The biggest halibut on record was caught inside Icy Strait! Icy Strait Point is home to the world's largest zipline, the ZipRider. Continue on from the post above for some pictures from it and more in the area. View All Alaska Cruise Lines; . Eagles soar overhead and whales are regularly seen from the shore. If you love the idea of stretching your legs a bit more than you can on the boat, this is a great excursion it only ranks low on the list because of few companies (okay, one) offering it in 2023. Who Offers This Icy Strait Point Shore Excursion? Fancies herself a bit of a . Balcony Stateroom. 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. The Tlingit tribe has called this area home for centuries, and they love to share their native culture. Brave the ZipRider, the worlds longest zip line, and enjoy amazing views of the forest as you race from a mountain peak at 60 miles per hour. On this 3.5-hour charter, youll board a locally-operated boat and head out onto the waters of Icy Strait. Wind along back roads in search of wildlife, including bald eagles, brown bears, and Sitka black-tailed deer, and enjoy spectacular views of the natural beauty that surrounds you along the way. T4. Icy Strait Point, Alaska While Celebrity Cruises doesn't sail directly to Glacier Bay, there are flightseeing excursions available from Icy Strait Point . Our guide, a college student from DC, pandered so to the Tlingit culture it was embarrassing. Humpback whales visit Icy Strait Point every summer, beginning in May, and they stay around until September. Not only that, our sturdy fleet of boats in conjunction with our experienced captains at the helm, and guides at the wheel of the vans, are more than capable of coping with the conditions. I want to get the most out of Alaska but excursions over $400 per person are out of the picture. I started this site to share my travel stories and inspiration to help you complete bucket list trips. Why You'll Love Icy Strait Point Or Sitka On Your Cruise to Alaska View Details. While biking and hiking in Alaskas temperate rainforest is certainly cool, hands down the best part is exploring the beach in this trio of experiences; keep your eyes peeled for sea urchin shells and animal prints, which are commonly found on the beaches of Southeast Alaska. Youll find plenty of authentic Alaska gifts just a quick stroll from the dock at the historic Cannery Shops. Reserve your dining now. Alaska is full of epic hikes, and you might want to experience some of that for yourself on your Alaska cruise. Alaska shore excursion advice - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise The zipline is safe, and very fast and exhilarating! We'll supply everything you need, so there's nothing for you to worry about except for having fun and taking in nature at its best. Posted November 23, 2021. TO BOOK A TOUR AT ICY STRAIT POINT PLEASE REACH OUT TO YOUR CRUISE LINE. That's about it for things to do except for the very awesome gondola to the top of the mountain and the zipline down. Don't worry we will definitely be back to Alaska (just after Hawaii and Europe according to my wife LOL). This area is known as 'Bear Island' because it has the highest concentration of brown bears per square mile in the world. 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. Icy Strait Point Shore Excursions - Celebrity Cruises Wildlife such as; eagles, seals, sea lions, Sitka black tail deer, whales, and even a bear on the beach are possible sightings. Icy Strait Point was our first stop on our June 2022 Alaskan cruise. See our Icy Strait Point shore excursions on CelebrityCruises.com . Most meals spotlight local fish or caribou, and Dungeness crab when its in season. Embrace the rich culture of the Tlingit while on one of their canoe tours. 5 Breathtaking Icy Strait Point Shore Excursions | Icy Strait Point Top Things to Do in Icy Strait Point Meet a Local Favorite, Freddy, the Humpback Whale No matter what kind of Alaska adventure youre craving, youll find it in Icy Strait Point. Valerie! Wow, we will be cruising with a celebrity. Secure easy and reliable transportation to the Mendenhall Glacier from Juneau with the Blue Bus Glacier Express. The 10 Best Alaska Shore Excursions, Tours & Cruise Trips If your ship is docking at the Wilderness Dock, you will disembark and walk up to the Gondola. Dry too. For a real Alaska speciality, head to the Cookhouse Restaurant and try the reindeer chilli or the Alaska Blue Burger, made with reindeer meat, blue cheese and merlot steak sauce. Do you have any experience with either excursion? Icy Strait Point features the world's largest ZipRider, with six 5,330 ziplines dropping 1330. Royal Caribbean Quantum of The Seas Alaska Cruise - Icy Strait Point