Icy Strait Point Cruise Port Guide: Gondolas, the ZipRider and the Old Cannery

“A bit commercial, absolutely, but it makes it fun.”

That was our verdict on Icy Strait Point, the one port on our Virgin Voyages Brilliant Lady sailing in May 2026 that was completely new to us. Think of it as the Disneyland of Alaska: a purpose-built destination where outdoor adventure, wildlife, art and Tlingit culture are all packaged up and easy to reach from the ship. The difference is who runs it, and that’s what makes it special.

Watch our ZipRider ride

Commercial, but owned by the people of Hoonah

Yes, Icy Strait Point is commercial. But no big outside company came in and built it. It’s owned and run by Huna Totem Corporation, an Alaska Native corporation whose shareholders have ancestral ties to Hoonah, Alaska’s largest Tlingit village, just up the coast. It’s the only privately owned cruise destination in Alaska, and the profits go back into the community.

You feel that when you’re there. Many of the people serving you are local, and they’re genuinely happy to talk about their culture, their village and life on the island. For what looks at first like a very commercial port, it felt surprisingly authentic.

How Icy Strait Point works

Unlike Alaska’s old towns, Icy Strait Point is a self-contained destination built around a restored 1912 salmon cannery. Once you understand the layout, it’s very easy:

• Two piers. The main pier sits by the cannery and waterfront, and that’s where Brilliant Lady berthed. A second, newer pier, Wilderness Landing, is round the coast nearer the ZipRider, and other ships often use it.
• A free green gondola, the Transporter Gondola, links the two piers, so wherever you dock you can reach everything. Coastal nature trails link them too if you’d rather walk.
• The waterfront by the main pier is where you’ll find the cannery, museum, shops, restaurants and bars. All free to wander.
• The paid red gondola climbs to the top of Hoonah Mountain, where there are more trails, food, shopping and the start of the ZipRider.
• Hoonah itself is about a mile and a half away along the coastal path, if you’d like to walk into a real Tlingit village.

Unless you want to go up the mountain or book a tour, you can easily spend a lovely day here without paying for anything.

Up the mountain on the red gondola

To reach the top of Hoonah Mountain you need a ticket for the red gondola. You can buy the gondola on its own, or do what we did and book a bundle with the ZipRider, which included unlimited rides up and down. We booked ours through Virgin and signed a waiver at the Adventure Den before boarding.

The ride itself is worth doing for its own sake, with huge views over the mountainside and out across Icy Strait. Well, usually. We went up in thick cloud, ears popping, other cabins looming out of the mist, and missed some of the view. It was still an impressive journey, and the cloud started to lift near the top.

At the top of Hoonah Mountain

At the summit there’s a base camp with places to eat, a bit of shopping, s’mores and even full 5G. We had time to kill before our ZipRider slot, so we walked the nature trail, a loop of around three-quarters of a mile through the forest.

In mid-May there was still snow on the ground and the lake was frozen over. Visitors had left tiny snowmen along the path, there were bear warning signs and a ranger on hand, and the trees were draped in “old man’s beard” lichen. Some of the mountaintop activities weren’t running yet as it was the start of the season, so if you’re sailing in May, check what’s open before you go.

The ZipRider

The ZipRider is the big draw at Icy Strait Point, and it was Kieran’s first ever zip line. You launch from the top of the mountain, race down through the trees and land on the beach at the water’s edge. It’s one of the longest zip lines in the world, and it’s no joke, in the best way.

• Booking: we booked it as a Virgin Voyages Shore Thing and paid about £180 each in May 2026, including unlimited gondola rides. Prices vary by sailing, so check the Sailor App.
• What’s included with Virgin: a video of your ride, plus a celebratory shot at the bottom with a shot glass to keep.
• Bags: you’ll check anything loose before you go. Action cameras are at your own risk.
• Weather: ours finished in the rain. Wear a waterproof.

Read more about the Alaska-only extras on Virgin’s Shore Things in our Virgin Voyages Alaska review.

Back at sea level: the cannery, food and drink

Down by the main pier, the old cannery is free to wander, and that’s how we finished our day. A boardwalk runs past an orca statue against the mountains, a salmon life cycle display, rusty cannery machinery and a red cannery building on stilts over the water, with a museum telling the story of the place.

