Hoonah: Icy Strait Whale Watch with Drone Filmography

The best part of this Hoonah whale watch is the drone footage. From the boat, you may see a humpback’s back, tail, or blow. From above, you can watch the full whale move through the water, feed, and vanish below the surface. Captain Josh runs the boat, and crew members such as Jamie, Andrew, Alex, and Joel have helped with guiding and filming.

I like two things right away: the boat carries no more than 14 passengers, and the USB keeps footage from your own outing. You are not simply buying three hours on the water. You are also taking home a different view of the whales, plus video of your group aboard the boat. The main consideration is price: at $255 per person, this costs more than a basic sightseeing ride, so its value depends on how much you care about a small group and lasting film.

Key points to know before you book

• Aerial whale views: The drone shows the whole whale from above, including movement that can be hard to see from deck level.
• Small boat setting: The boat holds a maximum of 14 passengers, giving you more room and a better chance to see without a crowd around you.
• Wide range of wildlife: Humpback whales are the focus, but you might also see orcas, sea lions, sea otters, porpoises, seals, bald eagles, bears, salmon, and other species.
• Three hours on Icy Strait: The outing leaves from Hoonah and spends its main time on the inland waters around Icy Strait.
• Footage included: You receive a USB drive with drone video of the wildlife and passengers from that day.
• Cruise-port timing matters: Allow six to eight minutes to walk from the Adventure Dock to the Excursion Hub, or about 25 minutes from the Wilderness Dock.

Why the drone changes a whale watch

Whale watching from a boat is a game of patience and timing. You scan the water, wait for a blow, and hope your camera is aimed in the right place when a tail rises. Even with a good captain, your view may last only a few seconds.

The drone adds a second viewpoint. It can show the entire humpback as it moves beneath the surface, rather than just the part that breaks the water. That is especially useful during feeding. Several outings have included bubble-net feeding, where whales work together to gather fish before surging upward. From deck level, you see the blow and the splash. From above, you can better understand the pattern.

Captain Josh is a certified drone pilot, and the tour uses a large, powerful film drone. The crew does not keep the screen running nonstop while you are watching the water. Instead, you focus on the wildlife around the boat, then view recorded clips while the boat moves between locations. That is a sensible arrangement. You get the excitement of live watching without spending the whole trip staring at a monitor.

The USB is more than a nice extra. It gives you footage from your actual outing, including whales, other wildlife, and video of people aboard the boat. A camera phone can capture a splash, but it usually cannot show the full animal moving below the surface. The aerial clips fill that gap.

Leaving Icy Strait Point for Hoonah

Your tour begins at Icy Strait Point, the cruise stop outside Hoonah. Pickup and return transport are included. Hoonah Travel Adventures handles the shuttle between the Excursion Hub and the boat area, so you do not need to arrange a taxi or find your own way into town.

From the Adventure Dock, walk through the Adventure Center and exit through door number 2. Follow the signs on the gravel path to the Excursion Hub. The walk takes about six to eight minutes, though you should allow more time if you walk slowly or need extra space for mobility equipment.

The Wilderness Dock requires more planning. You can walk for about 25 minutes to the Adventure Center, or take the Transporter Gondola, which takes about three minutes. After getting off, follow the signs toward the Excursion Hub. The staff from Hoonah Travel Adventures should be holding a sign with their company name.

Check in 15 minutes before departure. The boat leaves on time, and a late arrival could create a real problem on a cruise-day schedule. I would not use the final minutes before departure for shopping, a gondola ride, or a long meal.

The road transfer takes about 15 minutes each way. It is not the main event, but it gives you a look at the short connection between the cruise center, Hoonah, and the water. Pickup and drop-off remove much of the usual port-day guesswork.

Three hours among whales and inland waters

Once aboard, Captain Josh searches the inland waters of Icy Strait for humpbacks and other wildlife. The route changes with animal activity, so you should think of the outing as a search rather than a fixed sightseeing circuit.

The operator reports a 100 percent success rate for finding whales. That does not mean every group sees breaching, bubble feeding, or whales directly beside the boat. It means the captain has consistently located humpbacks for the tour. Wildlife still behaves like wildlife, and the distance and length of each sighting can vary.

