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Disney Cruise Line is making one thing very clear: Alaska is not disappearing from its plans anytime soon.

Disney Cruise Line has entered into a major new long-term agreement that will help secure the future of its Alaska cruise itineraries for years to come. The company has signed a 15-year agreement with Huna Totem Corporation for preferential access to Icy Strait Point, an Indigenous-owned cruise destination located near Hoonah, Alaska.

The new agreement will keep Disney Cruise Line ships visiting Icy Strait Point through at least 2041, and it comes during a particularly important year for Disney’s growing presence in Alaska.

Here is everything Disney Cruise Line passengers need to know about the agreement and what it could mean for future Alaska vacations.

Disney Cruise Line and Huna Totem Corporation announced the new agreement on July 22nd, 2026.

Under the 15-year deal, Disney Cruise Line will receive preferential docking access at Icy Strait Point for one vessel each week. The agreement also includes a minimum annual passenger guarantee, though the companies have not publicly disclosed the specific number of passengers included in that guarantee.

The agreement ensures that Disney Cruise Line guests can continue visiting the Southeast Alaska destination through at least 2041.

That does not necessarily mean every Disney Alaska sailing will include Icy Strait Point. However, the preferred weekly access gives Disney Cruise Line a long-term opportunity to include the port on select itineraries while competing for limited docking space in one of the cruise industry’s most popular summer destinations.

Where Is Icy Strait Point?

Icy Strait Point is located on the shores of Hoonah in Southeast Alaska.

The destination is owned and operated by Huna Totem Corporation, an Alaska Native corporation representing more than 1,850 shareholders with Indigenous ties to Glacier Bay. It was developed to introduce visitors to the history, traditions, and culture of the Huna Tlingit people while also creating economic opportunities within the surrounding community.

Icy Strait Point opened its first tourism business in 2004 and has since welcomed more than four million cruise travelers. It is also the largest employer in Hoonah.

Unlike a traditional city-center cruise port, Icy Strait Point was specifically developed as an Alaska cruise destination. Guests visiting the area can experience a combination of cultural programming, outdoor recreation, wildlife encounters and views of Southeast Alaska’s natural landscape.

The destination offers opportunities for visitors to connect with Huna Tlingit culture while exploring experiences involving:

• Wildlife viewing
• Whale-watching opportunities
• Outdoor recreation
• Alaska Native culture and heritage
• Southeast Alaska scenery
• The community and businesses of Hoonah

The port currently has two cruise piers: Ocean Landing and Wilderness Landing.

Disney Cruise Line Has Visited Icy Strait Point for Nearly a Decade

Although the newly signed agreement extends through at least 2041, Disney Cruise Line’s relationship with Icy Strait Point is not new.

According to both Disney Cruise Line and Huna Totem Corporation, Icy Strait Point has been part of Disney’s Alaska cruise itineraries for nearly a decade.

Jose Fernandez, Disney Cruise Line’s vice president of port strategy, development and operations, described Icy Strait Point as a valued part of the cruise line’s Alaska itineraries. He noted that the destination allows Disney passengers to experience the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of Hoonah and the broader Southeast Alaska region.

“This agreement will help ensure our guests can continue to enjoy the unique experiences that have made Icy Strait Point a fan-favorite destination,” Fernandez said.

The long-term berthing agreement provides Disney with additional certainty as it develops future Alaska cruise schedules. Cruise lines often plan itineraries several years in advance, making dependable access to popular ports an important part of long-term deployment planning.

Disney Cruise Line Expanded Its Alaska Presence in 2026

The timing of this agreement is especially notable because Disney Cruise Line significantly expanded its Alaska operations in 2026.

For the first time, Disney Cruise Line deployed two ships to Alaska during the same season. Select seven-night Alaska itineraries aboard both the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder include calls at Icy Strait Point.

The addition of the Disney Magic alongside the Disney Wonder gives the cruise line more flexibility to offer Alaska vacations while its global fleet continues to grow.

Disney Cruise Line has historically operated many of its Alaska sailings from Vancouver, with itineraries visiting destinations throughout Southeast Alaska. Depending on the specific sailing, ports may include locations such as Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Icy Strait Point, along with scenic cruising opportunities.

