By Ian Holmes

Cruise passengers rave about Nanaimo’s ‘authentic, intimate’ charm

Sep 19, 2018 | 2:08 PM

NANAIMO — While Nanaimo’s cruise ship industry hobbles along, passengers raved about the unique experience offered in the harbour city.

Nearly 4,000 passengers and 1,200 crew members aboard the Explorer of Seas pulled into Nanaimo early Wednesday. The cruise ship is on its way back to Seattle on a five-day Pacific Northwest loop.

Anne Apts of Portland, Oregon said she prefers visiting Nanaimo as opposed to established cruise ports like Vancouver and Victoria.

“It’s more intimate, whereas the big cities you get lost there,” Apts told NanaimoNewsNOW.  “Here you get to explore more of the authentic, cultured population.”

Apts said she understands the flack Nanaimo receives for not having more things for tourists to do, but that doesn’t bother her.

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“You don’t want to get too big either because then you take away the charm of the city. But you could have a bit more amenities I suppose that cater to passengers.”

Nanaimo’s downtown area, particularly the waterfront walkway and Maffeo Sutton Park, buzzed with thousands of cruise passengers.

The Explorer is only the fifth large cruise ship to visit Nanaimo during the 2018 season, while six visited last year and in 2016. Just three made the trek in 2015. A longstanding Port of Nanaimo goal aimed to bring 25 to 30 cruise ships to Nanaimo, with a lack of attractions seen as a primary barrier.

Passenger Jon Paget of Salt Lake City, Utah enjoyed Nanaimo’s waterfront with his wife. He appreciated the comfortable, natural feel and the fact it wasn’t too busy.

“I think it’s great, there are a lot of interesting things to see, different kinds of boats and buildings.”

Paget’s wife Debbie said the welcoming from the mayor and ambassadors when they got off the boat “couldn’t have been nicer and more friendly.”

Debbie Paget noticed the large tent city encampment while they were bussed from the nearby cruise dock into downtown, but said it didn’t sour her experience at all.

“Because we’re used to it. It’s all over America, everywhere. I thought ‘Oh, they have a place for them anyway.’ In L.A. they’re all over the freeway overpasses and in Seattle they’re down in the ravines and everywhere.” Paget said.

Port of Nanaimo board chair Michelle Corfield said they established a new shuttle bus route for the passengers to avoid going near the tent city encampment.

While the visitors in town on Wednesday didn’t seem bothered, Corfield said the encampment doesn’t help the already difficult task of drawing cruise ships to Nanaimo.

“Our volunteers that come out and help greet our guests are going to make the best of a really bad situation.”

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes