Cruise line guide · Princess at Icy Strait Point
Princess Cruises runs some of the longest port days at Icy Strait Point — up to 13 hours on Discovery Princess. Here's how to actually use that time in Hoonah, whichever Princess ship you're on.
Icy Strait Point has two piers, Ocean Landing and Wilderness Landing. Princess's specific pier assignment isn't published in advance and can vary by sailing — check your ship's daily navigator or the port signage the morning you arrive.
Princess ships at a glance
Princess runs three ships here in 2026. Size, landing and frequency vary a lot, so check yours.
| Ship | Max guests | Where it lands | How often in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruby Princess | 3,080 | Ocean Landing | 2 calls in 2026 |
| Emerald Princess | 3,114 | Varies by call | 2 calls in 2026 |
| Discovery Princess | 3,660 | Tender to Wilderness Landing | Every other Tuesday, mid-May to early Sept 2026 |
Discovery Princess is the biggest of the three and the only one that tenders instead of docking, so build in extra time on both ends. It also has the longest day, about 13 hours. Ruby and Emerald give you 10 to 11 hours.
Plan your hours ashore
Princess consistently runs longer Icy Strait Point calls than most other lines. A sample from the September 2026 schedule:
| Ship | Typical arrival | Typical departure | Time ashore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruby Princess | 7:00 am | 5:00 pm | ~10 hours |
| Emerald Princess | 6:00 am | 5:00 pm | ~11 hours |
| Discovery Princess | 6:00 am | 7:00 pm | ~13 hours |
These are representative times from published 2026 sailings, not a guarantee for your specific date — always confirm your ship's actual arrival and all-aboard time from the daily navigator once you're on board.
Getting into town
A flat, roughly 1.5-mile shoreline path connects the Icy Strait Point piers to downtown Hoonah, typically 25–45 minutes each way. Full terrain, landmark, and accessibility details are on our walking + shuttle guide.
A shuttle runs whenever a ship is in port, about a 5-minute ride, typically sold as a round-trip ticket at the Icy Strait Point ticket booth near the donut shack — not on board the shuttle itself.
What fits your port day
Quick answers
Ruby Princess, Emerald Princess, and Discovery Princess, based on the 2026 Alaska season schedule.
Based on published 2026 schedules, Princess's Icy Strait Point calls simply run longer than average, from about 10 hours on Ruby Princess up to roughly 13 hours on Discovery Princess.
Icy Strait Point has two piers, Ocean Landing and Wilderness Landing. Princess's specific assignment isn't published in advance and can vary by sailing.
Often, yes. With 10 to 13 hours ashore, there's usually room for a tour plus a relaxed meal and walk through town, though always build in a buffer for the return.
About 1.5 miles by a flat shoreline path, roughly 25 to 45 minutes on foot, or about 5 minutes by the on-demand shuttle.
Free for the Shore Crew
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See the full guide to bears, whales, food, and free things to do once you're off the ship.