The inaugural 2016 cruise of the American Spirit to the North Olympic Peninsula took place this week, with visits to six waterfront towns including Port Angeles and Port Townsend, where passengers were slated to depart from this morning.
The cruises begin and end in Seattle. Passengers travel to Anacortes, Friday Harbor, Port Angeles, Port Townsend and Poulsbo.
The 22 excursions for 2016 that include the Peninsula are twice the number of the 2015 sailings, said Marc Abshire, Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce executive director.
Throughout the season, the ship will spend Tuesday and Wednesday nights in Port Angeles and Thursday night in Port Townsend.
The cruises operate weekly until June 4 before moving to Alaska for two months, resuming Aug. 13 through Nov. 7.
“They are coming during our shoulder season for the most part,” Abshire said.
“From a business standpoint, that’s great.”
Walking tours
After leaving Port Angeles early Thursday morning, the vessel docked in Port Townsend at 10 a.m., when passengers disembarked, taking walking tours or exploring downtown on their own.
The tours are offered by the Jefferson County Historical Society.
“These tours tell people a little about the architecture, the stories and the characters in Port Townsend,” said Bill Tennent, the historical society’s executive director.
Passengers on each cruise have the opportunity to take two walking tours of downtown Port Townsend and an afternoon tour of Fort Worden State Park.
Port Angeles excursions
While the vessel was in Port Angeles, the chamber organized excursions to Hurricane Ridge and a heritage tour of downtown Tuesday as well as a heritage tour and a visit to Lake Crescent Lodge on Wednesday.
Passengers had the option of taking daylong trips Wednesday from Port Angeles to Victoria aboard the Black Ball Ferry Line’s MV Coho ferry.
Abshire said entertainment for passengers aboard the American Spirit was organized by Patrick Downie, Port Angeles’ mayor.
American Spirit Capt. Bryan Hobcroft said the itinerary is identical every week and “you can set your watch on it.”
The 45-cabin ship carried about 68 people this week and is expected to reach its capacity, listed at 100 passengers on its website www.americancruiselines.com, later in the season, Hobcroft said.
The cost of the cruise varies from $4,100 to $7,075 per passenger, according to the accommodations.
Elevators provide access to all decks.
The vessel, built in 2005, includes four lounges, an exercise area and a putting green.
About 28 crew members are on board, most of them in the hospitality department.
Most if not all of the passengers are senior citizens, according to Hobcroft.
“Sometimes we get a younger person, and on rare occasions, we have a child,” he said. “But most of them are over 65.”
Abshire said cruise ship passengers who go on excursions typically do not spend most time shopping in downtown Port Angeles.
He wants to change that.
“My personal goal is to work with the downtown association to try to find ways to entice passengers who are not going on excursions or who, when they are not on excursions, to get off the boat and come downtown and explore Port Angeles and our businesses and things like that,” Abshire said.
For more information about the cruises, go to www.americancruiselines.com.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345 or pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
