Category: North America

OCEAN RAFT ADVENTURE

Take your Alaskan explorations to the next level on this approximately two-hour excursion, which lets you cruise the waters around Icy Strait in a speedy, rigid inflatable boat (RIB). You’ll learn more about the area from your guide as you zip over the water and soak up the coastal scenery, also keeping an eye out for wildlife.

Excursion Details

Lasting around two hours, this exciting excursion is based around a boat trip with a difference, offering a unique way to experience the Alaskan coastline. The journey begins at a kayak centre, where you’ll receive a safety briefing, sign a waiver and get fitted with the necessary kit and equipment over 15 minutes or so.

Once fully prepared, climb abord your RIB, also known as an ‘ocean raft’. These high-performance vessels are known for their manoeuvrability and potential for high speeds, making for a memorable ride. Then begins your ocean raft adventure, lasting approximately 75 minutes.

You’ll glide across the waters of southeast Alaksa surrounding Icy Strait Point and nearby, exploring part of the area known as the Alexander Archipelago. As you sail, gaze out of your open-topped boat and admire the dramatic coastal views and far-reaching vistas across the water.

An onboard guide will supply information about the region, providing insights about its history, the waterways you’re sailing on, and the crucial role these waterways play for local Tlingit communities. Your guide will also tell you about some of the abundant wildlife that lives in the waters and elsewhere around this nature-rich region. Keep a lookout for some of that wildlife during your trip (especially when your captain stops the boat, allowing you to soak up the sights and sounds of a peaceful Alaskan scene), although please note that wildlife sightings can’t be guaranteed.

Afterwards, you’ll head back to the kayak centre in your RIB and spend around 15 minutes disembarking and returning your kit, concluding the excursion.

Important Information: Tour routes may vary depending on the tide and weather conditions. This tour is not available for pregnant women, or guests suffering from back or neck injuries. The seas can become rough and bumpy. Guests will be outfitted with an immersion suit. Lockers are available to store personal belongings.

Unprotected electronics may be damaged due to water splashing. It is recommended that guests dress in layers. The minimum age to participate is 8 years old. The spotting of wildlife is not guaranteed. The minimum weight to participate is 80 lbs.

WILDERNESS HIKE

Set off on a hike through Indigenous lands outside Hoonah during this approximately two-and-a-half-hour active excursion. You’ll follow an abandoned logging trail to a spot that offers panoramic views of Chichagof Island and its surroundings. As you walk, your guide will tell you more about the region’s wildlife and cultural history.
Excursion Details

Your approximately two-and-a-half-hour hiking trip begins with a short walk to your vehicle, followed by a roughly 30-minute drive through the coastal city of Hoonah to the starting point for your walk.

From there, you’ll embark on a hike of about 80 minutes, travelling along a roughly three-kilometre route through Indigenous lands, following a trail up to a secluded viewpoint that’s cherished by locals.

Along the way, your guide will share insights on local flora and fauna, along with historical info about the region. Make sure to keep a lookout for all kinds of wildlife as you hike, but please note that sightings can’t be guaranteed. Once you reach the summit, take in the 360-degree views of Chichagof Island and its surrounding waterways and islands, perhaps also grabbing some photos to preserve the memory. Afterwards, the drive back to the port takes around 30 minutes.

Important Information: Sturdy, closed-toe footwear is required for this tour. It is recommended that guests dress in layers and bring water. Food is not permitted to be brought on this tour. The first part of the hike is approximately 1 mile long up a partially steep graveled hill. The minimum age to participate is 8 years old. The spotting of wildlife is not guaranteed

IN ALASKA’S WILDEST KITCHEN

Get a taste of Alaska during this culinary excursion of about one and a half hours, which lets you tuck into a selection of dishes using canned salmon. You’ll also watch a chef demonstrate how to fillet fish and then try grilling a fresh catch yourself, over a special fire.
Excursion Details

Bordering the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the south, the Chukchi Sea to the northwest, and the Bering Sea to the southwest, Alaska has nearly 34,000 miles of coastline. On this gastronomic excursion lasting around one and a half hours, you’ll get to enjoy some of the bounty of those waters, as well as learning how to fillet fish and grill it to perfection.

The excursion starts with a tasting experience and demonstration, lasting approximately one hour in total. You’ll be sampling local dishes that use canned salmon (an Alaskan favourite with a story dating back to 1878, when Alaska’s first salmon cannery opened) and seasonal herbs. You’ll also be able to choose a drink to accompany your meal – pick from beer, wine and soda. An experienced chef will then show you how to fillet a fish properly.

Afterwards, the learning continues with a hands-on section of around 30 minutes, during which you’ll be taught how to sear fresh fish on a special grill that’s lit by an alder wood fire – a popular method of cooking fish in Alaska. Once this section comes to an end, the excursion then concludes. Guest can return to the ship at their leisure.

Important Information: Guests must be at least 8 years old to participate. Guest must be 21 years old to consume alcohol. This tour has a set menu, and dietary needs cannot be accommodated

SEAFOOD FEAST & TRIBAL CONNECTIONS

Tuck into an Alaskan seafood feast that reflects the region’s rich fishing heritage on this approximately two-hour excursion. Afterwards, you’ll walk to a cultural venue for a performance by Indigenous Tlingit actors, who bring the history of Hoonah to life through live storytelling, narration, and traditional regalia

Excursion Details

Set against the wild coastline of Alaska, this unique experience of around two hours combines local flavours with cultural insights. Start with a short walk from the ship to your designated outdoor feast area with views of Port Frederick. You’ll first enjoy an all you can eat Alaskan seafood feast over an hour or so, where the freshest flavours of Alaska meet the bold spices of a Southern-style boil accompanied by your choice of beer, wine or soda. Once the meal is finished, relax by the fire pit, roast marshmallows and soak up the atmosphere.

Following this, it’s a roughly 15-minute walk to the Heritage Center Native Theater, where Huna Tlingit members bring their culture to life through live storytelling and traditional regalia, creating an unforgettable tribute to their heritage. This immersive encounter last around 30 minutes and offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the Tlingit way of life and the enduring spirit of Hoonah. Afterwards, you’ll have around 15 minutes to meet the performers and take photos with them. The excursion then concludes. Guest can return to the ship at their leisure.

Important Information: it is recommended that guests dress in layers. This tour has a set menu; therefore, specific dietary requests cannot be met. This tour is not suitable for guests with seafood allergies. Photos and videos are not permitted during the Tribal Performance. The menu is subject to change