PORT ANGELES — Downtown organizations are preparing for the arrival of two cruise ships in May and seek volunteers to point the tourists to the town’s hot spots.
The ms Zuiderdam and ms Statendam — both Holland America ships — will make stops in Port Angeles in early May.
The Zuiderdam will arrive May 7 and stop from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., bringing with it as many as 1,850 guests and 800 crew members, said Barb Frederick, executive director of the Port Angeles Downtown Association.
The Statendam — which made a stop in Port Angeles in May 2009 — will arrive at noon May 15 and stay until 11 p.m. with its 1,300- passenger capacity and 580 crew.
“This is such a wonderful opportunity for us, and what I find interesting is that they are coming in part specifically because of the wonderful reception they had when they came last time,” said Mary Brelsford, communications manager at the Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau.
Smooth visit
Brelsford and Frederick are working with organizations throughout Port Angeles to arrange for smooth sailing when the passengers disembark.
The cruise-sponsored events will include tours of Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent and North Olympic Peninsula wineries.
However, since many passengers disembark in search of other activities two shuttles are in the process of being arranged, Frederick said.
“One will be a shopping loop which will drop people right in downtown,” she said.
“The other will be a cultural loop and will stop by Webster Woods, the Museum at the Carnegie and, hopefully if the [Lower Elwha Klallam] Heritage Center will be open, it will go by there as well.”
The Elwha River Casino is also planning a shuttle, she said.
The Landing mall on the waterfront will be host to a crafts fair, and vendors can snag spots soon.
Crafts fair
“This will be an opportunity for those who have items they want to sell to do so because no one will be allowed to sell items at the dock,” Frederick said.
Each ship will dock at the Port of Port Angeles Terminal 1 pier near the Peninsula Plywood mill.
The port is coordinating with other ships that will be there at the same time, with PenPly and Platypus Marine to coordinate traffic — both pedestrian and vehicle — said Jeff Rob, executive director of the Port of Port Angeles.
Brelsford said there might be some chance for local residents to see the ships up close, but that orders from port officials must be followed.
“The little kids like to go and see the ship because they are really big and amazing, but to even get into some areas there are extensive background requirements even for people like me coordinating things,” she said of the port’s homeland security requirements.
This year organizers are hoping to inform passengers earlier that there is more to do in Port Angeles than the ship-sponsored tours.
“Last year we weren’t able to get brochures or information on the ships, but this year we are hoping that we can,” said Frederick.
The crews won’t be left out either.
A meeting for volunteers will be held at 6 p.m. April 20 at the Port Angeles Visitor Center in front of The Landing mall, 121 E. Railroad Ave.
The group is looking for volunteers to help in the following areas:
• Ship greeter for passengers getting on and off the ship.
• Information tables at the ship with information about the area and the shuttles.
• Bus tour guides to speak about each stop and answer questions.
• Bus greeters to help passengers as they get on and off of the shuttles.
• Rovers to make sure all volunteers at all locations have water, food and maintained trash cans.
• Assembly crew to post signs, posters and organize brochures.
• Set-up and tear-down crews for tables, chairs tents, garbage cans and other necessities.
To volunteer, visit www.down townassociation.com and click on the icon for the Zuiderdam and download the form.
The form may be mailed to the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce, 121 E. Railroad Ave., Port Angeles, WA 98362 or faxed to 360-451-5380.
For more information on volunteering, phone Louann Yager, the Chamber of Commerce volunteer coordinator, at 360-452-2363, ext. 17.
For more information on becoming an arts and crafts vendor at The Landing, e-mail Peggy Acorn at peggy@thelandingmall.com.
For more information on becoming an activity vendor, phone Gloria Cerney, marketing assistant at the Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau, at 360-452-8552 or e-mail info@olympic peninsula.org.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige. dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