Is there any activities for a 3 yo and 4 yo at Icy Point? Guests must be able to climb in and out of a 15 passenger van. A 5 out of 5 score represents top of the line luxury. Be ready to paddle about 7 miles total. Newbie Needs Your Help - Icy Strait Point Whales, Wildlife & Brown Bear 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 About Us | Icy Strait Point - Icy Strait Point Do you offer any discounts or promotions? Not into drinking or eating seafood. Chichagof Island has been named "Bear Island" by National Geographic because it has the highest concentration of bears in the world at 1-2 brown bears per square mile, making it a great destination for bear watching from Icy Strait Point. First and foremost, Icy Strait Point is truly surrounded by unspoiled Alaska wilderness. Please dont worry; well know if your ship is delayed. Icy Strait Point is a new cruise port option with new dock, new facilities, and great signage for the limited options here in the land of the Hoonah Tlingit people. FAQ What are the best tours in Icy Strait Point? For the best wildlife viewing, check out our small group Icy Strait Point shore excursions. (That means each excursion gets its own number, no ties), I gave each excursion a boost or deduction for being a good value based on the. Icy Strait Point is located in the town of Hoonah on Chichagof Island. Royal Caribbean International ; RCL excursions in Icy Strait Point Alaska RCL excursions in Icy Strait Point Alaska. This excursion doesnt have the same wow factor as flightseeing or adrenaline-inducing zip-lining, its by far the most culturally immersive experience you can have in Icy Strait Point and possibly on your whole Alaska trip. {{card.portName}}, Onboard Active Adventures | Icy Strait Point - Icy Strait Point Is our tour still on? Until then Alaska excursions do tend to run more pricey compared to Caribbean cruises. Very small place with lovely scenery but limited activities. Once outside of Door #2, follow the signs to the Excursions Hub where you meet your Hoonah Travel Adventures Representative. Best Ketchikan Excursions & Tours | Alaska Shore Excursions Icy Strait Point is one tiny port thats big on Alaskan wilderness and Native culture. Our Icy Strait shore tours give you the chance to get up close and personal with incredible wildlife. 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. 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. 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. Drive old logging roads to a picnic spot. As a souvenir, youll get recipe cards so you can try to prepare these meals once you return home. My wife does want to do an excursion with sled dogs but we don't know if we should do that in Juneau or Skagway. If you have further questions please email [emailprotected] or if it is an urgent matter you can call 1-888-586-8489. Best Juneau Excursions & Tours | Alaska Shore Excursions My wife and I used them and when we go back we'll use them again.. Point Adolphus, in particular, is world-famous for its concentration of humpback whales and is located about 5 miles from the southern side of Icy Strait. Icy Strait Point (Hoonah) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go, Hotels near Dei L'e.aan (lisa's Art Store), Hotels near Alaska Luxury Tours - Icy Strait Point / Hoonah, Hotels near Excursion Inlet Seaplane Base Airport (EXI), Motels near Excursion Inlet Seaplane Base Airport (EXI), Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks in Hoonah, Icy Strait Point - Whale & Marine Mammals Cruise, Tribal Dance & Cultural Legends at Icy Strait Point, Mount Sinai Climb and St Catherine Tour from Sharm El Sheikh, Fire in the Valley- Carnegie Steel and the Town That Built America, Bohol Taug Whale Shark Watching and Snorkeling, Private Two Hour Yacht Charter in Tampa Bay, Half Day Blue Cave and Snorkeling Tour from Dubrovnik Old Town, Hvar (Hvar island) & Bol (Bra island) - Day Trip from Makarska - Every Tuesday. And, we do offer discounts for groups of 4 or more on some of the tours! Unfortunately, the biggest ships have a tendency to scare off a lot of the wildlife you hope to see. Take a Whale Watching Cruise. Thank you for sharing this. In that sense it's easy to get to because it's only a few miles from the ship. Icy Strait Exclusive Wildlife and Bear Search Tour Icy Strait Point ??? - Shore Excursions - Royal Caribbean Blog The Best Alaska Shore Excursions | Holland America Line I can't comment on that since we did not choose it for our ziplining experience. March 6, 2019 in Shore Excursions. They have an indoor shopping mall, a salmon cannery museum and a restaurant all under one roof. Whales, Wildlife and Brown Bear Search - Review of Icy Strait Point Youll find plenty of authentic