What to do in Icy Straight Point?

[Eli_6]

If you don't book an excursion, is there anything to do in Icy Straight Point?  As of right now, we have fishing in one stop, an excursion cruising the Tracy Arm Fjord (on a sea day but get off the boat), and a heli ride in Juneau.  I was thinking of saving the money in Icy Straight by not booking an excursion through the cruise company, but I wasn't sure if there would be other things to do. I read elsewhere about a gondola ride. If we do book something, what does everyone recommend?

[quack2]

Some of the best whale watching on your cruise is in Icy Strait.  Book direct with Glacier Wind for a better experience than cruise ship excursion on crowded boat.

[karatemom2]

Icy Strait Point is sort of a manufactured cruise ship port next to the very small town of Hoonah. Besides the small cannery with shops, museum and a couple of food options there isn’t much at the port. You can walk or take a shuttle into Hoonah,  but it is a very small and rural town - not much to see or do. I would recommend you book something - check out Hoonah Travel Adventures. Great company run by local Hoonah natives. We did the canoe trip with them last summer and are on their whale watch trip this year. 

Edited April 26, 2022 by karatemom2

[BrandelynCon]

I came across a gondola ride and trolley yesterday while searching this port. Looks to be new and tickets available at the port. They have a facebook page (Icy Straight Point). I obviously haven't done it so am not recommending, just passing along the information. 

[JT1962]

Glacier Winds is excellent for whale watching if you decide to book something. There are some trails near the pier and the new gondola mentioned by BrandelynCon looks like a good relatively low cost option. 

[don't-use-real-name]

So far no one has posted about the ZIP-LINE - a thrill ride not for the faint of heart.

 

1 ship making port call at ISP is enough activity without overcrowding - BUT 2 oh my gosh !

[3rdGenCunarder]

I went whale watching with Icy Strait Whale Adventures and they were great. Saw humpbacks and orcas.

[Italy52]

Another vote for Glacier Wind Charters -- we have taken 7 whale watching excursions with them and have never been disappointed.  We have our 8th trip coming up in August and can't wait.

[Eli_6]

On 4/26/2022 at 11:46 AM, JT1962 said:

Glacier Winds is excellent for whale watching if you decide to book something. There are some trails near the pier and the new gondola mentioned by BrandelynCon looks like a good relatively low cost option. 

I looked at them but their minimum age was just a few months older than my youngest. Going to look into the Gondolas or hiking since for every excursion, we have to pay times 4 and I already blew my budget on the heli ride.  

[Eli_6]

On 4/26/2022 at 12:58 PM, don't-use-real-name said:

So far no one has posted about the ZIP-LINE - a thrill ride not for the faint of heart.

 

1 ship making port call at ISP is enough activity without overcrowding - BUT 2 oh my gosh !

I would LOVE the zip line, but I worry my oldest kid would freak out. He tried the ropes course on one of the ships and they had to stop and go up there and escort him down because he freaked out.  And when we went on another cruise both of my boys were super pumped about swimming with sharks until we were actually in the water with them and then (again, my oldest son and not even my youngest) decided swimming with sharks was a terrible idea and got back on the boat while the rest of us participated.  I worry he would get up to the top of the zipline and then be like, "Nope. Not doing it."  

[don't-use-real-name]

1 hour ago, Eli_6 said:

I would LOVE the zip line, but I worry my oldest kid would freak out. He tried the ropes course on one of the ships and they had to stop and go up there and escort him down because he freaked out.  And when we went on another cruise both of my boys were super pumped about swimming with sharks until we were actually in the water with them and then (again, my oldest son and not even my youngest) decided swimming with sharks was a terrible idea and got back on the boat while the rest of us participated.  I worry he would get up to the top of the zipline and then be like, "Nope. Not doing it."  

Interesting that if he chickened out on the Icy Strait Point Zip it is a long long way to

Tipperary to return back to ending point must be something like 5 miles -

reference Google Map - the jagged line ascending to the starting point -

 

Google Maps

[wilsonz6]

As others have stated the whale watching is second to none. I would also recommend Hoonah Whale Tours. They are also top notch and will not disappoint. Smaller boat which ensures personal service. 

