KODIAK ISLAND

Kodiak City on Kodiak Island is one of the most remote cruise ports in North America. In fact, you might only see it on your itinerary if you are doing a 2-3 week Alaska cruise or a crossing between North America and Asia.

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Kodiak City is home to 6,000 people, which is a little less than half of the island's small population that is 13,000 strong. With limited population comes limited infrastructure. The port is affectionately known for using local school buses as shuttles to assist in getting cruisers into the downtown area, located approximately 1 mi/ 1.6 km from the port.

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Kodiak has a rich cultural and trading history, with a native population that dates back over 7000 years as well as an unique Russian influence from the fur trade era.

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Nowadays, commercial fishing is the primary industry, along with tourism, and often those two go hand in hand. Another major drawcard is the opportunity to spot the Kodiak Brown Bear, as the island archipelago is known for having a healthy population of around 3,500 of these native bears. More can be learned about the bears at the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Center downtown.

Other downtown points of interest include the Alutiiq and Baranov Museums, as well as the Holy Resurrection Church.

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If you’re feeling thirsty, pop into the Kodiak Island Brewing Co. for a local brew, such as the Liquid Sunshine, the Snowshoe, or the Wing-Nut Brown. An Alaskan beer is quite the treat, particularly if you are embarking on or returning from a trans-Pacific cruise.