Alaska gifts just a quick stroll from the dock at the historic Cannery Shops. Yes is does have substantial tourist oriented shopping, and the main attraction the Ziprider. Any Royal Caribbean excursions (as opposed to private) you could highly recommend would be greatly appreciated. Duration: 4 hours (Roundtrip from cruise ship terminal.) Icy Strait Small Group Shore Excursion: We're going on a bear hunt Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, Norwegian, Oceania, Princess, Regent, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, and Viking. Icy Strait Point Whale Watching and Seafood Feast - Amanda's Cookin' I put these Icy Strait Point cruise excursions in order based on what I know Alaska visitors will love. What really makes this tour unique is the Drone imagery. I loved this port for that very reason. Our tours have been providing exceptional customer service for over a decade now. 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! Stream Fishing 6. My ship gets in at __:__. Tok River Outfitters (Hoonah) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go Rides are unlimited and allow you to explore Icy Strait Point at your leisure. You'll enjoy a 2.5-hour cruise through the waters of Icy Strait, where you are guaranteed to spot at least one whale. Get ready for your fill of bears, deer, bald eagles, and more on this exciting wildlife search! In May I spent an amazing week with Princess Cruise Lines aboard the Island Princess. However, for those of you who are thinking about taking a vacation, The Icy Strait Point is the divider between mainland Alaska in the north and the Chichagof Island in the south. No matter what kind of Alaska adventure youre craving, youll find it in Icy Strait Point. This post was originally published in March 2020, and was updated most recently in November 2022 for the coming season. Can you purchase a whale tour when you arrive? https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/5211-alaska-recap-celebrity-millennium-june-2017/&do=findComment&comment=51846. 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. I'm coming down with FOMO though because this is a big trip to only have 4 days on land and I want to do it justice. Norwegian Communications Center. The Chichagof Island wilderness hike excursion is a good opportunity. This Alaskan cruise port town has so much to offer. If your ship doesnt make it to port for any reason, we will refund you in full without incurring any administration fees or penalties. Onboard Experience - Royal Caribbean International If you book the Icy Strait Exclusive Wildlife and Bear Search Tour through Alaska Shore Excursions, you'll receive an e-mailed ticket along with detailed meeting directions as seen below: Be sure to print it out and bring it along with your other cruise documents. Hoonah 5. Approaching the lattice tower. Visiting from {country-flag} {country-name}? Your Kayak experience will take you into the peaceful waters of Port Frederick. On this tour, you'll have the chance to spot humpbacks and orcas in the beautiful Alaskan waters. 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 bicycle is designed specifically for rugged terrain, so you can maximize the experience with the least amount of effort. 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. Spasski River Valley Wildlife & Bear Search, join me in my Alaska Travel Tips Facebook Community, https://www.valisemag.com/guides/alaska/cruises/, Spasski River Valley Wildlife & Bear Search, I went through all of the Icy Strait Point excursions and chose the ones I think are worth doing (the V factor ). We keep our groups small, so we can take you off the beaten path, where the locals go. Go to site . The boat was much smaller than the typical whale watching boats (6 people!) Duration: 1.5 hours Price: $280 per person View Details Was thinking the adventure park and zipline would be fun but cant find it. He will take you to his favorite fishing areas for the best halibut and salmon fishing around. 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'] ? " Disney, Holland America, Oceania, Princess, Regent, Royal Caribbean, and Seabourn. There are even resident bald eagles that perch on the ships to fish. Does this also mean that THE Twangsterwill be on the May 13, 2019 sailing? 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. Would have loved to have done the seated zip line but not at 170 USD for one ride! Chichagoff Island is home to more brown bears than humans, its a place where eagles soar overhead and whales are regularly seen just offshore. Whale watching and wildlife tours are among the most popular excursions in Icy Strait Point. There may be 3rd party options you can explore directly. 