By
Rebecca Gibson |
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) has partnered with Alaska Native-owned Huna Totem Corporation to develop a second cruise pier in Icy Strait Point near Hoonah, Alaska.
The pier is scheduled to be completed for the summer 2020 Alaska cruise season and will be built to accommodate the Breakaway Plus-class ships in NCLH’s Norwegian Cruise Line brand. NCLH’s other brands – Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises – will also be given preferential berthing rights at the terminal when it opens.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Huna Totem Corporation to construct a new pier at Icy Strait Point which will strengthen our presence in the wildly popular Alaska market and provide our guests with a best-in-class experience as they explore the natural beauty and exciting shore excursions of this unique destination,” said Howard Sherman, executive vice president of Onboard Revenue and Destination Development at NCLH. “This partnership marks the latest step in our ongoing efforts to promote economic development in the area and make a positive economic impact on the Alaska tourism industry.”
The new terminal will also bring economic benefits to Alaska and new employment opportunities for the Hoonah community, which numbers around 750 people.
“The economic impact that this expansion and Norwegian’s investment will have in Hoonah and the Southeast Alaska region is significant, and we’re looking forward to how our Alaska Native community can be a sustainable contributor to the future of Alaska’s cruise industry,” said Russell Dick, president and CEO of Huna Totem Corporation. “Icy Strait Point is one of the few Alaska cruise ship destinations where cruise passengers can step off the dock and into Alaska wilderness. We have the land, the capacity and the hospitality to welcome more travellers into our home in an authentic way while maintaining our heritage and the values of our Native Tlingit culture.”