“Catch of the day” Whale-watching, Icy strait point, Hoonah

Whales can turn a port day into a real adventure. Catch of the Day takes you from Icy Strait Point into the waters around Hoonah on a small 38-foot power catamaran, where humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, bears, eagles, seals, and porpoises may appear. I like the small passenger count, which gives you a much better view than a large tour boat, and I like the heated cabin, aft viewing deck, and smoother ride.

The veteran captains, including Dennis and Bill, add useful local insight and work hard to position the boat for good viewing and photographs. The main drawback is the pickup procedure: the meeting point can be confusing, there is no cell service at the port, and you need to allow extra time to walk from the ship or ride the gondola.

Key things to know before you go

• 38-foot power catamaran: A stable boat with a heated cabin, bench seating, aft deck, and onboard restroom.
• Maximum of 16 people: Small enough that window views and outdoor viewing are usually easier to manage.
• Wildlife is never guaranteed: Humpbacks are the main goal, but sightings can include orcas, sea otters, porpoises, seals, eagles, deer, and coastal brown bears.
• Pickup begins 30 minutes early: You meet at the Main Gate and Shuttle Bus Round About, not at the Excursion Hub.
• Plan for a port transfer: The drive to the harbor takes about 5 to 10 minutes, and the full outing lasts about three hours, including transfers.
• A weather-sensitive outing: Rough conditions can lead to a different date or a full refund, while late cancellations normally are not refundable.

Three hours on Hoonah’s whale grounds

This is a focused wildlife trip rather than a general sightseeing cruise. From start to finish, the outing takes about three hours, including pickup and return to Icy Strait Point. The boat heads out in search of humpback whales, but the crew also watches the shoreline and water for a long list of possible sightings.

That variety matters. You may spend time watching a humpback blow, then shift your attention to porpoises beside the boat or a bald eagle perched near shore. The trip can also produce sea otters, seals, deer, brown bears, and, if conditions line up, orcas.

There is no reliable script for wildlife. One outing may bring repeated humpback activity, while another may require patience and careful searching. Fog and wind can make the job harder. Even so, the captains have more than 30 years of experience in the area, and the reports of bubble-net feeding, breaching, tail slaps, and orcas close to the boat show what is possible on a good day.

I especially like that the crew does not present the outing as a guaranteed whale show. Nature decides what appears. Your reward is the chance to watch wild animals in their own setting, not a staged encounter.

Why the 38-foot catamaran matters

The boat is a 38-foot power cat with bench seating, a heated enclosed cabin, an aft deck, and a marine restroom. Those details are more important than they might sound in Alaska, where wind, rain, fog, and cold can arrive without much warning.

You can stay inside behind the windows when the weather turns unpleasant, then step outside when a whale surfaces nearby. The enclosed cabin also gives you a place to warm up between sightings. Several outings included bottled water, chips, hot chocolate, or other simple snacks, though you should not treat refreshments as the main reason to book.

The catamaran design is promoted as rolling 78 percent less than a traditional monohull. That is a specific claim from the operator, not a promise that nobody will ever feel seasick. Still, the boat’s twin-hull layout and stable feel are useful advantages for a wildlife trip, especially when you need to keep binoculars or a camera steady.

A smaller boat also helps with sight lines. With no more than 16 people, and often around 12 to 14 on board, you are not competing with a large crowd for every window. You can use the cabin, move to the aft deck, or shift position when something appears on one side of the boat.

The tradeoff is space. A small boat is more intimate, but the outdoor deck is not huge. If everyone rushes outside at once, you will need to share the best spots. The cabin and deck arrangement keeps the experience flexible, but it is not a spacious cruise ship observation lounge.

Meeting the shuttle at Icy Strait Point

The pickup details deserve close attention. You need to be at the pickup spot 30 minutes before departure, and the tour does not collect passengers at the Excursion Hub.

The meeting point is near the Main Gate and Shuttle Bus Round About, beside the port buildings. Look for the driver holding a white Catch of the Day sign. If you are docked at Ocean Landing, allow about 10 to 15 minutes to walk across the port. Follow the boardwalk, walk through either the Cannery Museum or Alaska Gift Shop, and continue past Lil Gen’s Doughnut Shop and the ticket booth toward the roundabout.

At the far side, exit between the City of Hoonah Visitor Information Booth and the red security shack. The driver will be nearby.

If your ship uses the Wilderness Dock, the route takes longer. You first need to queue for the free green gondola to the main port area. After getting off, take the gravel path to the Excursion Hub, walk through it, then continue through either the Alaska Gift Shop or Cannery Museum. Follow the same route toward the roundabout.

There is no cell service at Icy Strait Point, so take a screenshot or print the directions before leaving your ship. This is not the moment to depend on a map app. Also allow time for a gondola line if your ship is at the Wilderness Dock.

The short ride from the port to the harbor takes about 5 to 10 minutes. The transport is practical, but one report noted that the van has a low ceiling and may be awkward for someone with mobility limitations. It is best to think of the port walk and transfer as part of the excursion timing, not as a last-minute detail.

Captains who make the search worthwhile

Dennis and Bill receive especially strong praise for their friendly manner, humor, and skill at finding wildlife. Other outings have included Captain Jay, naturalist Nia, shuttle driver Johnnie, and driver Crystal. The exact crew may vary, but the pattern is clear: the staff aims to make the trip personal rather than formal.

The captains also help with photography. They can suggest where to stand, when to prepare your camera, and how to watch for a blow or breach. Extra binoculars have been available for short periods, which is handy when a bear or eagle is sitting on shore.