The boat’s maximum capacity of 14 is important. A smaller group means fewer people competing for the same railing and less of the crowded, organized feel that can come with a large cruise excursion. Some departures have carried about 10 people, while one family group filled much of the boat. The exact number depends on the day.

You can watch from outside and take your own pictures. The enclosed part of the boat is useful when the weather turns cold or wet. One outing in May had cold drizzle, yet the boat was described as warm and comfortable. That does not make Alaska weather predictable, so bring layers and rain protection even if the sky looks friendly at the dock.

The crew’s job is not only to locate whales. Captain Josh and his assistants explain what they are seeing, describe the animals’ behavior, and discuss the local ecosystem. The strongest outings have included long periods following a pod, sometimes around 30 minutes, rather than rushing from one brief sighting to the next.

Humpbacks, bubble feeding, and the patience factor

Humpbacks are the central attraction. You might see blows, tails, breaches, groups traveling together, or whales feeding below the surface. Several outings included multiple pods, and one group saw five whales traveling together.

Bubble-net feeding is a special possibility. It is not guaranteed, but it has appeared on several departures. If it happens, you may see whales coordinate their feeding from the boat, then watch the drone reveal the shape and movement of the group from above.

The sensible expectation is not constant action. You may spend time scanning quiet water before the next blow appears. That is normal whale watching, not a flaw in the tour. The boat’s small size and the captain’s local skill improve your odds, but no responsible operator can order an animal to breach on cue.

Boats are not allowed to approach whales too closely. You should be prepared to view some animals from a respectful distance. This is where the aerial video earns its keep. The drone may provide a close-looking view of the animal’s shape and movement without putting the boat on top of it.

That combination makes the tour work well for people who want both a live encounter and a visual record. You watch the whale in real time, then see more of the same animal later on the USB.

The rest of the wildlife menu

Icy Strait can offer much more than humpbacks. Sightings reported on this outing have included orcas, stellar sea lions, sea otters, seals, porpoises, bald eagles, bears, kingfishers, jumping salmon, and rare Risso’s dolphins.

Orcas are a major bonus. Some departures have followed a pod, while others have seen them alongside humpbacks. There is no promise of an orca sighting, so book this as a whale and wildlife trip, not as an orca-only search.

Sea lions may gather on a buoy or rest in the water. Sea otters can appear in kelp beds, sometimes in large numbers. One outing found roughly 100 otters in a kelp area, while another saw mothers with young. Those quieter scenes can be just as rewarding as a dramatic whale breach, especially when the captain explains how the animals fit into the local food chain.

Bears are also possible along the shore. Past outings have included a mother brown bear with cubs, a male bear, and bears on the beach. The boat keeps its distance, and the animals may be little more than shapes to your unaided eye. The drone footage can make such a sighting more useful afterward, though the crew still needs to respect wildlife and avoid turning an observation into a chase.

Bald eagles, seals, porpoises, and salmon add variety during stretches when the humpbacks are quiet. I like this broad approach because you are not left feeling that the trip has failed if the whales are slow for a while.

Captain Josh and the guiding style

Captain Josh is the main name associated with this outing. His role combines boat handling, wildlife spotting, local explanation, and drone work. Crew members have included Jamie, Andrew, Alex, Joel, and other members of his team.

The best quality here is attention to the group. Several outings describe the captain and crew as patient with questions and focused on safety. That matters on a small boat, where the mood and competence of the crew shape the whole experience.

The guiding is informal rather than theatrical. You get explanations about what the crew watches for, how they locate whales, and what the animals are doing. One group particularly enjoyed learning how the captain reads the water and behavior before deciding where to go next.

The drone operator also has to balance filming with live wildlife viewing. The tour’s approach of showing clips while moving between spots helps keep the boat experience social and focused. You are not left wondering what the drone captured, since the crew shares the footage during the trip and sends it home with you.

Is $255 a fair price?

At $255 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Icy Strait. The price makes more sense when you compare the full package: three hours on a private boat with a maximum of 14 passengers, shuttle transport, drinks and snack bars, wildlife guiding, aerial filming, and a USB copy of the day’s footage.

