If you are tired of seeing the same international diamond chains and generic t-shirt shops in every cruise port, Icy Strait Point will be a breath of fresh air. Owned and operated by the Huna Totem Corporation, this port offers a completely different retail experience. There are no chain stores and no generic tourist traps—everything here is tribally owned and locally curated.
When planning your icy strait point shopping alaska cruise itinerary, you should adjust your expectations. This is not a port where you will spend four hours carrying heavy shopping bags. Instead, it is a highly concentrated, authentic cultural hub where your purchases directly support the local Huna Tlingit community.
Here is exactly where to shop, what to buy, and what to skip when your cruise ship docks at Icy Strait Point.
The Cannery Complex: The Main Shopping Hub
The heart of Icy Strait Point is the restored 1912 Hoonah Packing Company facility. Its distinctive red buildings sit right on the waterfront, making it incredibly convenient for cruise passengers.
If your ship docks at Ocean Landing, you are a simple 5-minute walk down the pier to the cannery doors. If your ship docks at Wilderness Landing, you will take the free, scenic green Transporter Gondola over to the Adventure Center, which drops you mere steps from the retail area.
Inside and immediately surrounding the historic cannery, you will find about a dozen boutiques. Every single one is 100% Alaskan-owned.
Huna Heritage Building
If you only make one retail stop in port, make it the Huna Heritage Building. This Tlingit tribal-owned space operates as both a cultural center and an art gallery. It is widely considered the best place in Southeast Alaska for authentic Native art after the Totem Heritage Center in Ketchikan.
The gallery features genuine Huna Tlingit art, including traditional formline prints, silver engraved jewelry, and wood carvings. Because the pieces are authentic and not mass-produced overseas, the pricing reflects the craftsmanship. You can find smaller prints and simple jewelry in the $20 to $75 range, but serious collectors should expect to spend anywhere from $150 to $500+ for intricate, hand-carved cedar masks, paddles, or premium silver bracelets.
Cannery Museum Gift Shop
Integrated into the retail complex is a free museum that preserves the mid-1930s canning line and details the harsh, fascinating history of Alaska’s commercial fishing industry. Attached to these exhibits is the Cannery Museum gift shop.
This is the definitive place to purchase Icy Strait Point branded merchandise, such as high-quality fleece jackets, hats, and rain gear. It is also an excellent stop for history buffs, offering historical photos and archival reprints of the original cannery operations. Unsurprisingly, this is also where you can buy canned, wild-caught Sockeye salmon to ship home—a perfect, packable culinary souvenir.
Excursion Desks and Tour Operators
Most visitors to Icy Strait Point are here for the world-class whale watching at Point Adolphus or the dense brown bear population on Chichagof Island. You will likely pass through the Adventure Center or the excursion hub to meet your local guide.
Keep an eye out while checking in for your tour. Independent whale watching and bear viewing operators sometimes sell professional wildlife photos and small, company-branded gifts directly at their desks. If you had an incredible encounter with a humpback whale on your tour, buying a professional print from your captain’s desk is a great way to support their small business.
Exploring Hoonah Town: Should You Go for Shopping?
Icy Strait Point is a private cruise facility located just outside the actual town of Hoonah, which is home to about 800 year-round residents. To get into town, you can use the 1-mile free shuttle that departs regularly from the port, or you can walk the scenic, paved coastal path (about a 25 to 30-minute walk).
While walking into Hoonah is a great way to stretch your legs and see bald eagles along the shoreline, you need to understand the local layout: Hoonah is a working fishing village, not a shopping destination.
The stores in town, such as the Hoonah Trading Company, are small local hardware and grocery stores meant to serve the daily needs of the residents. You will find rubber boots, fishing tackle, and pantry staples, but you will not find a dense strip of tourist boutiques or art galleries. If your primary goal is buying cruise souvenirs, save yourself the trip into town and stick to the historic cannery complex at the port.
What to Buy in Icy Strait Point
Because the icy strait point shops are carefully curated, you can shop with confidence knowing your purchases are authentic. Here are the best items to look for:
- Tlingit Formline Art: Support local artists by purchasing authentic carvings, paddles, and prints at the Huna Heritage Building.
- Locally Canned Sockeye Salmon: A nod to the port’s history, available by the single can or by the case at the Cannery Museum gift shop.
- Alaskan Botanicals: Look for locally sourced salves, lotions, and balms made from native plants like Devil’s Club, which locals have used for generations to soothe sore joints.
- Native Silver Jewelry: Hand-engraved silver bracelets and pendants featuring traditional animal motifs (like the raven, eagle, or orca) are highly prized and retain their value beautifully.
Shopping in Icy Strait Point is an easy, stress-free experience. Plan to spend about 45 minutes browsing the cannery either right when you get off the ship or just before you get back on board. It is the perfect, low-pressure retail environment to complement a day filled with rugged Alaskan adventures.