HX Expeditions has become the first commercial cruise line to visit Old Harbor, a remote Alutiiq community on Kodiak Island, allowing travellers to experience the traditions, stories and daily life of one of Alaska's oldest continuously inhabited communities.
The visit by MS Roald Amundsen on Sunday, August 2 was developed with Old Harbor Native Corporation (OHNC), and the Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor passed a formal resolution endorsing it before the ship arrived.
HX Expeditions took 351 guests ashore across the day at Old Harbor, home to 199 people.
Chief of the Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor, Jeffrey Peterson, said the idea of bringing cruise ships to Old Harbor came from the villagers.
"Our village has been actively improving our quality of life here, and one of the ideas was to bring in cruise ships to generate revenue through passengers purchasing Indigenous arts and crafts, while also supporting the community through sales taxes and docking fees," Chief Peterson said.
"HX was a pleasure to work with, and the passengers were genuinely interested in our culture and our traditional way of life.
"We look forward to working with HX in the future to make these types of trips even better for the village and passengers."
HX agreed to pay a community visit fee of US$50 a guest, along with US$1,000 in shuttle support, totalling US$18,550. Port and docking fees were being confirmed separately.
An HX spokesperson told Global Indigenous Times the company was working with OHNC on optional, locally developed excursions, which could be introduced as early as 2027 and more widely in 2028. Those activities would be designed and run by the community, creating revenue in addition to the visit fee.
One call is confirmed for 2027 on the same Alaska and British Columbia itinerary, with a possible second by MS Fridtjof Nansen awaiting operational confirmation. Three visits are planned for 2028.
How guests moved through the village was agreed with OHNC before the ship arrived, with shore visits built around groups of about 100 at a time.
HX said it planned to keep managed capacity limits of around 100 for future calls, to keep visits respectful, sustainable and aligned with community preferences.
OHNC chief executive Kristina Woolston said the call marked an important milestone for the community.
"This partnership reflects our commitment to sharing Alutiiq/Sugpiaq culture, history, and values in a way that is guided by the community and benefits the people," Ms Woolston said.
Ahead of the visit, local artists and Elders rebuilt a ciqlluaq, a traditional village home, a project the community took on itself for this call and for future visitors.
OHNC said the past 15 years had brought a resurgence of pride in Alutiiq culture in the village.
Old Harbor has its own dance group, the Nuniaq Alutiiq Dancers, and its public school runs an annual Alutiiq Week and teaches the Alutiiq language through the Alutiiq Museum's revitalisation program.
Community members guided HX guests through the village and the Russian Orthodox Church, showed them the hydroponic farm behind local food security work, and explained how subsistence remains central to daily life.
At the Nuniaq Center, residents shared beadwork, carving, painting and jewellery-making, and taught guests augca'aq, a traditional Alutiiq dart game.
Chief Peterson presented a ceremonial paddle, a symbol of welcome, friendship and safe passage, to Captain Bram Olof.
HX expedition product planner Samantha Imes said communities should have a voice in how tourism develops.
"Working alongside Old Harbor Native Corporation has allowed us to create an experience that reflects the community's vision for tourism while giving guests a meaningful connection to this remarkable place," Ms Imes said.