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. Top Spots for Bear Viewing on a Cruise to Alaska - AlaskaCruises.com Icy Strait Point was a nice place to spend a few hours. This is the most popular year in Alaska ever, so it doesnt surprise me that things are sold out. Your personal view of the whales is not repaced with drones; just supplemented! No snow but you get to watch and touch them. Our team personally tests every tour in a destination to select only the best shore excursions for your Quantum of the Seas cruise . These gentle giants of the sea spend their summers right here in the nutrient-rich waters of Glacier Bay and Icy Strait. - Ovation only at Icy Straight Point and Sitka, - Juneau has 5 ships, port load - 11970 guests, - Skagway has 3 ships, port load - 6830 guests. 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. Professionally guided stream fishing excursions on the hidden edge waters of Chichagof, Island. U.S. Honduras A 27-year-old woman has accused Royal Caribbean Cruises of being responsible for the death of her husband who was killed in a zip-lining accident on the Honduran island of Roatn.. View pods of orcas effortlessly gliding under the waves, on rare occasions, see humpback calfs playing with their mothers, on rare occasions, the amazing phenomenon of "bubble-net" feeding by groups of humpbacks is seen. View All Cruises, We're having trouble retrieving these cruises. 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. To book a tour please reach out to your cruise line for availability! Instead of taking a long and expensive flight to Anchorage or Fairbanks, you can choose a cruise that sails round-trip from Seattle or Vancouver. The nature trailis pretty short. Breathe in the 1,000-acre greenspace of Stanley Park, one of the largest urban parks in North America. July 10, 2007. Located about 35 miles west of Juneau, this area offers some great nature and adventure opportunities as well as rich Tlingit heritage. This gondola was build alongside a second cruise ship pier as part of a major expansion to Icy Strait Point. Departs From If on a boat tour you will have to walk approx 100 yards from the van to the boat. One of the most exciting prospects when booking an Alaska cruise is choosing your Alaska cruise excursions in each port. I looked at the number of cruise companies offering that excursion in 2022. They had a blast doing things there. See the amazing humpback whales that call the waters of Icy Strait Point their home. This is a small group tour that provides you the opportunity to get up close and personal with nature! 25422881. Climb onboard a wheeled training cart and relax as your team of Alaskan huskies take you on a 1.5-mile journey through the rainforest! By The Tlingit community has invested a great deal of money, time, and energy to convert this historic fishing village into a respite for cruisers who wish to learn more about the Indigenous people, their land, and their fascinating culture. Typically, I recommend halibut fishing charters in Seward, but if your itinerary doesnt allow that, heres an alternative. Travel just 1.5 miles through the picturesque landscape of Hoonah, Alaska. Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, Norwegian, Oceania, Princess, Regent, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, and Viking. Located in southeast Alaska and along the coast, Icy Strait Point gives you a peek inside the beautiful and diverse Alaskan wildlife. This Alaskan wilderness and bear search tour is offered on Chichagof Island, a one-of-a-kind location with the highest population of bears per square mile of any place on Earth. We did the Spasski River Wildlife and Bear tour. Now lets dive into each one! These cruises are selling out fast, get them while you can. Duration: 2.25 hours Price: $145 per person View Details Juneau Musher's Camp & Sled Dog Discovery The Best Alaska Cruise Excursions in 2023 (One in Each Port!) My wife and I are going on the 11 night Ovation of the Seas sailing on May 13, 2019. 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! At first I was tempted to just walk the nature trail in port, visit the cannery museum, get souvenirs and walk into Hoonah. Tips for Finding the Perfect Wheelchair Accessible Alaska Cruise - More time on the water! This is your chance to see brown bears, Sitka black tail deer and other wildlife up close in the natural scenic beauty of the last frontier. 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. A bunch of towers on this lift feature combination assemblies on . Older males fight each other for dominance and mating rights with the females, who at times are not receptive and force the male to give chase. We are a family-run company based right here in Hoonah.