Norwegian Cruise Line Makes First US Sailing at Icy Strait Point’s New Wilderness Landing
The Norwegian Encore’s debut call at Icy Strait Point. From left to right: Norwegian Encore Captain Martin Holmqvist, Norwegian Cruise Line President and CEO Harry Sommer, and Huna Totem Corporation Executives Russell Dick and Tyler Hickman.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) celebrated its highly anticipated return to cruise in the United States with Norwegian Encore’s inaugural call to Icy Strait Point.
NCL’s newest innovative ship Norwegian Encore set sail from Seattle on August 7, 2021 for her first season of voyages to Alaska.
Adding to the already momentous milestone, Norwegian Encore is the first in the industry to berth at the new Wilderness Landing pier at Icy Strait Point, which was built in partnership between NCL’s parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) and Huna Totem Corporation, the village corporation owned by approximately 1,400 Alaska Native shareholders with aboriginal ties to Hoonah and the Glacier Bay area. Icy Strait Point is a wholly owned and operated subsidiary of Huna Totem Corporation.
On Tuesday, August 10, 2021, a double ribbon cutting ceremony took place to officially open the new Wilderness Landing pier and the first of two gondola systems to be completed as part of the joint investment between NCLH and Huna Totem.
“Our return to Alaska is a monumental moment for not only NCL but for the state’s communities as well,” said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line.
“The absence of cruising last year was detrimental to these communities, which lost approximately $1.5 billion. Our return represents our continued commitment to Alaska and to the well-being of the destinations we visit. Our investment in Icy Strait Point is providing our guests with more opportunities to experience and understand the natural and cultural beauty of the destination and its people.”
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A vehicle-free zone, the new Wilderness Landing provides additional forest and beach areas for visitors to explore the natural wonders of the destination. With the opening of the new high-speed Transporter Gondola, guests have easy access to Icy Strait Point’s first pier, Adventure Landing, where the Historic Salmon Cannery dating back to 1912 and other local attractions are located.
Once completed later this summer, the Mountain Top Gondola will take guests to the top of Hoonah Mountain at 1,600-feet of elevation, where miles of new hiking trails and scenic vistas await.
Huna Totem Corporation
“Since Icy Strait Point’s inception, we’ve strived to balance the needs of our Alaska Native community with those of Alaska’s growing cruise industry and this development was a natural step for us,” said Russell Dick, CEO of Huna Totem Corporation.
“We are grateful to Norwegian for believing in our vision and we hope our sustainable model can lead the way for positive expansion of the cruise visitor industry in Alaska.”
With 23,040 acres of private beach and temperate rain forest to explore, Icy Strait Point offers guests the opportunity to experience authentic Alaska. The island also offers the most accessible coastal brown bear viewing platforms in Southeast Alaska, whale watching, kayaking, and the world’s largest ZipRider zip line.
Located just a mile from the Alaska native community of Hoonah, travelers also have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local culture when visiting Icy Strait Point with exposure to native traditions and dances, oral histories, and cooking classes.
Later this week, Norwegian Encore will make her first calls to Juneau and Ketchikan before returning to Seattle and continuing her season of week-long voyages to Alaska through October 16, 2021.
The ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Wilderness Landing pier at Icy Strait Point with Norwegian Cruise Lines President and CEO Harry Sommer (center left) and Huna Totem Corporation CEO Russell Dick (center right).
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