• Historic Port Milestone: HX Expeditions became the first commercial cruise line to visit the remote Alutiiq community of Old Harbor on Kodiak Island.
• Community-Led Partnership: Developed alongside the Old Harbor Native Corporation and supported by a tribal resolution, the visit ensured local community goals guided the tourism experience.
• Cultural Heritage Preservation: Local Elders and artists constructed a traditional ciqlluaq home, offering guests authentic insights into Alutiiq and Sugpiaq history, arts, and games.
• Future Itinerary Expansion: Following the successful inaugural call, HX Expeditions will include Old Harbor in its 2027 expedition programs across the Aleutian Islands.

HX Expeditions achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first commercial cruise line to visit Old Harbor, a historic Alutiiq community on Alaska’s Kodiak Island. Stepping ashore from the hybrid battery-powered MS Roald Amundsen, guests experienced a authentic, community-led cultural exchange developed in close partnership with the Old Harbor Native Corporation and endorsed by a formal resolution from the Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor.

This collaborative visit offered travelers an immersive connection to Sugpiaq heritage and modern island life. Ahead of the ship’s arrival, local Elders and artists reconstructed a traditional village home, known as a ciqlluaq, to preserve ancestral history for future generations. Guided by community residents, guests toured the village, visited the historic Russian Orthodox Church, explored local food security efforts at a community hydroponic farm, and learned how subsistence traditions sustain the island. The inaugural visit concluded at the Nuniaq Center, where visitors admired intricate beadwork, carvings, and native arts while participating in augca’aq, a traditional Alutiiq dart game.

To celebrate the historic arrival, community leaders presented the ship’s captain with a ceremonial paddle symbolizing welcome, friendship, and safe passage. By prioritizing community-led tourism and cultural respect, HX Expeditions plans to feature Old Harbor across its 2027 Aleutian Islands itineraries. This milestone demonstrates how responsible expedition cruising can empower indigenous communities, preserve rich cultural heritage, and offer conscious travelers unforgettable, authentic experiences off the beaten path.