PORT ANGELES — The threat of high winds and rough seas in the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca late Monday again delayed the arrival of the American Cruise Lines ship American Spirit in Port Angeles, the vessel’s captain said Tuesday.
The 205-foot vessel docked at City Pier on Tuesday morning at about 9:45, roughly 12 hours later than originally scheduled, said Don Johnson, the ship’s captain and West Coast manager for American Cruise Lines, which operates the ship.
Johnson said he decided to keep the vessel and its 50 passengers in port in Friday Harbor on Monday after forecasts called for 25-35 mph winds and 4- to 6-foot seas in the eastern Strait.
Tuesday’s docking went smoothly, Johnson said, adding that the delay will not prevent passengers from taking any of the preplanned tours in Port Angeles.
“Everybody gets to do everything,” Johnson said.
“They don’t have to miss anything.”
Weather had pushed back the American Spirit’s planned April 29 Port Angeles visit to April 30.
The Port Angeles-centered activities include walking tours of the downtown area focusing on its history, a visit to Victoria and bus tours of Hurricane Ridge and Lake Crescent.
The American Spirit, which can hold 100 passengers, is slated to leave Port Angeles today at 5 p.m., rather than noon, and arrive in Port Townsend about four hours later, Johnson said.
The ship will stay in Port Townsend all day Thursday and leave for Poulsbo at about 4 a.m. Friday.
The stops in Port Angeles and Port Townsend are part of a seven-day Puget Sound cruise that begins and ends in Seattle.
The ship will visit Port Angeles again this Monday and May 27, and eight times in fall: Sept. 9, 16, 23 and 30; and Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28.
The next stops in Port Townsend after this Wednesday and May 29 are Sept. 11, 18 and 25; and Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30.
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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