There are plenty of restaurants and bars down here too, including the Crab House, so if you just want a drink to warm up after the mountain, you’re spoilt for choice. The shops focus on local businesses and Alaskan art, so it’s a good place for a keepsake.

Wildlife everywhere

This is one of the best ports in Alaska for wildlife, and you don’t have to try very hard. Without booking anything, we watched whales and sea otters off the coast and eagles flying overhead. Brown bears live on the island too. We didn’t see one, but they’re possible.

Friends who were on the cruise with us said their wildlife excursion here was the best they had on the whole trip. We went for the adventurous side instead, but if wildlife is your priority, this is the port to book it.

Other things to book at Icy Strait Point

Beyond the gondola and ZipRider, there’s a long list of paid adventures, from whale watching and bear searches to ATV and off-road tours. You can book through your cruise line, at the port, or independently. These are well-reviewed options; leave plenty of time before all-aboard.

• Icy Strait whale watch with drone filming (3 hours)
• Whale watching cruise from Hoonah (3 hours)
• Chichagof Island brown bear search (small group)
• Hoonah village tour and crab feast

Some of the tour links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Tips for your day

• Decide how high you want to go. Sea level is free. The mountain needs a gondola ticket, and the ZipRider bundle gives you unlimited rides.
• Book the ZipRider early. It’s the headline experience and spaces are limited.
• Pack layers and a waterproof. We had fog and rain, with snow at the top.
• Keep looking out to sea. Whales, otters and eagles are all around.
• Allow time between activities. Gondolas, waivers and queues take longer than you’d think.

So, is Icy Strait Point worth it?

Yes. It’s more polished than Alaska’s historic towns, but that’s the point: it makes the wilderness easy, and it’s run by the people who live there. Outdoor adventure, art and culture, and wildlife everywhere, all a short walk from the ship. A gondola into the clouds, snow and a frozen lake at the top, then a zip line down to the beach. We’d happily go back.

This was one stop on our Virgin Voyages Alaska trip, which started with two nights in Vancouver. The day before, we were in Juneau: here’s our Juneau port guide. See also our guides to Ketchikan, Sitka and Skagway, and our first-time guide to cruising Alaska.

FAQs

Where is Icy Strait Point?
Icy Strait Point is on Chichagof Island in Southeast Alaska, about a mile and a half from Hoonah, Alaska’s largest Tlingit village. It’s built around a restored 1912 salmon cannery.

Who owns Icy Strait Point?
It’s owned and run by Huna Totem Corporation, an Alaska Native corporation whose shareholders have ancestral ties to Hoonah. It’s the only privately owned cruise destination in Alaska, and its profits support the local community.

Do cruise ships dock or tender at Icy Strait Point?
Ships dock. There are two piers, the original landing by the cannery and the newer Wilderness Landing, linked by a free gondola and coastal trails. Brilliant Lady used the main pier on our sailing.

Is the gondola at Icy Strait Point free?
The green Transporter Gondola between the two piers is free. The red gondola to the top of Hoonah Mountain is paid: buy it on its own or as part of a ZipRider bundle, which includes unlimited rides up and down.

Is the ZipRider at Icy Strait Point worth it?
We think so. It was Kieran’s first ever zip line, it’s one of the longest in the world, and it lands you on the beach by the water. Booked through Virgin Voyages, ours included a video of the ride and unlimited gondola rides.

Can you see wildlife at Icy Strait Point without a tour?
Often, yes. We saw whales and sea otters off the coast and eagles overhead without trying. Bears live on the island too, but we didn’t see one.

Can you walk to Hoonah from Icy Strait Point?
Yes. A coastal road and path link the port to the village of Hoonah, about a mile and a half away.

Plan it with us

Phil and I are award-winning travel specialists and Virgin Voyages First Mates, and we’d love to help you plan your Alaska cruise. Book Virgin Voyages with us and you’ll get our bonus Sailor Loot as a thank you. Call 07307 602030, email hello@magical-traveller.com or get in touch.