tour guide

bus driver

security officer

operator

shuttle driver

Icy Strait Point

I had an overall positive experience working at ISP. The supervisors are fantastic, very down-to-earth, and personable!

 I really enjoyed the perks of working in the excursions department and took advantage of the tours offered.  I loved that supervisors encouraged us to go on tours and made it so available to us. It made working for ISP very rewarding. 

I also felt like I was compensated very well and was kept busy. I liked that there was always something to do to get extra hours. 

The company housing I was provided for the majority of my time was decent although not all of it is. Most units were put up hurriedly to accommodate the spike in crew ships this season and so were not as well maintained. Most did not have proper kitchens or decent bathrooms and were not up to code which caused a fire in one of the units.

I stayed in a 1/4 of a renovated shipping container for the first few weeks. The containers were very small, had black mold, and were always damp. Toward the end of my time in the containers, I got a roommate and the space was definitely not large enough to accommodate two people. The containers also did not have a proper kitchen. The kitchen was a sink, fridge, and hot plate  (which did not work). 

The other housing I was moved to was great, it was a mobile home in a convenient location, close to both grocery stores. I had help moving my stuff and had my own room, a full kitchen, and in-house laundry. My roommates were amazing. Any repairs or patience were handled in a timely manner. Trash bags, paper towels, toilet paper, dish soap, towels, and bedding were all provided.

Transportation to and from work was not the most reliable. You have to plan on waiting for at least half an hour to be picked up and taken to work (a five-minute drive).

The company was very overwhelmed this season and very understaffed. No background checks were done upon hire which I saw some issues with as the turnaround rate was very high and we had some dangerous people brought to the island. 

Scheduling was very poorly handled. On several occasions, I was put on the schedule to be in multiple places at once. 

It was hard to get breaks during work in my department at the height of the season because of understaffing. I would have to eat lunch while attending to customers and often worked 14hr shifts without a break. 

Many of the frustrations I experienced in the company boil down to poor communication and scheduling, and understaffing. 

If you are a seasonal worker coming to work at Icy Strait Point, be very aware of what you are getting into before you spend your money moving up there. Living in Alaska for a summer is a fun experience, but this company does not care at all about employee retention. They only expect you to be there for one summer. Someone else will happily replace you next summer and the management knows it. Employee housing is incredibly small and cramped (you will live in a shipping container divided into three units, and likely share that small space (~40 square feet) with a roommate. Try to get your pay in writing before moving to Hoonah if you can. I was promised a pay rate over the phone that was very different from what was on the contract after spending all my money to move there, and I know other employees who reported the same experience. They also promise a bonus if you work without missing a day all summer, but they will find an excuse not to pay you this bonus. None of the seasonal employees I know ever received this, so do not count on it. Just assume you will not get it. The townspeople are great, and living in Alaska is a very unique experience, but prepare to be underpaid, underappreciated, and living in adverse conditions when you get there. It is a unique experience, but know what you are getting into.

I didn't know what to expect when I accepted this job. It was the best summer I could have asked for. You work long hours which tends to be a big complaints by most people but the over time pay is really nice. There's a lot of people who will get stuck in this hole of complaining and they end up having a miserable time. It really is what you make of it. If you keep a positive attitude, open-mindedness, and willingness to learn form your mistakes theres plenty of room for advancement. I made some of my best friends while working here and they've made the long work days so much fun. I found it to be an extremely rewarding job.
Housing is lacking for sure. There's a handful of housing options and none of them are really that great. They cut a lot of corners with housing and it's noticeable. 
My manager was great and offered a lot of support to me and my team. I've heard other people have issues with management but I never had any problems. Stay professional and they will too. Its a business not a summer camp. Some people seem worried about it being an "at will employment" which really isn't necessary. They need employees so they're not looking to fire people. If you try your best and show up you'll be just fine.

The wildlife is the only good thing about this job—you’ll probably see whales, eagles, and bears pretty often. But everything else about the experience was frustrating and disappointing. The employee housing was disgusting and barely maintained. Things were broken, dirty, and packed with people, and no one seemed to care when issues were brought up.

The worst part was the toxic work environment. People constantly talked behind each other’s backs, and it felt like some were trying to get others fired just to move up or cause drama. It created this weird, uncomfortable energy where you couldn’t trust anyone, and it felt like you were always walking on eggshells. Management didn’t do anything to stop it and honestly seemed fine letting it all happen.

If you’re thinking about taking this job, just know that while the wildlife is amazing, it’s not worth the stress, drama, and poor living conditions. There are better seasonal jobs out there.

I spent April thru June 2022 in Hoonah.  How is it possible to be on such a beautiful island but surrounded by such poor managers. The local Tlinget lead driver and supervisor were rude, they exibibited extreme favoritism. The same two Texas drivers were given the best assignments EVERY DAY. As drivers we complained as a group but it never changed. Buses and equipment were poorly maintained. Schedules were inefficient, one day I waited 7 hours on the clock for my first tour. The overtime is endless if like working 14 hr days 6 or 7 days a week. I was getting 40-70 hrs of overtime  x 2weeks. I am not some lazy millennial with hurt feelings. I am a 61 yo retired training professional who was lured in by the high wages and beautiful area. 

  Gave several years and was completely disrespected. Housing for most employees is atrocious. Hardly inhabitable. Pay is on par with the same positions elsewhere. But you can sit around throughout the day unpaid waiting for work. No support from management. Ever. It's at will employment but largely at their will. They create imaginary reasons to terminate. Huge turnover rate. Totally unorganized. Mass confusion. Great place for a young person with no previous work experience. Steer clear if you have dependents. Not much room for real advancement. Hourly can be a financial boom with overtime. But they put most on a salary that equates to five bucks an hour.

Working at Icy Strait Point was an unforgettable experience. I had the opportunity to meet people from different countries, improve my communication skills, and gain valuable work experience in the hospitality industry.

The work environment was friendly and supportive, and I enjoyed being part of a team that helped create memorable experiences for visitors. The breathtaking scenery, wildlife, and unique culture of Alaska made every day special.

This job taught me responsibility, teamwork, and how to provide excellent customer service in a fast-paced environment. I am grateful for the experience and would highly recommend Icy Strait Point to anyone looking for both professional growth and an amazing adventure.


I worked as a naturalist for the whale watching tours. The job was amazing as Hoonah is an amazing place and their boats are great, however the management does not care about the employees, the community, or the wildlife. You are a number to them. the housing was awful and not what they told us it would be. The culture was very toxic, lots of lies from supervisors. Overall I am so glad I took the job, but be aware that it comes with lots of downsides.

What is the best part of working at the company?
It’s a fantastic place to work ! Kinda like Disney land meet National Geographic in Alaska!

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
It can be total semi disorganized chaos at times.
But somehow you get thru the day.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Pretty good overall, Hoonah can be a bit small at times.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Always a new challenge, no two days are the same.

Everything here is about favoritism. who you know, how long you’ve been here, etc. everyone is constantly talking behind each others backs, trying to get people fired, moved positions, or just stir up unnecessary drama. Everyone is constantly trying to get into peoples relationships, break people up, break up friendships, etc. 
management offers no support and if you complain you get told to do what you’re told and not ask questions and then you get the worst position possible. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Tour guide 21 salaries reported	$18.10 per hour
Bus driver 13 salaries reported	$30.00 per hour
Security officer 15 salaries reported	$19.93 per hour
Operator 13 salaries reported	$19.23 per hour
Shuttle driver 11 salaries reported	$30.00 per hour

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