HX Expeditions will be the first commercial cruise line to make a port call at Old Harbor, an Alutiiq community located on Kodiak Island in Alaska. This milestone marks another step forward in the company’s commitment to an exploration model developed in partnership with local communities in Alaska.
The first visit took place last August aboard the MS Roald Amundsen, the world’s first battery-powered hybrid cruise ship, during the Alaska and British Columbia—Inner Passage, Aleutian Islands, and Bear Island—itinerary. Located on the southeastern coast of Kodiak Island, Old Harbor is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the Kodiak Archipelago and preserves an important Alutiiq cultural legacy. Developed in collaboration with the Old Harbor Native Corporation (OHNC), this port of call has created a new opportunity for travelers to discover the community through its stories, traditions, and the perspectives of its own residents.
“Welcoming HX Expeditions to Old Harbor marks a very important moment for our community,” said Kristina Woolston, executive director of OHNC. “This partnership reflects our commitment to sharing Alutiiq/Sugpiaq culture, history, and values in a way that is community-led and benefits the community’s residents.”
Before HX's first stop, the Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor passed a formal resolution endorsing the visit and supporting the opportunity to share the community's culture, history, and values with the visitors.
In addition, one of this project’s main objectives is to improve the quality of life in the region and attract cruise ships as a way to boost the local economy, by encouraging the purchase of handicrafts and traditional products made by indigenous tribes and generating revenue for the region through both traveler spending and the fees and taxes associated with port calls.
As part of the preparations to welcome travelers, local artists and community members have rebuilt a traditional dwelling known as a ciqlluaq. The project was created to welcome this and future visitors, while also helping to preserve and pass on the Alutiiq/Sugpiaq heritage to future generations.
Old Harbor will be added to HX Expeditions' itinerary in 2027. As the only global expedition cruise line offering dedicated itineraries through the Aleutian Islands—including 18-day northbound and 18-day southbound expeditions—HX continues to expand access to some of Alaska’s most remote destinations through partnerships designed to benefit both travelers and local communities.
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