Hoonah, Alaska · Pop. 850 · One road in

Real Alaska is a 30‑minute walk from your ship.

Icy Strait Point is the port. Hoonah is the town. This is your guide to everything waiting beyond the dock, run by the people who live here.

Build your day See the walk
In port today Norwegian Bliss · 7:00 am to 4:00 pm Ovation of the Seas · 12:30 pm to 9:00 pm Sample schedule for prototype

The question everyone asks

Is Icy Strait Point the same as Hoonah?

No. Icy Strait Point is a private cruise port. Hoonah is the real town next door, home to about 850 people, a working harbor, and Alaska's largest Tlingit community. A flat seaside path connects them: about 1.5 miles, a 30 to 40 minute walk, or a quick shuttle.

The walk

Ship to town, along the water.

A flat, scenic shoreline path. You'll pass Three Rocks, eagle nests, and the Old Bear Clan Cemetery. Walk one way and shuttle back, or make the walk the whole point.

1.5 mi
Dock to downtown
30–40
Minutes on foot
$5
Shuttle each way
Flat
The whole way

Build your Hoonah day

One port day. A whole town.

Passengers don't book one thing, they plan a day. Here are three ways locals would spend yours. Every stop is an independent business.

Wildlife Day
Full day in port
  • Morning
    Brown bear search
    Wild Bear Safari
  • Midday
    Lunch on the harbor
    Local restaurant, your pick
  • Afternoon
    Whale watching
    Independent whale tour
  • Before all-aboard
    Coffee and gifts in town
    Downtown Hoonah
Taste of Hoonah
Half day, food first
  • Morning
    Crabbing experience
    Independent crab tour
  • Midday
    Fresh catch lunch
    Harborfront dining
  • Afternoon
    Gallery and carving shed
    Local artists, in town
Short Stop
Evening or late arrival
  • First hour
    Walk the shoreline path
    Three Rocks viewpoint
  • In town
    Dinner or a local beer
    Downtown Hoonah
  • Heading back
    Shuttle to the pier
    $5, runs on ship days

The directory

Independent. Local. One per experience.

Bear tour

Wild Bear Safari

Small-group brown bear viewing on the island with the highest bear density on earth.

From the dockBook direct
Founding member
Whale tour

Port Frederick Whale Co.

Humpbacks at Point Adolphus with a local captain. Whales guaranteed in season.

Harbor departureBook direct
Sample listing
Crabbing

Chichagof Crab Shack Tours

Pull pots, meet the crew, and taste Dungeness straight from Port Frederick.

In townBook direct
Sample listing
Restaurant

Harborline Kitchen

Fresh halibut, chowder, and harbor views ten minutes from the shuttle stop.

DowntownOpen ship days
Sample listing
Coffee

Tideline Coffee

Espresso, baked goods, and the local bulletin board. First stop off the path.

DowntownOpen early
Sample listing
Gallery

Spruce Tip Gallery

Work by Hoonah artists and carvers, sold by the people who made it.

DowntownLocal art
Sample listing

Meet the owners

The people beyond the dock.

“Nobody in this directory competes with anybody. We send each other customers all day long.”
Founding member · Wildlife tours
“Folks walk in and say the path was the best part of their whole cruise. Then they stay for lunch.”
Sample quote · Restaurant owner
“You don't need a ship excursion to meet Hoonah. You need thirty minutes and good shoes.”
Sample quote · Tour captain

Before you sail

Questions from the forums, answered.

Can I really walk from the ship to Hoonah?

Yes. It's a flat, paved shoreline path of about 1.5 miles, roughly 30 to 40 minutes at a stroll. A shuttle runs on ship days for $5 each way if you'd rather ride one direction.

Will an independent tour get me back before all-aboard?

Independent operators here build their schedules around the ships. Every listing on this site shows departure times matched to the day's port schedule, and captains track all-aboard the way you track your boarding pass.

What's actually open on ship days?

The businesses in this directory publish their ship-day hours right on their listings, so you're never guessing from an outdated map.

Is this site run by the cruise port?

No. Hoonah Off Ship is an independent directory of locally owned businesses. Every member is independent, and each experience category has just one member, so recommendations stay honest.