Expect guaranteed whale sightings in these nutrient-rich waters during the summer. T4. Date of experience: September 2017. Lover of books and dessert. For critter enthusiasts, there is really no need to book a whale watching tour as youll be able to spot humpbacks, orcas, and harbor seals directly from your cruise ship, especially in the wee hours. The ticket agent for the sky glider was the one that advised us about the hike. Be ready to paddle about 7 miles total. Icy Strait Point was our first stop on our June 2022 Alaskan cruise. Excursions by boat or vehicle to the Spasski River provide opportunities to spot bald eagles, woodpeckers . Look for jewelry made from fine gold nuggets, handcrafted objects, and warm winter fashions. We too the free shuttle back into the port area and walked through the old cannery, the museum and gift shops, which were all cool. I want to get the most out of Alaska but excursions over $400 per person are out of the picture. Mom of a shaggy-haired dog and a shaggy-haired human. Yes is does have substantial tourist oriented shopping, and the main attraction the Ziprider. The trail is a moderate 2-mile hike that includes panoramic views of Chichagof Island and the surrounding waterways. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Add in the communication he has with other captains on the other boats, and it's a perfect whale finding system! After a drive through (and out of) town, youll leave the crowds behind and head onto Alaska native-owned lands where youll disembark and start your wilderness hike. In May I spent an amazing week with Princess Cruise Lines aboard the Island Princess. Bear sightings are also more frequent during the summer, so plan your trip accordingly. I have heard that whale watching excursions book on the ship are on very big boats that hold a lot of people. You'll enjoy a 2.5-hour cruise through the waters of Icy Strait, where you are guaranteed to spot at least one whale. Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, Norwegian, Oceania, Princess, Regent, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, and Viking. I am going on Quantum of the Seas out of Seattle in May 2022 to Alaska and BC. Generally speaking, Carnival will be the least expensive and Disney will be the most expensive, with Royal Caribbean and Norwegian at the lower end and Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, and Cunard at the upper end. Located in Alaska's largest Native Tlingit village of Hoonah (about 35 miles west of Juneau), Icy Strait Point features 20+ exciting tours, a restored 1912 Alaska salmon cannery and museum, nature trails, restaurants, 100% Alaskan-owned retail shops, and even a beach! Carnival, Disney, Holland America, Norwegian, Oceania, Princess, Regent, and Royal Caribbean. Find Matching Tours Adventure Glacier Tours Private Tours Sightseeing Train Excursions Unique to Skagway Adventure Flightseeing Glacier Tours Whale Watching Unique to Juneau Adventure Cultural & Historical Flightseeing This 2.5-hour outdoor adventure is listed as moderate in terms of activity level. Local knowledge is king, and having a fantastic team with a wealth of local expertise in our employ, gives us the confidence that well leave you happy and wanting to return! Unfortunately, the biggest ships have a tendency to scare off a lot of the wildlife you hope to see. (Look for them holding a Hoonah Travel Adventures sign.) This cruise ship stop is not like all the others with hoards of jewelry stores. Icy Strait Point is the only private cruise ship destination in Alaska; we offer over 20 different shore excursions including ATVs, biking, kayaking, nature tours, the best whale watching in Alaska and the world's largest and highest zipline ride. Icy Strait is home to a wide array of wildlife, including orcas, sea lions, sea otters, harbor seals, porpoise, and the majestic humpback whale. It's a 3.5 hr whale watch tour. Royal Caribbean International; Celebrity Cruises; Silversea; CAPTAIN'S CLUB. The zipline is safe, and very fast and exhilarating! Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, Norwegian, Oceania, Princess, Regent, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, and Viking. Our wilderness tour will take you to Chichagof Island, where the population of brown bears per square mile is the highest of any place on Earth. While there will be lots of touristy junk and jewelry stores in Juneau, those are absent in ISP and I like that. I hope you properly set expectations very low or else you may very well be disappointed. As an established, local company with a Certificate of Excellence, we love nothing more than to enrich your experience while visiting the area of Icy Strait Point. The full cancellation policy can be found here. (One of my past favorites was a flightseeing tour!) It was one of the stops that sold me on this May 13 cruise since it's absent on Royal's Seattle based cruises. Nestled among those trinket shops you will find authentic local art, jewelry, and even hand-carved headdresses such as the one Johan is wearing here. We ensure your safety aboard our boats and tour vans. You soon will be where you can sight humpbacks, Orcas, sea otters, sea lions, porpoises and seals, all attracted to the nutrient-rich waters of Glacier Bay. {{card.portName}}, Onboard By pem309, . When you arrive at the port, just check in with a Hoonah Travel Adventures representative at the Icy Strait Point Excursion Hub. Depending on the season, catch the bears coming out of hibernation and looking for food; or later on in the season when the bears are mating and eating grasses on the tidal flats. the Excursions Hub is a short 5 minute walk from where the ships dock or tender in to. Im grateful Johan allowed me to paint him in his regalia as the dance was incredibly inspiring and definitely worth the short walk through the shops. What really makes this tour unique is the Drone imagery. Here is my my last stop in ISP, September 2018: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/9160-not-so-live-blog-radiance-of-the-seas-alaska-southbound-83118/&do=findComment&comment=83835. Until then Alaska excursions do tend to run more pricey compared to Caribbean cruises. Wildlife is one of the main draws for visitors who want to cruise in Alaska. Icy Strait Point is located in the town of Hoonah on Chichagof Island. This area is known as 'Bear Island' because it has the highest concentration of brown bears per square mile in the world. Head out to Icy Strait Point, to explore the beach, shop, or hike the beautiful trails. We decided to switch from Jayleen's Alaska in Juneau to another small boat tour group that I heard good things about, Glacier Wind Charters in Icy Strait Point. My ship gets in at __:__. We booked "Glacier Winds" for the Whale watching on a small (6 person) boat in Icy Point for our 2020 trip. Heres how I calculated the scores: Based on all that, heres my list of the best Icy Strait Point excursions: While not everyone will agree with this list and it wasnt the original list I wrote back for the 2020 season (ha!). However having a tough time booking things. It can get chilly and rainy in our temperate rain forest, although summertime often sees our coastal city enjoy mild temperatures. Make a payment and confirm your reservation. We are so excited about it and are beginni. This post was originally published in March 2020, and was updated most recently in November 2022 for the coming season. The bottom part of the profile is nearly flat. Do you offer any discounts or promotions? " + cards[0]['totalGroups'] + " Itineraries" : "" }}. Hearty and rich, Alaska cuisine is made to hit the spot. Long time listener and I know this has been covered a million times, just not so much recently. Icy Strait Point offers some of the best opportunities for whale watching on your Alaskan cruise, so don't miss the Whale & Marine Mammals Cruise here! On August 28, on its 80th visit to Icy Strait, . Icy Strait Point is home to the world's largest zipline, the ZipRider. " + cards[0]['totalGroups'] + " Itineraries" : "" }}. . Disney, Holland America, Oceania, Princess, Regent, Royal Caribbean, and Seabourn. Can multiple families book a tour and be together? Icy Strait Point is owned by the Hoonah Tlingit tribe, so this is a chance to learn about the culture and lifestyle of the locals who are hosting you on their land. In that sense it's easy to get to because it's only a few miles from the ship. View All Alaska Cruise Lines; . Discover Alaska's Wildest Kitchen, a hands-on tasting session like no other and hosted by an Alaskan master wilderness chef. Join us for the best show in town, a 3-hour whale watching excursion (includes transportation time and approx 2.5 hours on the water) which begins when you board the bus that departs from the Icy Strait Point Excursion Hub, just a short 5-minute walk from your cruise ship. 2. All reservations must be made through the website as our customer service representatives cannot take credit card information over the phone. Keep an eye out for other