Carnival Icy Strait Point excursions: are they worth it?
We compared Carnival's own shore excursion prices in Icy Strait Point with the five most relevant independent tours of the same type on GetYourGuide. Across 2 tour types prices are roughly level, and the ship is cheaper for nature / waterfall / park.
Ship price vs independent price by tour type
| Tour type | Carnival priceper adult | Independentper person | Savingper person | Safe to go independent? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whale watchinge.g. "Whale Watching & Seafood Feast" | $277$215–$288 · 3 options | $246$225–$267 · top 2 | $31+13% ship markup · small sample | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| Nature / waterfall / parke.g. "Wilderness Hike" | $144$135–$154 · 2 options | $157$133–$181 · top 2 | −$13-8% ship markup · small sample | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| Fishinge.g. "Halibut Fishing" | $3451 option | no close match | – | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| Ziplinee.g. "Skyglider & World’s Largest Ziprider" | $1971 option | no close match | – | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| ATV / buggy / jeepe.g. "Back Country 4X4 Adventure" | $1931 option | no close match | – | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| Kayak / paddlee.g. "Icy Strait Point Kayak Adventure" | $1821 option | no close match | – | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| Food & tastinge.g. "Cooking in Alaska's Wildest Kitchen" | $155$145–$165 · 2 options | no close match | – | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| City / island toure.g. "Hoonah Sightseeing and Tribal Connecti" | $1081 option | no close match | – | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
Ship price is the median "starting at" adult price of Carnival's excursions of that type, recorded 2026-11-02. Independent price is the median per-person price of the top GetYourGuide results of the same type (checked 2026-11-02). Family of 4 multiplies the per-person gap by four; child prices are often lower on both sides. How we compare.
What to check when comparing
- Nature / waterfall / park: Theme-park and national-park trips vary a lot in what the ticket covers. Check whether transport and entry fees are included on both sides.
- City / island tour: City and island tours vary from short trolley loops to full-day drives, so compare durations too.
Is it safe to book independently in Icy Strait Point?
Ships here dock alongside. All-aboard is normally 30 minutes before departure on Royal Caribbean, Carnival, NCL and MSC (check your daily planner). Plan to be back at the pier at least 60 minutes before the ship sails.
Every tour type here scores 5/5: transfers are short and there is no tender queue. Still book a tour that finishes at least an hour before all-aboard.
How far is the pier from the main sights?
| From the pier to | Straight line | Approx. travel time |
|---|---|---|
| ZipRider | 483 m | ~10 min walk |
| Hoonah village | 2.1 km | ~10 min by road |
| Spasski River bear viewing | 12.9 km | ~35 min by road |
Distances are measured from Icy Strait Point docks, Hoonah. Travel times are estimates for normal traffic, not including ferries or tender queues.
Icy Strait Point is a small Tlingit-owned port. Independent supply on GetYourGuide is very thin, so most visitors book locally.
Questions
Are Carnival excursions in Icy Strait Point worth it?
On price alone, usually about even: comparable independent tours cost $9 less per person on average. The ship's main advantage is the guarantee that it will wait for its own tours if they run late.
Is it safe to book an independent excursion in Icy Strait Point?
Most popular tours start within a short ride of the pier, so the risk is low if you finish an hour before all-aboard.
How far is the Icy Strait Point cruise pier from ZipRider?
About 483 m in a straight line, roughly 10 minutes on foot.
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