Hoonah: Icy Strait Whale Watch with Drone Filmography

The unusual part of this Icy Strait whale watch is not simply finding humpback whales. It is seeing them from above, through drone footage that shows the full animal moving below the surface. Captain Josh, along with crew members such as Jamie or Andrew, uses a small boat and local knowledge to search the inland waters around Hoonah.

I like two things right away: the small group size, which keeps the boat calmer and less crowded, and the USB of drone footage, which gives you views your own camera cannot capture. The main consideration is the price, $255 per person. That is a serious excursion cost, though the private boat, three hours on the water, transport, refreshments, and recorded footage make the value stronger than a basic whale watch.

Key points to know before you book

• Drone views change the experience: You can watch whales from the boat and later see their entire bodies from above.
• Captain Josh leads the search: His 100 percent whale-finding success rate is a major reason this tour appeals to cruise passengers.
• Expect a small boat: The boat is limited to 14 passengers, giving everyone a better chance at an outside view.
• Wildlife can be varied: Humpbacks are the main target, but sightings have included orcas, sea lions, otters, bears, eagles, seals, porpoises, and salmon.
• Your souvenir is practical: The USB includes drone footage of wildlife and passengers from that day.
• Allow time for the meeting point: Transport from the Icy Strait Point excursion hub takes you to the boat, and the tour leaves on time.

Why the drone footage changes whale watching

A whale watch usually asks you to scan the water for a blow, a fin, or a tail. You may see a humpback surface, but the rest of the animal stays hidden. This tour adds a second view: the drone can show the whale’s body below the surface as it swims, feeds, turns, and disappears.

That matters most during group activity. Bubble-net feeding, for example, can be hard to understand from the side. From above, you can see the shape of the feeding group and the movement of the whales as they work together. Several outings have included tails, breaches, groups of humpbacks, and bubble feeding.

The drone is also useful when an animal is far from the boat. One outing captured a bear that passengers could see only with binoculars, giving them a much clearer recording to take home. The footage may include whales, other wildlife, and the people on the boat, so it works as both a nature record and a personal vacation souvenir.

The crew does not use the drone as a replacement for being present. Captain Josh shows footage while the boat moves from one area to another, so you can keep watching the water instead of staring at a screen during the best moments.

Setting out from Icy Strait Point

Your day begins at Icy Strait Point, the cruise stop outside Hoonah. If your ship uses the Adventure Dock, walk ashore to the Adventure Center, pass through the building, and exit through door number 2. Follow the signs along the gravel path to the Excursion Hub. The walk takes about six to eight minutes.

From the Wilderness Dock, the walk takes about 25 minutes. You can also take the Transporter Gondola to the Adventure Center, a ride of about three minutes, then follow the signs to the Excursion Hub. This is worth planning carefully because the tour leaves on time and asks you to check in 15 minutes early.

At the hub, look for Hoonah Travel Adventures. That company handles the round-trip shuttle between the cruise area and the boat. The transfer takes about 15 minutes each way, and it keeps you from having to arrange local transport on your own.

This meeting process is simple once you know it, but I would not leave it until the last minute. Icy Strait Point has several docks, paths, and activity areas. Give yourself extra walking time if you move slowly or need help with stairs and uneven ground.

The boat ride into Hoonah waters

The central part of the outing lasts three hours by private boat, with a maximum of 14 passengers. That size is one of the strongest practical reasons to choose this trip over a large cruise-ship excursion. You are less likely to feel packed into rows of people, and it is easier to move outside for photos.

The boat has indoor comfort and outdoor space. One family described the boat as warm and comfortable during cold, wet weather, while another appreciated having enough room for everyone to see. Conditions in Southeast Alaska can change quickly, so bring warm layers and rain protection even if the dock feels mild.

Captain Josh handles the search for wildlife and explains what you are seeing. The crew has included Jamie, Andrew, Alex, Joel, and other family members or assistants on different outings. Their approach is active but not rushed: they look for signs of whales, follow promising activity, and share information about the animals and the local ecosystem.

You may spend a long stretch with one pod if the action is good. One outing followed a group of humpbacks for about 30 minutes. That can be more rewarding than racing from one sighting to another, since you have time to understand the animals’ pattern and wait for a tail, breach, or feeding display.

What you might see beyond humpbacks

Humpback whales are the main reason to book, and the captain advertises a 100 percent success rate at finding them. Still, whales are wild animals, so the exact show changes from one trip to the next. The setting gives you a chance at much more than a single species.

Sightings recorded on these trips have included:

• Orcas and humpback whales
• Stellar sea lions and harbor seals
• Sea otters, including mothers with young
• Brown bears on shore
• Bald eagles and kingfishers
• Porpoises and dolphins
• Salmon and other marine life

Sea lions may gather on a buoy or rest together in the water. Otters can appear in kelp beds, sometimes in large groups. A few outings have included close porpoise encounters, while others found bears along the shore, including a mother with cubs.

The crew also explains the connections between these animals. Salmon, sea lions, whales, sea otters, kelp, and coastal birds are part of one working food system. That context makes the trip more than a hunt for a dramatic photograph. You begin to notice why the boat is stopping in one inlet rather than another.

The value of a small-group whale watch

A small boat changes the mood. You are not watching a whale through a forest of phones, and the captain can answer questions without shouting across a large deck. Families have also found the format useful for children because the overhead video makes the animals easier to understand.

The small group does not guarantee that every passenger gets a private encounter. You still share the boat, and the captain must follow boating and wildlife rules. Boats are not allowed to approach whales too closely, so you may watch from a respectful distance. That is important to understand before booking.