wildlife, like eagles, sea lions, seals, sea otters. In 1912, the Hoonah Packing Company built the first cannery in the area, and it has become quite a tourist attraction since then. Board the Gondola for a 4 minute ride through the forest toward the Adventure Center. Find Shore Tours to Book Select your cruise ship and we'll display only the tours that work with your schedule in each port. If you have already received tickets, please call the local tour operator phone number listed on your tickets for tour-specific questions as they will be the best resource to answer unique questions. (This Icy Strait Point excursion is not for those who are faint of heart or afraid of heights!). Finally, I added up the metrics to come up with a final score. Our Alaska cruises are your ticket to adventure amidst the Great Land's glaciers, wildlife and national parks. Here's our itinerary: Vancouver, British Columbia| Sail Away 5 PM, Icy Strait Point, Alaska Arrive 9 AM | Depart 8 PM, Sitka, Alaska Arrive 7 AM | Depart 6 PM, Juneau, Alaska Arrive 7 AM | Depart 9 PM, Skagway, Alaska Arrive7 AM | Depart 8:30 PM. For a real Alaska specialty, head to the Cookhouse Restaurant and try the reindeer chili or the Alaska Blue Burger, made with reindeer meat, blue cheese and merlot steak sauce. I'm a newbie to Cruise Critic. Come experience the birds and nature of Chichagof Island, near Icy Strait Point! We just rode the Dragon's Breath zipline in November so we aren't leaning towards the zipline. Hawaii shore excursionmight be just the ticket. Your personal view of the whales is not repaced with drones; just supplemented! Opened a decade ago by the Huna Tlingit Native Alaskans, it's easily one of the best spots in the region for fishing and whale watching. Wow, we will be cruising with a celebrity. We meet guests at the Icy Strait Point Excursions Hub. CHECK SHORE EXCURSIONS IN Icy Strait Point, Alaska, *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions, Alaska Icy Strait Point Tribe Local Performance, Cuisine Dungeness Crab, Icy Strait Point, Alaska, One of the Many Historic Cannery Buildings, Icy Strait Point, Alaska, View All{{ cards[0] && cards[0]['totalGroups'] ? " This excursion is a gentle walking tour that lasts 2.5 to 3 hours depending on the wildlife you see. Pasted as rich text. Agreed! Chichagof Island's Spasski River Valley is equally renowned for having one of the highest densities of coastal brown bears anywhere. Home port: Seattle. Let us show you an untouched Alaskan wilderness. Indulge in fresh seafood and native veggies like beach asparagus and seaweed to fuel up for stops in Icy Strait Point, Sitka, Skagway, Seward, and of course the marvelous Hubbard Glacier. Departs From Our tours have been providing exceptional customer service for over a decade now. Drones are able to see below the water surface and broadcast live video back to the boat. The view is pretty nice but not warrant the ticket price. Despite it being last on the list, I personally love this excursion as it offers the opportunity to both get up in the air and burn off some of those ship calories youve been consuming (yes, they count!). This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Enjoy a hot beverage before returning to your ship or exploring the cannery and nature trail at Icy Strait Point. tips on choosing Alaska cruise excursions, The Best Icy Strait Point Cruise Excursions, 2. Instead, use your day in port at Ice Strait Point or Hoonah to experience the unique slice of Alaskan life you can only find in this native-owned and operated purpose-built cruise port. Youll be surrounded in one of the largest summer populations of humpback whales found in Alaska with Glacier Wind Charters small group tours. The next 2.5 to 3 hours, she'll drive you around to several good birding spots. On this cruise excursion, a local guide will take you out to spot dozens of species of perching birds, seabirds, ducks, gulls, and bald eagles. Our tours have been providing exceptional customer service for over a decade now. If youre struggling to choose between Icy Strait Point shore excursions, Im here to help. You're in for an adrenaline rush of a lifetime as you fly above the treetops at speeds of up to 60 mph. Take a 4-hour shore excursion from Hoonah to Icy Strait in search of bears. Is it safe to book with a local company that does not work with the cruise ships? IMO your best bet is to hike the short nature trails and take the cable car up the mountain for more hiking and scenic views. On May 18th we came