the world residence, these excursions are an important alternative to identify one of many nation’s most iconic animals whereas concurrently studying in regards to the historical past of the area.
Sea kayaking classes and excursions are one other option to discover the world’s pristine coastlines and encounter wildlife in its pure habitat.
Go to the City of Hoonah
Whereas there’s a good nature path that hyperlinks the port and the city, in addition to a sidewalk that strains the service highway, loads of guests will go for a brief shuttle trip to Hoonah to maximise the period of time they need to discover the city.
Whenever you arrive in Hoonah, you’ll uncover loads of methods to embrace the city’s Tlingit heritage and tradition.
Go to the Yaakw Kahidi Cultural Heart to study in regards to the tradition and think about genuine Native artwork, or seize a pint of beer on the Icy Strait Brewing Firm, the place brewers deal with utilizing locally-grown elements wherever potential.
Hike the Nature Trails
There’s a danger of bear encounters, so it is strongly recommended that hikers journey in teams and produce noise makers. A number of really unbelievable and scenic strolling trails could be hiked from the port.
These embrace the Cannery Path, which affords stunning views of the shoreline. In case you are involved about bears or simply wish to study in regards to the space from an area, there are guided hikes that may be instructional, rewarding, and extremely memorable.
Eating in Icy Strait Level
Whilst you may assume that such a distant and comparatively small cruise port would lack eating choices, Icy Strait Level has a number of must-try spots for visiting cruise passengers.
Most deal with showcasing Alaskan delicacies, together with a few of the finest seafood you’ll attempt wherever on the planet. Listed below are just some of the most well-liked choices.
The Crab Home
As you might have in all probability guessed, The Crab Home is the place to go to if you wish to take pleasure in some fresh-caught crab dishes. This informal spot is legendary for its recent Dungeness crab, which is simply accessible when in season, between October and January.
In case you are fortunate sufficient to be in port whereas it’s accessible, the crab is served steaming sizzling and coated with melted butter. It could sound slightly odd, however do your self a favor and order it with the grilled seaside asparagus.
The asparagus is domestically grown, and after I had it served with meaty snow crab legs, it was simply probably the greatest meals I’ve ever had on an Alaskan cruise.
Even should you simply wish to seize a drink, The Crab Home’s signature Bloody Mary cocktail is vastly fashionable and options loads of native elements.
The restaurant is positioned within the port simply to the appropriate of the Journey Dock, so it’s extremely simple to seek out and entry. With heat indoor seating and outside seating that provides an unbelievable view of the water, it’s a must-visit.
The Cookhouse Restaurant
Situated on the opposite aspect of the dock from The Crab Home, the Cookout Restaurant affords guests a chance to order from a extra in depth menu.
One of many coolest issues about this distinctive waterfront restaurant is that it has been on this location for almost 100 years. It was the eating corridor for the salmon cannery, which employed tons of of locals.
Unsurprisingly, seafood steals the present, with British-style fish and chips made with Alaskan halibut being one of the vital fashionable objects on the menu.
Not into seafood? Don’t fear; in addition they serve burgers, sliders, nachos, and different pub meals favorites. In case you are up for one thing completely new, I like to recommend ordering the Alaskan salmon sliders or the reindeer meat burger!
Should you simply wish to loosen up with a chilly beverage, in addition they have quite a lot of native beers from the close by Icy Strait Brewing Firm on faucet.
Duck Level Smokehouse Restaurant
Situated simply to the aspect of the Wilderness Touchdown Dock close to the gondola for the ZipRider attraction, this newly renovated restaurant affords an upscale eating expertise with a deal with domestically sourced elements. The massive home windows look out onto the pebble seashores that line the island’s shoreline.
With an enormous menu that adjustments with the seasons and the provision of assorted elements, there’s at all times one thing new to attempt. Whether or not you order it as a primary or appetizer, their in-house smoked salmon is a must-try merchandise. The crab tater tots, reindeer steaks, and brick-oven baked pizzas are additionally vastly fashionable semi-permanent menu choices.
If the unbelievable menu and environment weren’t spectacular sufficient, one can find it has a 4.5 score on Google Critiques, and loads of reviewers rave in regards to the unbelievable service. If you wish to deal with your self throughout your go to to Icy Strait, don’t miss out on a go to to Duck Level!
It goes with out saying that you’re not going to seek out the identical vary of duty-free shops, boutiques, and outlet retailers you’ll discover within the main cruise ports within the Caribbean, however there are nonetheless some fascinating procuring alternatives accessible for these trying to buy a memento from their time in Icy Strait Level.
A lot of the choices accessible to visiting cruise passengers are usually handcrafted items and varied domestically made merchandise. In case you are considering procuring when you are within the port, you will discover the next objects accessible contained in the cannery constructing itself:
Alaska Native Crafts
Given its possession and placement, the shop closely focuses on selling genuine Tlingit items. Search for intricately hand-carved totem poles, items of bijou, Christmas ornaments, woven baskets and seaside luggage, and different objects made by native Tlingit artists and artisans.
Domestically Made Items
If crafts and trinkets aren’t your factor, you may also discover objects celebrating the world’s long-standing hyperlink to the fishing trade. Canned smoked salmon and dried fish are additionally accessible contained in the historic cannery constructing simply steps from the Ocean Touchdown Dock.
You can even buy native honey, sea salt, dried seaweed, birch syrup, dried berries, and extra. Handmade knives and seal fats soaps are additionally fashionable objects accessible contained in the cannery constructing.
Value Studying: How A lot Does an Alaskan Cruise Price?
It doesn’t matter what you might be on the lookout for, what many guests admire most about procuring within the port is that many of the objects on the market listed below are genuinely made domestically, so that you’re supporting native artists and the group that lives within the space.
I get uninterested in seeing the identical cookie-cutter items accessible in most ports. Buying one thing distinctive to the world and supporting its residents has at all times appeared like a method higher memento than a plastic magnet or factory-made knickknack.
Greatest Time to Go to Icy Strait Level
Icy Strait Level Cruise Port is simply open through the Alaskan cruise season, from late April to early October. Right here’s what you possibly can count on throughout every a part of the season:
Spring (April to Could)
Spring is mostly the perfect time to view the world’s well-known wildlife, together with bears and whales, as each are energetic after the lengthy winter months. I like to recommend dressing heat and packing a raincoat, as you possibly can anticipate temperatures between 40° and 55° F and semi-frequent rain showers.
Summer season (June to August)
Alaska’s warmest climate happens throughout summer time, however daytime highs not often exceed the mid-60s. Due to this fact, you must nonetheless deliver heat garments, particularly should you go to later within the day.
Learn Additionally: The Greatest Time to Cruise Alaska
Summer season can also be the busiest time of 12 months for the cruise port, so count on bigger crowds. In case you are trying ahead to a specific shore tour, I extremely advocate reserving forward of time should you go to through the summer time months. Fortunately, most could be booked on-line forward of time, so it’s pretty simple to safe your spot.
Fall (September to October)
Icy Strait Level tends to be much less busy through the cooler fall months. Fewer ships go to the port, making it simpler to e-book excursions, excursions, and even tickets for the ZipRider.
Remember that rainfall will increase in autumn, so outside actions and chartered fishing journeys could be topic to cancellation. Nonetheless, the vivid fall colours and crisp air could make for some really gorgeous surroundings and an genuine Alaska expertise.
Whereas temperatures can dip as little as 30° F within the early fall, you additionally get 14 hours of daylight throughout these months, making it a singular time to cruise Alaska’s Inside Passage.
Personally, it’s my favourite time to cruise Alaska, however it’s price taking the additional time to ensure you pack correctly!
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