Cruise line guide · Royal Caribbean at Icy Strait Point
Royal Caribbean brings some of the largest ships to call at Icy Strait Point — Ovation of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas. Here's what a port day looks like: how many hours you'll have, how to get into Hoonah, and what fits.
Icy Strait Point has two piers, Ocean Landing (the original dock near the historic cannery) and Wilderness Landing (a newer deep-water berth completed in 2021 that Norwegian Cruise Line helped fund and holds a preferential agreement for). Royal Caribbean'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.
Royal Caribbean ships at a glance
Royal Caribbean visits with Ovation, Anthem and Serenade of the Seas on the 2026 schedule.
| Ship | Max guests | Where it lands | How often in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ovation of the Seas | 4,180 | Pier not publicly confirmed | 12 calls, late May to mid-Sept 2026 |
| Anthem of the Seas | 4,180 | Pier not publicly confirmed | 1 call in 2026 |
| Serenade of the Seas | 2,490 | Pier not publicly confirmed | Every few weeks, May to Sept 2026 |
Ovation and Anthem carry about 1,700 more guests than Serenade, so expect busier tours and shuttles when they are in. Royal does not publish its pier ahead of time, so confirm yours in the Royal Caribbean app the morning you arrive.
Plan your hours ashore
Royal Caribbean's published 2026 Icy Strait Point calls run close to 9 hours across all three ships. A sample from the September 2026 schedule:
| Ship | Typical arrival | Typical departure | Time ashore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ovation of the Seas | 7:00 am | 4:00 pm | ~9 hours |
| Serenade of the Seas | 7:00 am | 4:00 pm | ~9 hours |
| Anthem of the Seas | 10:00 am | 7:00 pm | ~9 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
Ovation of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas, based on the 2026 Alaska season schedule.
Icy Strait Point has two piers, Ocean Landing and Wilderness Landing. Royal Caribbean's specific assignment isn't published in advance and can vary by sailing — check your ship's daily navigator.
Based on published 2026 sailings, Royal Caribbean's Icy Strait Point calls run about 9 hours across Ovation of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas.
Yes. Independent operators like Wild Bear Safari and Whales of Xunaa run their own tours out of Hoonah, separate from any cruise line's excursion desk, and pick up near the dock.
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.
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See the full guide to bears, whales, food, and free things to do once you're off the ship.