Icy Strait Point is less developed. Way less developed.
They have a very nice zip line - that is rather pricy (approaching $300 for a 90-second ride), although it is spectacular and long/steep. It is a seated zip, so it may be more accessible to those who have physical limitations or some fears.
A gondola system is new in the last few years; no need to ride a school bus to the top of the mountain.
There are two commercial areas for the tourists - and these are very small, tasteful. Somewhat like being in a National Park. But nothing to keep you occupied for hours.
A few miles away is the community of Hoonah, the residential fishing?village.
If it weren’t for the two dock areas at Icy Strait Point itself, you wouldn’t think “cruise destination.”
I did a combo whale watch and zip line excursion there in 2021. Great whale viewing on a beautiful September day.
Skagway is definitely a cruise destination. Take a very small town that looks like a Main Street from a western movie, set it by the Lynn Canal and mountains. Add a port that handles five or so cruise ships at a time. Historically, the starting point for men to begin the Yukon Trail in their search for wealth in the Gold Rush.
The train can take you up the mountain to Yukon, Canada. Bring you back or put you on a bus for return (or vice versa). Peaceful excursion.
You can take a classic AK cruise staple - the helicopter flight to land in a glacier. Or to play with husky/sled dog puppies.
Rent a car and drive into Yukon to see an inland desert or an Emerald Lake. Visit a dog sled interaction. We drove all the way to Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon Terr.
You can even take the fast ferry up the Lynn Canal (the deepest fjord in North America) to visit Haines, a very small community.
Hike, bike, kayak. Eat fudge, drink beer, visit an old-time saloon, shop for souvenirs, drink Starbucks. You can walk the Main Street in less than a mile, or so it seems. This is tourist Alaska. But not like tourist Caribbean. No one waiting to greet you and sell you stuff. I don’t remember seeing kiosks offering excursions, even. (They have those in Juneau and Ketchikan. But they aren’t aggressive, just there if you need them).
Skagway is typically a walk to town situation. Several if the cruise ships are a straight walk up the street to the main area. A few might be tendered? Or at the dock near the landslips that occurred in the last few years. We had a shuttle bus that ran from that location when in the Wonder.