into port at Icy Strait Point in Hoonah, Alaska. Professionally guided stream fishing excursions on the hidden edge waters of Chichagof, Island. If you have questions about tours prior to booking, please email [emailprotected]. To break ties, I used top Uniqueness score, since I want to encourage you to try new things in Alaska. Duration: 2.25 hours Price: $145 per person View Details Juneau Musher's Camp & Sled Dog Discovery I am concerned if I have saeveral days between catching fish and returning to my home, the fish may not be so goog. From land to sea to sky, envelop yourself in the natural beauty of Alaska, and get close (but not too close) and personal with the wildlife, and the locals! In this post, I promote travel to a national park that is the Lingt Aan (traditional lands) of the Huna (Hoonah) Tlingit people. This gondola was build alongside a second cruise ship pier as part of a major expansion to Icy Strait Point. From their connection to nature to their tribal dance, the spirit of their people is something to behold. Alaska Shore Excursions, Cruises & Tours Wildlife & Outdoor Tours: Alaska Whale Watching Tours My husband and I are booked for a cruise to Alaska with Royal Caribbean August 4th through the 12th. https://www.valisemag.com/guides/alaska/cruises/. If your ship is docking at the Wilderness Dock, you will disembark and walk up to the Gondola. Posted December 26, 2021. family just booked Alaskan cruise Quantum May 30, 2022 going to Icy Strait Point, Skagway, Endicott Arm & Dawes, Juneau, Victoria BC. It's operated by a native corporation but the charter of ISP dictates only one ship at a time. Nicolas LaBarre First and foremost, Icy Strait Point is truly surrounded by unspoiled Alaska wilderness. Caribbean Europe Getaways (3-6 Days) Hawaii Japan Mexico Panama Canal South America & Antarctica Tahiti & South Pacific World Cruises . Read more in my Privacy Policy. Im glad youre happy with it! Our team personally tests every tour in a destination to select only the best shore excursions for your Quantum of the Seas cruise . Good Value. They have an indoor shopping mall, a salmon cannery museum and a restaurant all under one roof. This Alaska cruise excursion might not be for everyone, but if you love wildlife (and especially birding) this widely-offered excursion might be the one for you in Icy Strait Point. Alaska's not the only ultimate destination on the eastern Pacific. Learn about the area's other wildlife from your informative guide and about the native Tlingit population. Can you purchase a whale tour when you arrive? My husband and I were excited to take the sky glider up to the top so we could do the Alice Lake trail 1.5 mile hike to hidden lake. I spent three summers working for one of the major cruise companies, and during that time I had to make recommendations for excursions for thousands of Alaska cruisers. Typically, I recommend halibut fishing charters in Seward, but if your itinerary doesnt allow that, heres an alternative. 25422881. so we had a more personalized experience. While we love delivering stunning target birds like Varied Thrushes, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Bald Eagles, and Stellers Jays, we arent just about birds on this tour. Can you help. You will be led by an expert birder and naturalist who will set the stage by sharing the human and geological history of the area. This is not a mass-market big bus tour. Enhance your Quantum of the Seas cruise with a unique shore excursion from ShoreTrips. No snow but you get to watch and touch them. There are even resident bald eagles that perch on the ships to fish. Southeast Alaska and Icy Strait in particular, is home to some of the best halibut and salmon fishing around. Shore Excursions Group takes you on a journey in the Icy Strait to see the bears, fish, bald eagles, and whales that call Icy Strait home. Duration: Approximately 2 hours Minimum Age: 10 years old Restrictions: Guests must not weigh more than 250 pounds. You might even catch them bubble net feeding! I also keep in mind some of the othertips on choosing Alaska cruise excursions Ive previously shared. Who Offers This Shore Excursion in Icy Strait Point? This is your chance to set sail and travel the scenic shorelines of Icy Strait Point keeping watch for bears, deer, blue herons, puffins and more. Our fishing shore excursions are offered in Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka. Even waking up to warm, sunny skies can turn cool and rainy. A bunch of towers on this lift feature combination assemblies on . Do you have any experience with either excursion? Rides are unlimited and allow you to explore Icy Strait Point at your leisure. Thanks for the info and the pics, very nice. Perfect for small groups. We rarely cancel on our guests as the weather is typically pretty stable. amazing ships, destinations and onboard offerings.. 