HX Expeditions Makes History With First Commercial Cruise Visit to Old Harbor, Alaska

HX Expeditions 

HX Expeditions has reached a significant milestone in Alaska with the first commercial cruise line visit to Old Harbor, an Alutiiq community on Kodiak Island.

The historic call took place on 2 August aboard MS Roald Amundsen, the world's first hybrid battery-powered cruise ship, during HX's Alaska and British Columbia Inside Passage, Bears and Aleutian Islands expedition.

Located on the southeastern coast of Kodiak Island, Old Harbor is one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the Kodiak Archipelago and has a rich Alutiiq cultural heritage.

A Community-Led Approach to Alaska Expedition Travel

The visit was developed in partnership with Old Harbor Native Corporation, creating a new opportunity for expedition travellers to experience the community through local stories, traditions and perspectives.

The Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor formally endorsed the inaugural visit, supporting tourism that allows the community to share its culture and history while creating economic opportunities for local residents.

For HX Expeditions, the visit reflects a growing focus on community-led exploration, where local people have an active role in determining how tourism develops and how their stories are presented to visitors.

Discovering Alutiiq Culture in Old Harbor

During the inaugural visit, HX guests explored Old Harbor with local community members and gained an insight into everyday life on Kodiak Island.

The experience included a visit to the Russian Orthodox Church and an opportunity to learn about food security initiatives at the community's hydroponic farm. Guests also discovered how subsistence practices continue to play an important role in local life.

At the Nuniaq Center, residents demonstrated traditional arts and crafts including beadwork, carving, painting and jewellery-making. Visitors were also invited to participate in augca'aq, a traditional Alutiiq dart game.

The community also prepared a traditional village home known as a ciqlluaq as part of its efforts to preserve and share Alutiiq and Sugpiaq heritage with visitors and future generations.

A Traditional Welcome for MS Roald Amundsen

HX Expeditions 

The historic visit concluded with a special welcome for the HX expedition ship.

Community leaders presented the ship's captain with a ceremonial paddle, representing welcome, friendship and safe passage.

The occasion marked not only the first commercial cruise visit to Old Harbor but also a new relationship between the community and expedition cruising.

Supporting Responsible Tourism in Alaska

Old Harbor's approach demonstrates how expedition tourism can provide opportunities for visitors while respecting local culture and community priorities.

Local leaders have highlighted the potential for cruise tourism to generate revenue through the purchase of Indigenous arts and crafts, sales taxes and docking fees, while creating opportunities for the community.

For travellers, the experience provides something that conventional sightseeing cannot easily offer: the opportunity to meet local people and hear directly about their culture, history and connection to the land.

Old Harbor to Join HX Expeditions' 2027 Program

Following its successful inaugural visit, Old Harbor will be included in HX Expeditions' 2027 program.

HX offers dedicated Aleutian Islands expeditions, including 18-day northbound and southbound voyages, providing travellers with opportunities to explore some of Alaska's more remote destinations.

The addition of Old Harbor gives future passengers another opportunity to experience Kodiak Island while supporting a community-led approach to tourism.

For travellers seeking an Alaska cruise that goes beyond the traditional ports, an expedition voyage through the Aleutian Islands can offer a very different perspective on the state's spectacular landscapes, wildlife and Indigenous cultures.

Why Visit Old Harbor on an Alaska Expedition Cruise?

HX Expeditions 

Old Harbor offers travellers the chance to experience a lesser-known side  of Alaska.

Rather than simply viewing the destination from a ship, visitors can meet community members, discover Alutiiq traditions and learn about the relationship between culture, environment and everyday life.

For expedition travellers, this combination of cultural connection, remote landscapes and community-led experiences makes Old Harbor a distinctive addition to an Alaska cruise itinerary.

HX Expeditions 

Website: https://www.hxexpeditions.com/
Address: HX Expeditions, Fred. Olsen House, Alix Street, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0LL, United Kingdom

Old Harbor Native Corporation 

Website: https://www.oldharbornativecorp.com/
Address: Old Harbor, Kodiak Island, Alaska, United States

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