NCLH, Huna Totem Corp. plan cruise facilities at Whittier, Alaska

Huna Totem Corp. is the Native village corporation that also partnered with NCLH for facilities at Icy Strait Point.

The privately funded Whittier development will consist of a docking facility able to berth vessels of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, along with related structures including a terminal and facilities for rail and bus access.

No timing for the development was provided.

Gateway to Prince William Sound

As the gateway to Prince William Sound, Whittier gives visitors access to pristine nature and many of the classic sites and experiences found in south-central Alaska, including Portage Glacier and College Fjord. Nearby Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel is the longest highway tunnel in North America.

'Alaska is one of the premier cruise destinations in the world and we are excited to partner once again with Huna Totem Corporation to develop facilities to enhance the experience of the hundreds of thousands of guests our brands bring to Alaska on a yearly basis,' said Juan Kuryla, SVP port development and construction, NCLH. 'We are proud to continue our commitment to bringing positive, long-term and sustainable economic impact to the region, particularly after the challenges the Alaska cruise tourism industry has faced over the past two years.'

Public-private partnership

'The strong public-private partnership with the city of Whittier, Norwegian and Huna Totem is the tourism model of the future for Alaska,' added Russell Dick, president and CEO, Huna Totem Corp. 'This project integrates the natural beauty of Prince William Sound, its rich history and diverse cultural experiences into the design of a new turn-port destination in south-central Alaska.'

Norwegian’s commitment to Whittier, Dick said, 'expands sustainable tourism for all of Alaska, and Huna Totem is thrilled to be part of this vision.'

NCLH and Huna Totem earlier developed a second cruise pier and other facilities at Icy Strait Point. An NCL ship made the inaugural call at the Wilderness Landing pier in August 2021, when a ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opened the pier and the first of two gondola systems.