PORT ANGELES — The American Cruise Line cruise line vessel American Spirit is slated to leave Port Angeles at about noon today after a week-early visit to the city with 83 passengers on board.
The ship is expected to dock in Port Townsend between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. today, said Don Johnson, captain of the American Spirit and West Coast manager for American Cruise Line.
The cruise ship pulled into Port Angeles on Monday night, Johnson said, a week earlier than originally was planned for the resumption of visits to the North Olympic Peninsula.
In addition to the early visit, the final two planned trips in October, during the last two weeks of the month, have been canceled.
Johnson said the schedule change was made because of a higher demand for trips earlier in September compared with later in October.
“Those last few weeks, they really didn’t sell too well, so we cut those off and added one earlier [in September],” Johnson said Tuesday.
Russ Veenema, executive director of the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce, said his organizers heard about the cruse ship venue change last week.
The American Spirit brought between 200 and 300 passengers to Port Angeles and Port Townsend in May this past spring.
The vessel is slated to return to Port Angeles this Monday; Sept. 16, 23 and 30; and Oct. 7 and 14.
The ship is planning to stop in Port Townsend today; Sept. 11, 18 and 25; and Oct. 2, 9, 16.
Johnson said he expects the fall visits to bring more people than in spring.
“Those first few fall trips are better than we’ve had in spring,” Johnson said.
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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
