RCCL, Celebrity to Call at Alaska’s Icy Strait Point

Icy Strait Point, Alaska's first purpose-built cruise destination, has been added to the itineraries of Royal Caribbean International's Vision of the Seas and Celebrity Cruise Line's Summit and Mercury for the Alaska cruise season beginning in May 2004. The destination currently has 33 ship calls slated. Designed to accommodate only one cruise ship per day, Icy Strait Point provides a unique Alaska cruise experience focused on history, culture, wildlife tours and native Indian experiences. "Only one cruise ship at a time will dock at Icy Strait Point, allowing passengers to avoid the crowds that often greet them at other Alaskan ports," said Michael Greve, president of Global Destinations Development, the company that is marketing Icy Strait. "Further, Icy Strait Point has the outdoor Alaska guests dream about--right on our doorstep." "Port Icy Strait will provide cruise guests with the ultimate Alaskan wilderness experience," stated a spokesman for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "The Native American history and involvement in the area, as well as the breathtaking natural beauty, will clearly be of interest to anyone visiting Alaska." Icy Strait Point is located 50 miles west of Juneau and just 22 miles from Glacier Bay National Park. About a mile from Icy Strait Point is the village of Hoonah, the largest native Tlingit Indian settlement in Alaska. The port's center of activity is the Icy Strait Packing Company Cannery, a 1930s-era fish cannery that has been refurbished on its original site. The cannery is designed to be a living museum displaying artifacts that re-create the industrious spirit of Alaska's early pioneers with employees in period dress. The facility also will house food and beverage areas, excursion lounges and a retail section showcasing native and regional crafts. Cruise passengers can learn about the native culture at the Native Heritage Center, an interpretive facility where the stories and culture of the Hoonah people are highlighted, and at the "Journey through Time" show which will share the history and folklore of the Hoonah Tlingit through live performances.