PORT ANGELES — Downtown was bustling with activity once again Saturday as another batch of cruise ship passengers filled sidewalks and storefronts.
The Holland America-owned ship, Statendam, docked in Port Angeles for about seven hours on its way to Vancouver, B.C.
(See PDN photojournalist Chris Tucker’s video at http://ptedit.sx.atl.publicus.com/section/videonews?startID=11776506 .)
Expected at noon, the ship was late arriving because of rough seas, said Mary Brelsford, Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau communications manager. The first passengers disembarked at about 3:30 p.m.
Once in Port Angeles, passengers who explored the town — some of whom started on the voyage in Florida — gave the place positive reviews, much like many of the passengers of the cruise ship Zuiderdam, which docked in Port Angeles on May 7.
They each commented on the warm welcome they received at the dock and around town.
“I’ve never been welcomed so well,” said Paul Martin of Vancouver Island.
“Port Angeles has done a very good job. Better than Victoria,” he said, adding that the Vancouver Island city could learn a few things from Port Angeles when it comes to greeting cruise ship passengers.
Over a dozen members of business organizations, City Council, and representatives of local casinos awaited the passengers at Terminal 1, at the foot of Cedar Street, with brochures and first-hand knowledge of the North Olympic Peninsula.
They did the same with the Zuiderdam, but this time they also had a 1963 Chevrolet truck, which is the same truck seen in the Twilight movies, which are based on the bestselling novels based in Forks, LaPush and Port Angeles.
The truck was provided by the Elwha River Casino, which plans to eventually give it away through a promotional campaign.
Joni Eades, casino marketing manager, said quite a few people posed for pictures in front of it, next to cutouts of Edward Cullen and Jacob Black — two characters in the vampire books and movies.
“A lot of people were taking pictures of it for their grandchildren,” she said.
The Statendam, which came to Port Angeles last year, had 1,213 passengers and 580 crew members on board.
The Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce estimated 940 came off the boat.
That’s about half of what it estimated came off the Zuiderdam, which had 1,952 passengers on board.
Still, their presence was hard to miss downtown.
They could be seen roaming through antique stores, buying candy, clothing and birthday cards at Bay Variety and Necessities and Temptations, sweets at Northwest Fudge and Confections, and admiring art at local galleries.
Fans of the Twilight book and movie series also, naturally, made the pilgrimage to the Dazzled by Twilight gift shop.
“I’m in Twilight heaven,” commented Jessica Nunez, 25, of Arizona, with her hands full of Twilight gear.
Many passengers said they liked Port Angeles’ small-town feel, which they felt was more authentic than many of the stops on their cruise.
“It’s unique in its own right,” said Cheryl Fuller, of British Columbia, who was admiring the “Avenue of the People” statues.
She also said she enjoyed the three teenage boys playing violins for the passengers on the sidewalk.
Martha Piper of Vancouver, B.C., said she had been through Port Angeles before on her way to Lake Crescent, but didn’t remember the town.
This time was different, she said, emphasizing the friendly impression she will take with her.
“People are very friendly,” she said.
“You don’t often see that.”
Edna Petersen, who was offering passengers a free latte at her store, Necessities and Temptations, said she felt Port Angeles put its best foot forward for the cruise ships this month. (About 30 lattes were given away.)
“We love them. We enjoy them,” she said.
“We have fun with it.”
The two cruise ships came to Port Angeles as part of Holland America’s “repositioning cruises,” which it uses to relocate ships to Vancouver, B.C. in preparation for the Alaska cruise season.
No more cruise ship stops are planned this year, although the Zuiderdam plans to come back in 2012, said Port of Port Angeles commission President George Schoenfeldt.
Cruise ships have previously stopped in Port Angeles in 2004, 2006 and 2009.
If they keep coming, Josh Krohn, who organizes tours to Hurricane Ridge and local wineries for the passengers, said he will add more tours to this stop.
The Hoh Rain Forest and other sights on the West End would be prime destinations, he said.
Krohn said about 45 passengers went on both tours. About half cancelled due to the ship arriving about two hours late, he said.
The ship left at 11 p.m. Saturday for Vancouver.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
