Norwegian Cruise Line has celebrated its highly anticipated return to cruise in the US with Norwegian Encore’s inaugural call to Icy Strait Point, Alaska.
Norwegian Encore set sail from Seattle on 7 August, 2021 for her first season of voyages to Alaska and adding to the already momentous milestone, Norwegian Encore is the first in the industry to berth at the new Wilderness Landing pier at Icy Strait Point, which was built in partnership between NCL’s parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd and Huna Totem Corporation, the village corporation owned by approximately 1,400 Alaska native shareholders with aboriginal ties to Hoonah and the Glacier Bay area, with Icy Strait Point is a wholly owned and operated subsidiary of Huna Totem Corporation.
On Tuesday 10 August, 2021, a double ribbon cutting ceremony took place to officially open the new Wilderness Landing pier and the first of two gondola systems to be completed as part of the joint investment between NCLH and Huna Totem.
Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line said, “Our return to Alaska is a monumental moment for not only NCL but for the state’s communities as well,” adding, “the absence of cruising last year was detrimental to these communities, which lost approximately US$1.5 billion”.
He also said, “Our return represents our continued commitment to Alaska and to the well-being of the destinations we visit,” adding, “Our investment in Icy Strait Point is providing our guests with more opportunities to experience and understand the natural and cultural beauty of the destination and its people.”
NCL says that a vehicle-free zone, the new Wilderness Landing provides additional forest and beach areas for visitors to explore the natural wonders of the destination and with the opening of the new high-speed Transporter Gondola, guests have easy access to Icy Strait Point’s first pier, Adventure Landing, where the Historic Salmon Cannery dating back to 1912 and other local attractions are located.
Once completed later this northern hemisphere summer, the Mountain Top Gondola will take guests to the top of Hoonah Mountain at 487.6 metres of elevation, where kilometres of new hiking trails and scenic vistas await.
Russell Dick, chief executive officer of Huna Totem Corporation said, “Since Icy Strait Point’s inception, we’ve strived to balance the needs of our Alaska Native community with those of Alaska’s growing cruise industry and this development was a natural step for us,” adding, “We are grateful to Norwegian for believing in our vision and we hope our sustainable model can lead the way for positive expansion of the cruise visitor industry in Alaska”.
NCL said that with 23,040 acres of private beach and temperate rain forest to explore, Icy Strait Point offers guests the opportunity to experience authentic Alaska, with the island also offering the most accessible coastal brown bear viewing platforms in Southeast Alaska, whale watching, kayaking and the world’s largest ZipRider zip line and located just over a kilometre from the Alaska native community of Hoonah, travellers also have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local culture when visiting Icy Strait Point with exposure to native traditions and dances, oral histories and cooking classes.
Later this week, Norwegian Encore will make her first calls to Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska, before returning to Seattle and continuing her season of week-long voyages to Alaska through 16 October, 2021.
Norwegian Cruise Line said that it has recently restarted its cruise operations on 25 July, 2021 following a more than 500-day suspension, with Norwegian Jade launching seven-day itineraries to the Greek Isles.
On 15 August, 2021 Norwegian Gem will be the first ship in the fleet to resume operations from Miami and set sail from the new Norwegian Cruise Line Terminal at PortMiami. Through October, she will offer a selection of week-long voyages to the Caribbean and four-day cruises to the Bahamas.
A report by John Alwyn-Jones, Cruise Editor, Global Travel Media and Global Cruise News.
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