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Guaranteed Whale Watching Adventure

3 Hour Duration

2½ hours on the water

Custom Boat

Designed for whale watching!

Local Native Captain

Educational & authentic experience

Small-Group & All Ages

Family-friendly, intimate excursion

Description

Your Guaranteed Whale Watching Adventure begins right from the docks! We will meet you at Icy Strait Point and transfer you to our vessel, Captain and Crew. For 2.5 hours you’ll be traveling through the waters of Icy Strait – home to a wide array of wildlife including Orcas (killer whales), Stellar sea lions, sea otters, Harbor seals, Dall’s porpoise, and the magnificent humpback whale.

Keep an eye out for brown bears and Sitka Black-tailed deer meandering the shoreline, and the noble Bald eagle perched on tree-tops. From the village of Hoonah to Pt. Adolphus near Glacier Bay National Park, your Icy Strait Point whale watching guides will delight in sharing the majestic beauty and culture that is Alaska! The 3 hour Guaranteed Whale Watching Adventure includes transfers on the Gondola and to our boat, plus 2.5 hrs on the water in a 24 passenger vessel.

Your hosts – the owners, skippers, and crew – are all descendants of the Hoonah Tlingit, Southeast’s first people. Join us on this Icy Strait Point whale watching tour and see the landscape and bounty through the eyes of Alaska Natives. Listen to accounts of a rich history and culture of a people once occupying Glacier Bay then forced by advancing glaciers to migrate and develop the village of Hoonah. Live a chapter in their on-going adventure.

Your Guaranteed Whale Watching Adventure guides will meet your fright at the the cruise docks, where your knowledgeable guides will meet you for a stunning gondola ride to the boat. Once aboard the custom 43-foot vessel, you’ll travel the resource-rich waters of the Inside Passage surrounding Hoonah and Icy Strait Point for 2 and a half hours. Your native guides will fill your trip with stories of the area’s history, and knowledge about the beautiful flora and fauna. Keep your eyes peeled for humpback whales, orcas, Stellar sea lions, eagles and more! We’re so confident you will see at least one whale on this Icy Strait Point whale watching tour that we offer a guarantee! So remember your cameras, binoculars, and layers for your adventure on the Alaskan seas.

For an even more in-depth adventure, and to save by combining excursions, consider the Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Tour.

What's Included

Round-trip shared transfer from Icy Strait Point

Knowledgeable Guides

Heated, Fully Enclosed Boat for Your Comfort

Guide Gratuities

Food & Drink

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I bring?

The weather is very hard to predict in Southeast Alaska. We always recommend being prepared for rain or sunshine by dressing in layers and bringing sunglasses. A warm mid-layer and a waterproof outerlayer is a good idea, and a hat and mittens can make a big difference. Don't forget your camera to capture all those great sightings, and binoculars make those whales pop!

What is the boat like?

Our boat is approximately 45 feet long and 12 feet wide, with a low to the water profile design; it has extra-large windows allowing unrestricted viewing while getting up close to wildlife. We do consider ourselves one of the smaller boats – not like the 150 passenger boat offered by the cruise line. Our custom-built whale-watching boats have the capacity for 26-49 passengers. They are very spacious and allow us to implement physical distancing as needed. We have much more square footage per passenger than any of the other small boat experiences out there. The boat is heated and does have a small bathroom.

Where do we get picked up and do you guarantee returning to my ship on time?

You will be meeting the guide 30-minutes prior to the tour departure time at the Excursion Hub. Icy Strait Point has two docks. You will either be arriving at the Adventure Landing or the Wilderness Landing. Directions to the Excursion Hub from your dock will be provided in your confirmation email after booking. You will be returned directly to Icy Strait Point and we guarantee that you will be back to your ship on time.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Though we cannot accommodate a wheelchair on board for safety reasons, we have accommodated many guests with mobility issues. We can stow a foldable wheelchair on the back deck so it is available immediately after the tour. Or it can be stowed on the dock waiting for you when you get back. Guests must be able to physically walk into the boat on their own power but with captain assistance and be able to sit up in their seat unassisted.

Will I get sea sick?

We usually don’t encounter heavy swells or the type of seas that tend to cause seasickness. With our sturdier boats you often don’t feel the waves. However, the wind can pick up on occasion even on the Inside Passage and the water can get choppy. So, if you are prone to motion sickness then we recommend taking medicine 1 hour before the tour. No need to worry about drowsiness, the excitement of the whales will keep you awake!

Know Before You Book

Minimum Age: There is no minimum age to join this tour

Accessible for most travelers: folding wheelchairs can be accommodated with prior notice

Cancel up to 14-days before the tour for a refund. No refund is available if canceled within 14-days of the tour. If for any reason your tour is canceled, or if your cruise ship's schedule changes, you will receive a refund. Refunds do not include any non-refundable fees. Contact us by phone or email to request a cancellation.

Quick Facts

City

Icy Strait Point

Itinerary • 3h 00min • 4 activities

Meet your guides at the Excursions Hub where you'll be transferred to your boat.

Duration

10 minutes

Get a brief safety orientation and overview before taking off on your whale watching adventure.

Duration

5 minutes

Once aboard, you'll enjoy a scenic boat ride with a native guide who will share the rich history of the area. Whale sightings guaranteed!

Duration

2 hours 30 minutes

Return to land and load up for your return trip back to the cruise ship dock

Duration

15 minutes