Exact ports, sailing lengths and ship deployments can vary by itinerary and travel date, so travelers should always review the complete itinerary before booking.

The Agreement Includes a Minimum Passenger Guarantee

In addition to preferred weekly docking access, the new agreement contains a minimum annual passenger guarantee.

The companies have not revealed the size of the guarantee or whether the number will change over the agreement’s 15-year term. When asked for additional information, Disney Cruise Line reportedly did not provide further figures, while Huna Totem deferred questions about the guarantee to Disney.

Even without a publicly disclosed number, the inclusion of an annual passenger guarantee represents a significant commitment.

For Huna Totem Corporation and the Hoonah community, dependable Disney Cruise Line visits can help support local tourism revenue, employment and area businesses. For Disney, the agreement provides preferential access to a distinctive Alaska destination as demand for cruise berths continues to grow.

The Deal Supports Jobs and Businesses in Hoonah

The economic impact of the agreement extends beyond Disney Cruise Line and its passengers.

Howard Sherman, president of Huna Totem Tourism Group, said Disney Cruise Line has played an important role in the Icy Strait Point story for nearly a decade.

“Each Disney Cruise Line visit helps support local jobs, businesses and economic opportunity in Hoonah while creating meaningful connections between guests and the people who call this place home,” Sherman said.

Because Icy Strait Point is the largest employer in Hoonah, cruise ship visits can have a substantial impact on the surrounding community. Guests may spend money on locally operated excursions, dining, shopping, transportation and other tourism experiences during their time ashore.

Huna Totem Corporation described the agreement as part of a shared commitment to supporting tourism in Southeast Alaska while helping visitors experience the region’s culture, heritage and natural beauty.

For travelers, the most important part of the announcement is the long-term stability it could provide for future Disney Cruise Line Alaska vacations.

The agreement does not guarantee that Icy Strait Point will appear on every Alaska itinerary through 2041. Ship deployments, individual routes and sailing schedules can still change over time.

However, preferential access for one vessel each week makes it much easier for Disney Cruise Line to continue scheduling regular visits to the destination.

That could give future passengers continued access to a port known for:

• Huna Tlingit cultural experiences
• Wildlife-viewing excursions
• Outdoor adventures
• Whale-watching opportunities
• Southeast Alaska landscapes
• Locally connected tourism experiences
• Access to the community of Hoonah

It also suggests that Disney Cruise Line sees Alaska as an important part of its long-term business strategy.

A 15-year agreement is not a small or temporary commitment. Combined with Disney’s expansion to two Alaska ships in 2026, the deal indicates that the cruise line is preparing to maintain (and potentially continue developing) its presence in the region.

Icy Strait Point Has Received Major Travel Recognition

Icy Strait Point has also earned recognition from several prominent travel publications and organizations.

The destination received a 2025 Global Vision Award from Travel + Leisure, a 2025 Readers’ Choice Award from Porthole Cruise and Travel for Best Alaska Cruise Destination and a place on Condé Nast Traveler’s list of the “25 Best Places to Go in 2025.”

Those honors reflect the port’s growing reputation within the Alaska cruise industry, particularly as travelers look for experiences centered on natural scenery, Indigenous culture and locally connected tourism.

For Disney Cruise Line, securing long-term preferred access to an award-winning destination may help the company differentiate its Alaska itineraries as more cruise lines compete for passengers and port availability.

Disney Cruise Line Is Planning Far Into the Future

Disney Cruise Line has undergone substantial growth in recent years, adding new ships, destinations and international sailing regions to its vacation lineup.

The Icy Strait Point agreement shows that the company is not only focused on launching new experiences. Disney is also strengthening relationships with established destinations that have already become popular with its passengers.

By securing preferential weekly berthing access through at least 2041, Disney Cruise Line can continue building Alaska itineraries that feature the culture, wildlife and natural beauty of Hoonah and Southeast Alaska.

For Disney cruise fans dreaming about glaciers, whales and scenic summer sailing days, this announcement is certainly encouraging. Icy Strait Point appears poised to remain part of the Disney Cruise Line story for many years to come.

Be sure to revisit Theme Park Scope for the latest Disney Cruise Line news, Alaska itinerary updates, new ship announcements and important vacation-planning information before your next adventure.