PORT ANGELES — The Holland America-owned Statendam, the second cruise ship to reach Port Angeles in as many weeks, is scheduled to arrive at noon Saturday.
The ship, which came to Port Angeles last year, has 1,213 passengers and 580 crew members on board.
It is scheduled to leave at 11 p.m.
The Zuiderdam, which docked in Port Angeles last Friday, carried 1,952 passengers and 817 crew members.
Even though the Statendam carries fewer passengers, Port Angeles Downtown Association Executive Director Barb Frederick said she is expecting that its arrival will give another boost to downtown sales.
Several downtown merchants reported sales increases last Friday of 20 percent and up.
“We’re ready to go,” Frederick said.
“Bring them on.”
Both stops are during Holland America’s “repositioning cruises,” where it moves ships from the Caribbean to Vancouver, British Columbia, in preparation for its summer trips to Alaska.
Greeting preparations
Volunteers and representatives of local business organizations expect to give the Statendam the same greeting as its bigger sister, with some extras.
A 1963 Chevrolet truck, as seen in the Twilight movies, will be at the dock.
There may be traditional dancers and singers from the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe.
The Elwha River Casino will provide the truck, which it will eventually give away through a promotional campaign, as a photo opportunity, said Joni Eades, casino marketing manager.
Eades said the tribe is trying to get its dancers and singers scheduled to welcome the passengers.
Frederick said representatives of the downtown association will be at Terminal 1 at the foot of Cedar Street, as they were last week, to greet the passengers and provide them with maps and brochures.
Representatives of the Port Angeles and Sequim chambers of commerce will be there with brochures in hand as well.
Frederick said a volunteer counted as many as 1,800 passengers — almost the entire ship — coming off of the Zuiderdam within the first two hours the ship was here.
“It’s not scientific or completely accurate,” she said, “but an approximate.”
Last Saturday, the downtown association organized a cleanup of the downtown in preparation for the second cruise ship.
About 30 youths from the Independent Bible Church made up the bulk of volunteers, Frederick said.
“It looks pretty darn good,” she said.
“They’re fabulous workers.”
The cleanup day was held after the Zuiderdam arrived because its organizer was out of town, Frederick said.
Many of the passengers the day before said that they thought Port Angeles is a clean town, as well as being scenic.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