[scooter06]

We were there in 2019 and just walked around.  We happened to walk by a tiny restaurant that had fresh crab that they cooked for us.  Best crab ever and was a fun experience talking to the locals.  It was roadside on the way into town.  

[Italy52]

11 minutes ago, scooter06 said:

We were there in 2019 and just walked around.  We happened to walk by a tiny restaurant that had fresh crab that they cooked for us.  Best crab ever and was a fun experience talking to the locals.  It was roadside on the way into town.  

We went to a little place called The Fisherman's Daughter and it was great.  It is always fun to explore little towns --- you never know what you will find.

[jchowze]

Are any of these excursions/activities available after 5pm?  We've just had a change to our itinerary and will now be in ISP from 5-10pm

[carbon]

56 minutes ago, jchowze said:

Are any of these excursions/activities available after 5pm?  We've just had a change to our itinerary and will now be in ISP from 5-10pm

We are on the crown Princess June 11th and this was added to our itinerary.

[YVRteacher]

The whale watching is spectacular. 

[DaveOKC]

We are arriving at 6 PM (unitl 10 PM) in late August.  We have done the whale watching tour and loved it, so is there anything else we can do (not the zipline) that late in the day?

Is walking into town an option?  If so, how far is it.

 

[Lisa Sox Fan]

My DD and I did the zip lining last year and loved it.  Really fun.  Great views from up there.  Also make sure you stop by Lil Gen's Mini Donuts Hut while you are there.  So good. 🙂

[travlndiva]

18 hours ago, wilsonz6 said:

As others have stated the whale watching is second to none. I would also recommend Hoonah Whale Tours. They are also top notch and will not disappoint. Smaller boat which ensures personal service. 

Not sure what happened to my post, but I'll second Hoonah Whale Tours. We went out with them in 2018 with my then 11 year old daughter. It was just 5 from my family on a small boat.  We loved every second of it.  It can hold 6 but no one else signed up, so just our group. I have a video on my you tube (not sure if I'm allowed to post it).  It's called: "2018 RCL Radiance of the Seas Cruise to Alaska, 9, Icy Straight Point Whale Watching".  #8 shows us getting into the van and walking down the ramp towards the boat, plus a little of what the port looks like.

[thatbloominplace]

thank you ton everyone posting. i have been following this thread and based on recommendations, i just booked with glacier wind charters. we will be on the oceania regatta. first time in alaska and looking forward to it. over 50 cruises under our belt but first in over two years.

[kjpabl]

I would love to do a whale watching excursion here, but our Crown Princess itinerary change says we will only be in ISP from 5 pm to 8:30 pm. Not enough time for a whale watching excursion. Our grandson will only be 6 so can't do any Bear watching excursion and he is not 75 lbs. so no Ziplining. It will likely be the Gondola ride for us.

[karatemom2]

1 hour ago, kjpabl said:

I would love to do a whale watching excursion here, but our Crown Princess itinerary change says we will only be in ISP from 5 pm to 8:30 pm. Not enough time for a whale watching excursion. Our grandson will only be 6 so can't do any Bear watching excursion and he is not 75 lbs. so no Ziplining. It will likely be the Gondola ride for us.

You will definitely have time for a whale watching excursion. The last about 2 1/2 hours and there is no doubt the ship will be offering that excursion option. You could probably even find a private vendor as they generally guarantee your timely return for departure. The whales aren’t that far out from ISP and evening whale watch trips are a common option in Alaska as it stays light so late into the night. 

[DaveOKC]

On 4/28/2022 at 10:52 AM, DaveOKC said:

We are arriving at 6 PM (unitl 10 PM) in late August.  We have done the whale watching tour and loved it, so is there anything else we can do (not the zipline) that late in the day?

Is walking into town an option?  If so, how far is it.

 

Any thoughts?

 

[Cambria2]

The zipline is such fun!  We went with our friends in 2017 (  all in age 70 range). It’s actually a zip rider because you are sitting in a seat. 2 people are afraid of heights but loved it. We are going back this year with our daughters & 2 grandkids & I booked it again.  Six people go @ once so you can go together.  It’s not to be missed.