On April 23, 2022 — a spectacularly sunny day in Seattle — I was onboard Norwegian Bliss as she had the honor of launching Norwegian Cruise Line's 2022 Alaska season, marking the first ship to visit Alaska and the first to sail from Seattle this year.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) pioneered the Seattle-to-Alaska route, and according to Harry Sommer, president and CEO of NCL, the company is committed to working with partners in both destinations to drive immersive and responsible tourism and create new experiences for clients.
The brand-new mountaintop gondola at Icy Strait point provides spectacular views of the Wilderness Landing below.
Credit: 2022 Samantha Davis-Friedman
“I was told NCL represents 30% of all passengers to Alaska, so this is super important for us,” Sommer said. “From a natural beauty perspective, Alaska represents the best place we go … so we spend a lot of time with our partners making sure we do things in a sustainable, authentic way.”
Cruising From Seattle
Part of that commitment was a $30 million investment by NCL’s parent company, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., to upgrade Seattle’s Pier 66 (where Norwegian Bliss was christened in 2018), including an expansion of the check-in area and two new passenger boarding bridges to provide a more efficient embarkation process.
“The timing of our recovery as a destination is really aligning with the start of this cruise season,” said John Boesche, senior vice president of tourism for Visit Seattle. “It's bringing back the vibrancy and energy Seattle hasn't had during the pandemic, so we're excited to see cruising back in Seattle as part of that recovery story … and we appreciate it more than ever.”
Improvements at Icy Strait Point
Similarly, a partnership with the Alaska Native-owned Huna Totem Corporation has resulted in the completion of a second cruise pier at Icy Strait Point, as well as the expansion of the destination’s Wilderness Landing, upgraded retail and restaurants, and two brand-new gondola systems — one of which takes clients up 1,600 feet for spectacular mountaintop views.
From left to right: John Boesche (Visit Seattle), Christine Da Silva (NCL), Tyler Hickman (Icy Strait Point), Harry Sommer (NCL), Emily Bishop (NCL), and John Binkley (Ward Cove)
Credit: 2022 Norwegian Cruise LineAs we arrived at Icy Strait Point’s new Wilderness Landing during Bliss’ inaugural cruise, Tyler Hickman, vice president of operations at Icy Strait Point, explained the intention of providing a true Alaska experience.
"When we developed this area, we did a lot of thinking about: What do we see? What do we hear? What do we smell? And what are we experiencing as we walk ashore?" he said. "There are great downtown areas that ships visit, but we wanted people to arrive in the wilderness and really enjoy what Alaska is all about. So, as you walk up the docks, take a big breath and smell the air, maybe feel the rain, listen for birds — we often get eagles in these trees — and take in what's here because that's what we’re trying to focus on."
Shore Excursions in Ward Cove, Ketchikan
NCL’s support in Alaska also includes a partnership with Ward Cove Dock Group, which transformed an area designated by the Environmental Protection Agency as contaminated land into a sustainable and environmentally friendly port anchored by a restored historic pulp mill that serves as a hub for shore excursions in Ketchikan and the Tongass National Forest.
"My family has been in Alaska since the Gold Rush … so to get cruising back to Alaska — and most importantly, guests — allows us to share the beauty and wonder of Alaska with visitors," said John Binkley, president of Ward Cove Dock Group. "We all feel excitement to get the season cranked up … and it fills my heart with gratitude for our partners at Norwegian.”
During my visit to Ward Cove, Binkley pointed to a row of train cars that house the restaurant and restrooms for the mill-turned-terminal. He told me the mill transported wood pulp via Canadian rail, so he brought these cars from Canada to add authenticity to the guest experience.
2022 Sailings Onboard Bliss, Encore, Sun, Spirit and Jewel
"We position our ships where guests want to be, and guests want to be here,” NCL’s Sommer said. “People say it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but we haven’t found that to be the case. So, the combination of a place people want to [visit] with destinations excited to partner with us to build great projects is a beautiful union.”
Norwegian Bliss (along with Encore, Sun, Spirit and Jewel) will cruise Alaska through October 2022 with five-, seven-, nine- and 10-day itineraries.
