Icy Strait Point, Alaska - Norwegian Encore Arrives at Icy Strait Point (2021)

For the complete tour of the Norwegian Encore visit... https://youtu.be/aOR9b3WhbU4 Icy Strait Point is a privately owned tourist destination just outside the small village of Hoonah, Alaska. It is located on Chichagof Island and is named after the nearby Icy Strait. Owned by Huna Totem Corporation, it is the only privately owned cruise destination in Alaska, as most stops are owned by the cities in which they are located. Huna Totem Corporation is owned by approximately 1,350 Alaskan Natives with aboriginal ties to Hoonah and the Glacier Bay area. Many of them are of the Tlingit people. Huna Totem Corporation was established as a part of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act signed into law in 1971. The Act was intended to resolve the long-standing issues surrounding aboriginal land claims in Alaska, as well as to stimulate economic development throughout Alaska. The corporation purchased the site in 1996, and Icy Strait Point was first opened for cruise ships in 2004, with Royal Caribbean International and its sister outfit Celebrity Cruises being the two lines to initially make use of it. They would continue to be the main lines there, but subsequently Princess Cruises began making some stops there for several years, as well as Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line. Only one cruise ship is present at any given time. Initially passengers were tendered into the Icy Strait Point dock, then in 2016 construction was finished on a 400-foot (120 m) floating dock suitable for cruise ships that replaced tendering. By 2008, cruise stop business accounted for a quarter of Hoonah's employment, and by 2011, there were some 73 cruise ship visits arriving for the summer season, and by one calculation the cruise business accounted for more than half the local economy. The corporation's goal was to preserve the character of the local village and culture as much as possible, despite the influx of visitors, while still providing substantial help to local economic prospects. They have won several awards for doing this, including in 2008 a Travel to a Better World Award from National Geographic Traveler magazine, in 2012 a Global Vision Award from Travel + Leisure magazine, and in 2013 a finalist World Savers Award from Condé Nast Traveler magazine. The site includes the 1930s Hoonah Packing Company facility, now converted into a museum, restaurant, and shops. In the view of two travel books, the cannery at the site has been "beautifully restored". At the dock, traditionally garbed presenters offer a look at Huna Tlingit culture, and an indoor theatrical production along the same lines is also offered. All shops located there are owned by Alaskans. Alaska's Wildest Kitchen shows visitors the importance of salmon and subsistence fishing in the Tlingit culture and features a culinary instruction space where local residents demonstrate how to fillet salmon and halibut and turn them into burgers, spreads, casseroles, and grilled entrees. The local town of Hoonah is a mile's walk, and reveals contemporary Tlingit life. For the most part, however, Icy Strait Point is a jumping-off point for shore excursions for the cruise passengers. The most well-known of these is the ZipRider zip-line that completes its run near the facility, which was constructed by the Huna Totem Corporation. Opening in May 2007, it measures 5,330 feet (1,620 m) and made claims to being the longest in the world, or later to at least being one of the longest and highest – at 1,330 feet (410 m) – in North America. It has been rated a statewide "must do" attraction by the Anchorage Daily News. The zip-line was also featured in September 2013 on Travel Channel's Ride-iculous show. Norwegian Encore is a Breakaway Plus-class cruise ship operating for Norwegian Cruise Line. As a part of the Breakaway Plus-class, she is the sister ship to the Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Joy. In February 2017, it was announced that the ship would be designed for the Chinese market, much like her sister ship, the Norwegian Joy. However, in January 2018, it was later announced that the ship will instead be designed for the Western market like her other sister ship, the Norwegian Bliss. Construction started with the ship's steel cutting on 31 January 2018, the day she was also named Norwegian Encore. Her keel-laying ceremony was performed on 28 November 2018, accompanied by a performance from Kinky Boots. Norwegian Encore's float-out was on 17 August 2019 and the ship was towed from the building dock to receive her funnel cladding and further outfitting. The ship began its scheduled conveyance along the Ems towards the Eemshaven for her sea trials on 30 September 2019 and completed it on 1 October. Norwegian Encore was delivered to Norwegian on 30 October 2019 at a ceremony in Bremerhaven.