Glacier Wind Charters — Local services in Hoonah

I have taken many Whale Watching Excursions over the years cruising to Alaska. Juneau has always been pretty much a bust for me with lousy weather and nothing but seeing a Humpback Whale hump, a plume of air/water mist or it's tail as it's going back down for a long dive.

Sitka has proven to be better with more Humpback Whale activity but again the weather can be iffy. Never did see any real feeding. Again, plumes of air/water, some surface traveling and of course lots of tails prior to making a deep dive.

This was our first time going to Icy Strait Point Hoonah, Alaska. I pre-booked a charter with Glacier Wind Charters and it was the best whale watching excursion EVER.

Casey was the skipper of the APOGEE. He and his deckhand were personable, informative and very professional with passenger safety always first on their mind. Although the weather could have been a little nicer....but it's Alaska so if it's not raining it's a good day. It was a three hour excursion and Humpback Whales were plentiful. Also lots of Eagles and some Sea Lions from time to time.

As we pulled out of the harbor there was a Humpback Whale feeding really close to one of the cruise ships at the pier. Skipper Casey said the whales have learned that when the cruise ships are in port the herring will follow along the side of the ships to open water....where the whales will be waiting to feed.

The highlight was when we came upon a Humpback Whale feeding next to shore along the kelp line. Casey said the water was only 40' deep and the whale being 40' in length....did not leave much room between the surface and bottom. That being said we watched for some time as this massive mammal worked it's way back and forth foraging for herring. PRETTY DARN AMAZING to me.

If you ever cruise to Icy Strait Point, book with Glacier Wind Charters...

Glacier Wind Charters Review – Unforgettable Wildlife Adventure in Icy Strait, Alaska My recent excursion with Glacier Wind Charters in Icy Strait, Alaska, was nothing short of spectacular! Captain Shawn and Teresa were phenomenal hosts, guiding us through an incredible 3-hour journey that showcased the breathtaking beauty of Alaska’s marine life. From the moment we stepped aboard their comfortable vessel, it was clear we were in for a treat. The highlight was undoubtedly the humpback whales—watching these majestic creatures breach and dive in their natural habitat was awe-inspiring. Captain Shawn’s expertise in navigating the waters of Icy Strait ensured we had front-row seats to their acrobatics, while Teresa’s knowledge about the whales’ behaviors added such depth to the experience. We also spotted playful sea otters floating effortlessly and a lively pod of Dall’s porpoises darting alongside the boat, which had everyone on board grinning from ear to ear. What sets Glacier Wind Charters apart is the personalized, small-group vibe. It never felt crowded, and Shawn and Teresa made everyone feel like part of the adventure, sharing fascinating insights about the local ecosystem. Their passion for the wildlife and the area’s natural beauty was contagious, making the trip both educational and thrilling. The scenery of Icy Strait itself was stunning, with glacier-carved landscapes and pristine waters as the backdrop. The boat was well-equipped, and the entire experience felt seamless and safe. Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast or just looking for a unique Alaskan adventure, I can’t recommend Glacier Wind Charters enough. Thank you, Shawn and Teresa, for an unforgettable day—we’re already looking forward to...

If you’re going on an Alaska Cruise that stops at Icy Strait Point we urge you to book early for a whale watching tour with this family owned and run business! We were fortunate to have booked a whale watching tour with this business for our Icy Strait Point cruise ship port last week. We had gone on another whale watching tour in the previous port, a triple decker boat with so many people that it was difficult to take photos or sometimes to even see the whales. What a wonderful difference the Glacier Wind tour was! A fairly new, fast, yet very quiet smaller craft, eleven other passengers, a comfortable cabin and plenty of room outside to take pictures or just enjoy the whales while sipping great hot chocolate! Casey, our captain and a very personable and knowledgeable naturalist, aided by his brother Kyle scanning with binoculars took us to quite a few places where whales were active. They both answered questions and gave us a lot of information about the animals, other sea-life and birds in the area. Their mother Teresa expertly handled all of the excursion booking, was quick to respond to questions and was at the pickup site before meeting time. She drove us to the boat in their roomy new van and shared much information about the town of Hoonah the town they live in. We had never booked an excursion outside of the cruise line but after looking at their site and reading reviews on several sites we decided to book it. Casey was very observant of the time we needed to re-board and started back toward our ship, even stopping to let us see another whale, in plenty of time for us to stand in line to take the Transporter back to the wilderness port and re-board our ship with...