25422881. Royal Caribbean International ; RCL excursions in Icy Strait Point Alaska RCL excursions in Icy Strait Point Alaska. Youve finally decided: 2023 is the year to take the Alaska cruise youve been dreaming of whether its been a few years or a lifetime of waiting. This is the most popular year in Alaska ever, so it doesnt surprise me that things are sold out. They Rock! At first I was tempted to just walk the nature trail in port, visit the cannery museum, get souvenirs and walk into Hoonah. Watch members of the Huna Tlingit Dancers troupe tell the story of their tribal heritage through song and dance at the Native Heritage Center Theater. Your Kayak experience will take you into the peaceful waters of Port Frederick. @alaskatravel, Small cruise ship stop with good scenery but limited and expensive activities. Please send an email to [emailprotected] letting us know which tours you would like to cancel as we must have all cancelation and change requests in writing. You will enjoy an hour of flightseeing over this massive wilderness area outside of Ketchikan, accompanied by your expert pilot guide. Unfortunately, this excursion isnt offered by as many cruise companies as others above it on the list so it ended up falling a few spots on my list for 2023. Our tour times are built around your ship schedule. They had a blast doing things there. We are on the same sailing and I checked the port loads for each stop. Longest Zip Line, Icy Strait Point, Alaska. Icy Strait Small Group Shore Excursion: We're going on a bear hunt! Find a Cruisetour Any Destination Any Month Any Departure Port Any Ship Any Ship Feature See if you qualify for exclusive rates Advanced Search Call Our Brand Specialists Now Learn More About Icy Strait Point, Alaska If you are interested in a less tourist like experience, you might like this. Duration: 4 hours (Roundtrip from cruise ship terminal.) As tours can be enhanced or spoiled by the guide, we were unlucky. And don't forget the fishing. $605. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Everything was close together and easy. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The best tours in Icy Strait Point are: With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgment, extending my appreciation and respect to the past and present people of these lands. My wife and I are going on the 11 night Ovation of the Seas sailing on May 13, 2019. I agree that the activities are for older children. To see a bear up close and in the wild, no better then that. - Ovation only at Icy Straight Point and Sitka, - Juneau has 5 ships, port load - 11970 guests, - Skagway has 3 ships, port load - 6830 guests. These cruises are selling out fast, get them while you can. Valerie! Yaakw Kahidi Cultural Center Check out our list of the the best things to do in Icy Strait Point for more ideas! 335 Harbor Dr Hoonah At the end of the day, you can take in forest views while soaring high above the trees on the longest zip line in the world. Our Icy Strait shore tours give you the chance to get up close and personal with incredible wildlife. Please dont worry; well know if your ship is delayed. In fact, our captains, naturalists and guides live to love whales, so it pleases them to no end to leave you wide-eyed on whales! This salmon cannery was shut down in the 1970s and now is clean and remodeled with a free museum, beautiful gift shops and a display of the salmon processing equipment. Youll be provided with binoculars and other gear you might need. Surrounded by towering rainforest and set against the backdrop of mist-shrouded mountains, guests can truly immerse themselves in our wilderness environment. Apr 1, 2014. Website Season:$180 per person3.5 hrs. If our guests missed their ships we would not be in business. Located about 35 miles west of Juneau, this area offers some great nature and adventure opportunities as well as rich Tlingit heritage. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2018/07/17/excursion-focus-alaska-sled-dogs-mushers-camp-juneau-alaska. That's about it for things to do except for the very awesome gondola to the top of the mountain and the zipline down. Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, and Seabourn. Royal Caribbean Alaska Cruise Tours; Cruise Lines. The areas we search near in Hoonah near Icy Strait Point and Point Adolphus are known Humpback whale feeding grounds. I really enjoyed reading about all the fun stuff to do on our crusie through alaska. Step into an Alaska experience as you navigate your Jeep or ATV through the unspoiled wilderness of Chichagof Island's back roads. All tours offered on the day you are in port work with your ship schedule. Best of all, were able to offer more competitive rates than the cruise ships because you are booking locally. Icy Strait Point features the world's largest ZipRider, with six 5,330 ziplines dropping 1330. The full cancellation policy can be found here. If on a boat tour you will have to walk approx 100 yards from the van to the boat. Magnificent! Alaska-Sized Adventure Restaurant prices in Alaska can be high, but a cruise bundles meals, accommodations and transportation into one price that, with . Owned by Huna Totem Corporation, Icy Strait Point is located 35 miles west of Juneau in Hoonah, Alaska on the Chichagof Island. The Coastal Exploration by Zodiac excursion has you cruising along the coastlines of Port Frederick and Icy Strait, where you can search for humpback whales, sea lions, seals, eagles, and brown bears. Often two ships split the day with one in the AM and one in the PM which works since the days are long in the summer. All rights reserved. $1,510. Hike red cedar forest trails, relax beachside, take a horse-drawn carriage ride, or view the Brockton Point totem poles. With over 30 exciting tours, a restored 1912 salmon cannery and museum, nature trails, and even a beach! Find 9 other excursion options on my guide to the best Skagway cruise excursions. Our small group experiences offer a unique and thrilling memory of the pristine natural beauty around Icy Strait, Alaska. Favorites. You will then get to see how the birds, fish, mammals, plants, forests, rivers, and climate all weave together to create this lush, vibrant ecosystem! The old cannery is now home to a museum, restaurants, and locally owned arts and crafts shops. 6: It's an adventure seeker's paradise. Is our tour still on? Or, in the unlikely event you dont sight a whale, well refund you $100. Please send an email to [emailprotected] letting us know which tours you would like to cancel as we must have all cancelation requests in writing. View All Cruises, We're having trouble retrieving these cruises. Your email address will not be published. If you want to see whales in Juneau, please check out Harv and Marvs. Children as young as 6 years old can ride the zipline, and guests must be between the weight of 75 pounds and 275 pounds to enjoy this adventure. While in Icy Strait, we also give you the chance to enjoy some incredible and famous Icy Strait seafood. Gratuities/Tips are never expected, but our crew work hard to make sure you have a great experience and a Thank you tip is always appreciated! OHIO. But I feel confident that this list is both impartial but also informed by my expert advice. View All Results. Theres no guarantee, of course, but thats part of what makes the excursion an adventure! Not into drinking or eating seafood. Imagine eating delectable halibut harvested directly from the waters of Icy Strait. On our cruise day, May 31, they have a 6 passenger boat at 8:00a followed by a 13 passenger boat at 8:45a. Every trip is an adventure in this lush rainforest where Brown Bears outnumber humans. We care about our beautiful state and want to show it off in a genuine way while protecting and preserving the land and sea at the same time. An Alaska cruise isn't complete without exhilarating shore excursions. My blog posts likely contain affiliate links, including for the Amazon Associates program.If you click, book, or buy from one of these links, I may earn a commission. We offer the lowest rates in Hoonah! Outdoor Adventures Elevate your adventure on the SkyGlider Mountaintop Gondola's high-speed, eight-person cars which whisk passengers to the top of Hoonah Mountain for Glacier Bay views and a host of nature activities. Response from Host, Sep 2022. Our dedicated staff (85% of which call Hoonah home) is committed to providing a one-of-a-kind experience for every guest that is infused with our local Native culture and hospitality. Some excursions include puppies that you get to hold. Another popular shore excursion in Icy Strait Point is to search for brown bears on Spasski River.