PORT ANGELES — Cash registers in downtown businesses were ringing at an accelerated rate Thursday as scores of passengers aboard the visiting Holland America Line’s MS Zaandam descended on the city.
Buses and shuttles were lined up to whisk away most of the passengers who were midway through a three-day cruise through the straits of Juan de Fuca, Haro and Georgia, beginning and ending in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Some headed straight to scenic destinations such as Hurricane Ridge and Lake Crescent.
But others had one goal in mind: Shop till you drop.
That’s music to Ken Porter’s ears.
Porter manages Gottschalks department store on West First and Oak streets.
He alerted corporate headquarters to the planned arrival of the Zaandam, and the company in turn authorized not only early opening hours, but a big sidewalk sale, slashing prices of selected merchandise to 60 percent off already-reduced prices.
“We were ready for them at 7:40 (a.m.),” Porter said. “We started seeing them about an hour later.”
The ship arrived at port a bit late, but merchants were patient.
They also knew they’d have eager shoppers on their hands.
And they were right. By midmorning, hundreds of visitors wearing round white “VIP” stickers wandered downtown streets, dropping into stores and leaving behind both Canadian and U.S. currency.
“Oh, this is fun. I just love the stores you have in the States,” said Judy Hickey of Tsawassan, British Columbia, who brought along two dear friends for an annual trip.
“It’s a moms’ thing,” Hickey said.