Which Alaska Cruise Ports Use Tenders?

Alaska cruise ports include Ketchikan Pier, Sitka Pier, Juneau Pier, Icy Strait Point (Hoonah), Skagway Holland America Line MS Noordam in Skagway, Alaska, Haines Pier, and Seward Silver Shadow docked in Seward, Alaska. Tender ports are ports where cruise ships cannot dock directly at a pier due to shallow water depth and port size. Most Alaskan cruises depart from one of four ports on the western coast of North America – either Seward or Juneau within Alaska, or from Vancouver in Canada or Seattle in Seattle. Tender ports are more common in Europe, Oceania, and smaller northeast and west coast ports. At the height of the Alaska cruise season, cruise lines anchor offshore of Icy Strait Point, which may also be referenced as Hoonah, Alaska. From there, passengers can travel to Alaska, the U.S. Pacific Coast, and other destinations. Tender boats are used to transport guests to shore, and most Caribbean and Alaska cruises do not require tendering.