The drone helps solve part of that problem. It can provide a closer visual record without bringing the boat nearer to the animals. You see the whale’s shape and movement in a way that normal side-on viewing cannot match, while the boat remains at a proper distance.

One family also reported that the crew worked with them to help a wheelchair user get on and off the boat. That shows a willingness to help, but it is not a formal accessibility guarantee. If you need mobility assistance, contact the operator before booking and ask about the exact boat, dock, boarding method, and conditions on your sailing.

The three-hour itinerary, step by step

The outing begins with the shuttle from the Excursion Hub to the boat, a ride of roughly 15 minutes. Once aboard, Captain Josh heads into the inland waters around Hoonah and begins looking for whale activity.

The boat cruise is not a series of fixed stops. Wildlife determines the route. You may spend much of the time with humpbacks, then move toward sea lions, otters, birds, or a bear along the shore. This flexible plan is useful because the animals do not follow a timetable.

As the crew films from above, you watch the water from the boat. The drone footage is shown during quieter stretches or while moving between areas. At the end of the trip, you receive a USB drive containing footage from that day, including wildlife and a video of the passengers aboard.

The return shuttle takes you back to Icy Strait Point. With the three-hour boat outing plus transportation, you need to protect enough time before your ship’s departure. A cruise passenger should confirm the exact start time and leave a comfortable buffer for the return to the dock.

Is $255 a fair price?

At $255 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a few hours in Icy Strait. The price makes more sense when you separate the cost into what you receive: round-trip transport, a three-hour private-boat excursion, a maximum of 14 passengers, snacks and soft drinks, a live English-speaking guide, drone filming, and a USB copy of the footage.

A standard whale watch may give you the boat ride and guide. This tour adds a professional-style aerial record that you can keep. If the footage is important to you, the difference in price may be worthwhile. You are not paying only for a chance to see a whale. You are also paying for the captain’s search skills, a smaller boat, the filming equipment, and a permanent record of the outing.

The value is strongest for a special trip, a family holiday, or anyone who cares about photography and video. If you mainly want to spend time on the water and do not care about a keepsake, a less expensive option may suit you better.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would choose this outing for someone who wants a personal wildlife experience rather than a large, fixed-format excursion. It works particularly well for families, photographers, first-time whale watchers, and passengers who want to bring home something better than a few shaky phone clips.

Children may find the overhead footage especially helpful. A whale surfacing for two seconds can be hard to follow, but a clear aerial view shows how large the animal is and what it was doing below the surface.

It also suits people with a strong interest in Alaska’s wider wildlife. Several trips have produced combinations of whales, orcas, otters, sea lions, bears, and eagles. You should not expect every outing to produce every species, but the captain searches for more than humpbacks alone.

I would think twice if you dislike small boats, cold weather, or a flexible route. The boat is comfortable, but this is still an outdoor marine trip. You need to be ready for wind, rain, spray, and stretches of waiting between sightings.

Practical details that make the day easier

Check in 15 minutes early. That small detail matters because the shuttle and boat depart on schedule.

Bring a waterproof layer, warm clothing, and a camera or phone with enough storage. The operator provides snacks and soft drinks, but no full meal is listed, so eat beforehand if you need more than a light snack.

If you are arriving by cruise ship, confirm which dock your ship uses. The Adventure Dock and Wilderness Dock require different walking plans. From the Wilderness Dock, the gondola is faster than walking, but you still need to find the Excursion Hub after reaching the Adventure Center.

The activity is offered in English. Reservations can be canceled up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those policies are useful when your cruise schedule or weather plans are still changing.

Should you book the Icy Strait whale watch?

I would book it if you want a small-group whale watch with a real souvenir and you are willing to pay for the added filming. The drone perspective is the clear reason to choose this particular outing. It shows you the whole whale, captures behavior below the surface, and gives your family something to watch long after the cruise ends.

Captain Josh’s record of finding whales, the boat’s 14-passenger limit, and the chance to see orcas, otters, sea lions, bears, and eagles make the trip appealing even before the drone takes off. Just remember that wildlife sightings vary, the boat must keep a respectful distance, and the weather can be wet and cold.

For a first visit to Icy Strait Point, this is one of the stronger choices for combining local waters, marine wildlife, and a lasting record of the day. If $255 fits your excursion budget, the footage and small-boat format give it a clear edge over a basic whale-watching trip.

FAQ

How long does the Icy Strait whale watch last?

The activity lasts three hours on the water, with about 15 minutes of shuttle transport each way between the Excursion Hub and the boat.

Where do I meet the tour?

Meet at the Excursion Hub at Icy Strait Point. If you arrive at the Adventure Dock, walk through the Adventure Center, exit through door number 2, and follow the signs. From the Wilderness Dock, you can walk or take the Transporter Gondola to the Adventure Center.

How many passengers can the boat carry?

The private boat has a maximum capacity of 14 passengers.

What animals might I see?

The main target is humpback whales. Possible sightings also include orcas, sea lions, otters, brown bears, bald eagles, seals, porpoises, dolphins, salmon, and other marine life.

Do I receive the drone footage?

Yes. You receive a USB drive with drone footage from that day. It can include whales, other wildlife, and video of passengers on the boat.

What is included in the price?

The price includes round-trip pickup and drop-off at the cruise ship excursion hub, three hours of whale and wildlife watching by private boat, snacks, soft drinks, drone filming, and the USB drive.