The crew also communicates with other boats in the area when whales are concentrated elsewhere. That can improve your chances of finding activity, but it also means the route may change during the outing. If the crew moves on after a sighting, it is usually because they are trying to locate more wildlife rather than simply rushing you away.

One point to keep in mind is that your time with a particular animal is not fixed. You might stay with one humpback for a long stretch, or the captain may search for another sighting after a shorter look. The right choice depends on what is happening on the water that day.

The wildlife you might see

Humpback whales are the main attraction, and the reported sightings range from distant blows to whales feeding, breaching, and surfacing near the boat. Bubble-net feeding is one of the most memorable possibilities. In this behavior, a group of humpbacks works together to corral fish before lunging upward through the water.

Breaching is never something you can schedule, but several outings produced repeated breaches, tail slaps, and close views. One particularly strong day included humpbacks and orcas, with the orcas swimming close to the boat. Another included a coastal brown bear and three cubs on shore, with a humpback surfacing in the same general view.

Those moments are exceptional, not standard promises. The sensible expectation is to see wildlife if conditions and animal behavior cooperate, with humpbacks the most likely target. Orcas, bears, and close approaches should be considered fortunate extras.

The boat may also look for porpoises, sea otters, sea lions, seals, bald eagles, deer, and salmon. This wider search keeps the outing interesting when whales are slow to appear. It also makes the trip appealing to anyone who enjoys Alaska’s coastal wildlife as a whole, not just whale photography.

What the price means at $236

At $236 per person, this is an expensive three-hour port excursion. You are paying for the boat, the local crew, transfers from Icy Strait Point, a small group, and access to a vessel designed for comfort in changing conditions.

The value improves if you care about space and personal attention. A large whale-watching boat may cost less per person, but it can leave you behind several rows of people when a whale surfaces. Here, a maximum of 16 passengers gives you a better chance of reaching a window or stepping onto the aft deck.

The price is harder to justify if you mainly want a guaranteed close whale photograph. No operator can control the animals or the weather. This tour earns its price through the boat design, the small group, the experienced captains, and the chance to see several kinds of wildlife in one outing.

It is also worth booking early. The experience is commonly reserved about 122 days ahead, which suggests that popular cruise dates can fill well before arrival. Check your ship’s port schedule carefully before paying, because Hoonah and Juneau are different destinations and you cannot use this excursion from the wrong port.

Weather, comfort, and mobility notes

This is an outdoor Alaskan activity, but the heated cabin makes it more forgiving than an open skiff. The boat has no steps for boarding according to one mobility-related account, although a walker cannot be brought onto the boat. With assistance, one person using a walker was able to board and reach a seat.

The tour is not officially limited-mobility accessible. You should expect 10 to 20 minutes of easy walking through the port, plus the transfer arrangements. The pickup van may be difficult for some people because of its low roof.

Children under five cannot participate. Children five and older can join, and one family outing included an eight-year-old who enjoyed the boat and wildlife. Service animals are allowed.

Weather can cancel the trip. If poor weather makes the outing unsafe, you are offered a different date or a full refund. If you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time, you can receive a full refund. Cancellation inside 24 hours is normally not refundable, so do not wait until the morning of the tour if your plans change.

Who will enjoy this whale watch most

I would choose Catch of the Day if you want a small-group wildlife outing and care about having room to see the water from more than one position. It suits couples, families with older children, photographers, and anyone who dislikes the crowded feel of a large excursion boat.

It is also a good choice if seasickness worries you. The power cat is designed to roll less than a monohull, and the heated cabin gives you a sheltered place to sit. That cannot erase rough water, but it is a sensible boat choice for comfort.

You should think twice if you need fully accessible transport, dislike uncertain wildlife conditions, or have only a very narrow window before your ship’s all-aboard time. The crew has a strong record of getting people back on schedule, but you still need to leave enough room for the return drive and port access.

Should you book Catch of the Day?

Yes, if you are visiting Icy Strait Point and want a serious chance to see whales from a comfortable, limited-capacity boat. The combination of experienced captains, heated seating, a stable catamaran, useful photography tips, and possible sightings of bears and orcas makes the $236 fare reasonable for a special port day.

Book it early, save the pickup directions offline, and arrive 30 minutes ahead. Most important, go with the right expectation: you are buying skilled searching and a well-run wildlife trip, not a guarantee that nature will perform on command.

FAQ

How long is the Catch of the Day whale-watching tour?

The full experience lasts about three hours, including pickup from Icy Strait Point, the short drive to the harbor, the boat trip, and the return transfer.

Where do I meet the tour pickup?

Meet near the Main Gate and Shuttle Bus Round About at Icy Strait Point. Look for the driver with a white Catch of the Day sign. Do not wait at the Excursion Hub.

How early should I arrive?

You need to be at the pickup location 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Allow extra time if you must walk from the ship or use the gondola from the Wilderness Dock.

How many people can join the boat?

The tour has a maximum of 16 passengers. Some outings have operated with around 12 to 14 people.

What kind of boat is used?

The tour uses a 38-foot power catamaran with bench seating, a heated cabin, an aft viewing deck, and a marine restroom.

Are whales guaranteed?

No. The crew searches for humpback whales, but sightings depend on weather, sea conditions, and animal behavior. Possible wildlife includes humpbacks, orcas, porpoises, sea otters, eagles, seals, brown bears, and deer.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes the cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the experience begins.