A large cruise excursion may offer a similar amount of time on the water, but usually with more people and no personal drone record. The small boat is the main comfort advantage. You can move around, get outside for pictures, and avoid feeling packed into a floating viewing platform.

The USB also has real value for a family or a once-in-a-lifetime Alaska trip. You may not capture the best moment yourself. The included footage gives you something clear to share later, including scenes beneath the water’s surface that you could not see well from the boat.

I would still compare the price with your overall cruise budget. If you mainly want to spend an hour or two near the water and take your own photos, a less expensive option may be enough. If the wildlife itself is a priority, the small group and filming make this price easier to justify.

Who will enjoy this outing most?

I would choose this tour for anyone who wants a serious whale search rather than a quick port activity. It suits couples, families, and mixed-age groups, especially people who value a personal guide and a keepsake they can watch at home.

Children may get a lot from the drone view because the whole whale is easier to understand from above. The boat also gives them changing subjects: whales, otters, sea lions, birds, and possibly bears. Parents should still prepare children for waiting between sightings.

The tour can work for older family members too, since the boat has a comfortable enclosed area and the crew has helped passengers with mobility challenges. One outing included a passenger who used a wheelchair, and the group and crew worked together to get him on and off the boat. You should discuss your exact needs in advance, since the supplied information does not describe a formal accessibility setup.

Photographers will appreciate the outdoor space, but you should not rely only on your own camera. The boat moves, weather changes, and wildlife appears without warning. The drone footage is the safety net for the moment you miss.

This is less suited to anyone who dislikes small boats, cold weather, or an outing with an uncertain wildlife pattern. Even a very skilled captain cannot guarantee a particular species, behavior, or weather.

Practical timing and what to bring

Allow time to reach the Excursion Hub and check in 15 minutes early. From the Wilderness Dock, the gondola is faster than walking, but you still need time to find the Hub after the ride.

Wear warm layers and bring rain protection. The boat can be comfortable in poor weather, but three hours on cold water is different from standing on a sunny cruise deck. Bring a camera, but keep it ready and secure.

Snacks and soft drinks are provided. The USB is also included, with drone footage of whales, other wildlife, and people on the boat. Since the trip returns to Icy Strait Point, leave enough time afterward for your planned cruise activities.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Starting times vary, so check the available departure that fits your ship’s schedule.

Should you book the Hoonah whale watch?

I would book it if you want the best chance of a memorable wildlife outing from Icy Strait Point and care about getting more than a few phone pictures. The small boat, Captain Josh’s local searching, and the aerial film create a fuller experience than a standard whale watch.

I would skip it only if $255 feels too high for your port budget, or if you want a guaranteed orca sighting or a fixed schedule with no waiting. For most people who place whales and wild Alaska near the top of their cruise list, the drone footage makes this a strong value.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

The tour begins at Icy Strait Point, with pickup at the Excursions Hub near the cruise ship facilities.

How do I reach the Excursion Hub from the Adventure Dock?

Walk through the Adventure Center, exit through door number 2, and follow the signs on the gravel path. The walk takes about six to eight minutes.

How do I reach the Excursion Hub from the Wilderness Dock?

You can walk for about 25 minutes to the Adventure Center or take the Transporter Gondola, which takes about three minutes. Afterward, follow the signs to the Excursion Hub.

How early should I check in?

Check in 15 minutes before departure. The tour leaves on time.

How long does the activity last?

The boat excursion lasts three hours. The shuttle between Icy Strait Point and the boat area takes about 15 minutes each way.

How many people can ride on the boat?

The private boat carries a maximum of 14 passengers.

What wildlife might I see?

The main target is humpback whales. You might also see orcas, sea lions, sea otters, seals, porpoises, brown bears, bald eagles, salmon, kingfishers, and other wildlife.

Is the drone footage included?

Yes. You receive a USB drive with footage from that day, including whales, other wildlife, and video of passengers aboard the boat.

What is included on the boat?

The excursion includes whale and wildlife watching, drone filming, snack bars, soft drinks, and round-trip transport from the Excursion Hub.