Nanaimo - Floating cruise ship terminal planning scrapped

[AllieG]

Just thought I could add to this discussion. Having lived half my life in Nanaimo/Vancouver and half in the UK, I can see this as both a tourist and (not so recent) local. I've been on plenty of cruises as well and I think Nanaimo has a lot to offer. There really is enough for a cruise passenger to do in the hours that they are in port and Nanaimo actually has a good reputation on cruise forums:
"Yes the town pulls out all the stops - a great welcoming committee with a band and possibly with a red coated RCMP officer more than willing to pose for a picture."

"The old centre of the city, where the cruise ship tenders land, is the more interesting part. The waterfront is very nice to walk around & if you do not mind a steep walk up the hill, you can climb up, over a bridge above the main highway, to the area of the old town centre which has been restored. It has various stores & businesses, situated in the old restored buildings, which have quite a bit of character."

Just a couple of quotes from people who have visited Nanaimo on a cruise ship. Most suggest going to Newcastle or Protection Islands, looking around town or hiring a car and going for a drive. Believe me, this is enough to amuse passengers. Other things to do would be sport fishing, harbour/coastal tours or the like (cruise passengers actually like to be on boats!)

With local effort, even just a welcoming committee with tourist info and maybe some stalls selling souvenirs (and Nanaimo bars - another big topic of dicussion on the forums) goes a long way. I've been to quite a few ports which were pretty down at heel but the locals made such an effort and were so lovely that these ports stick out in my memory. Most seasoned cruise passengers are happy to make their own arrangements and welcome locally operated excursions, which are often at a fraction of the cost of a ship's excursion. Some savvy locals might want to set up a car/minibus tour service to show small groups or couples around the area - something that local taxi companies could also do, for a flat fee. Or walking tours of the old city. There's really a load of things that an enterprising group or individual can do.

just my two cents worth!

[Trailblazer]

Another reason is capacity. All the new ships are too large to fit under the lions gate bridge so they need to find some place close that doesn't have this problem... Let's see if there was only a dock in Nanaimo...

All the new ships!
Since when was the fleet of Alaska bound vessels replaced by larger ones?

Interesting to see that the visiting cruise ship only stayed one day!

[sheena]

All the new ships!
Since when was the fleet of Alaska bound vessels replaced by larger ones?

Interesting to see that the visiting cruise ship only stayed one day!

It is very rare for cruise ships to stay in port for more then 8-10 hours - sometimes less. Some cruise ships stay overnight at a port or act a hotel at a destination. The cruises to Alaska do day stops at the ports they stop at.

[Wyatt Earp]

TB:
Norwegian and Celebrity and any others that make these runs replace the ships about every 10 years and the new marine design is too tall to go under the bridge. Look it up if you don't believe me.

[Trailblazer]

TB:
Norwegian and Celebrity and any others that make these runs replace the ships about every 10 years and the new marine design is too tall to go under the bridge. Look it up if you don't believe me.

As best as I can figure, the new Solstice class boats won't be around for a few more years when they will be used on the Mediterranean & Caribbean routes.
With twice the accommodations of the older boats do you really think Nanaimo is capable of entertaining such an influx of visitors?
It's time to drop the pipe dream. If we are to have cruise ships let's do a good job of supporting the "pocket" cruises instead of the taxpayer bailing out those that get an erection seeing a big ship in the Harbour!
If those that claim to want more vacationers in Nanaimo it's time they put up the cash to create attractions.
I have no problem with promoting Nanaimo as a tourist attraction but I'm damned if the taxpayer should fund those that would profit by it.
Nanaimo ...Socialising "free enterprise" privatising poverty.

[Wyatt Earp]

Not so fast there TB: there is a run to Alaska using this tall boat that can't go under the LGB. It goes to Seattle now but is looking for another Canadian location - Victoria was discussed but the harbour is too conjested etc. and this is one of the reasons the NPA wants thing off the ground.

However, government can't and shouldn't support all of this. The residence that can think for themselves, that can see the future and see what they can capitalize on should be leading this charge. Partner with the Nanaimo first nations and make a "boat load" is what I say.

[Trailblazer]

I think the ship you are referring to is the one owned by Disney.
One ship does not make a trend or a burgeoning industry.
We still have to ask ; will the larger vessels(if they come) be too big for Nanaimo's harbour?

[Smokey©]

Victoria was discussed but the harbour is too conjested etc. and this is one of the reasons the NPA wants thing off the ground.

Ships going to Victoria go to Ogden Point (which is large enough for anything) on the edge of the Harbour but they do not go into the crowded City Harbour.

[Trailblazer]

Ships going to Victoria go to Ogden Point (which is large enough for anything) and do not go into the City Harbour.

I have been to Ogden Point & seen the large vessels moored there.
The question still remains; are these ships too large for the facilities at Nanaimo?
The fact still remains that the concept is flawed & the math fuzzy.
The original cost for the facility was to be about $14 million; it's now $22 million.
$22 million to provide low paying seasonal jobs! within an industry that has it's problems.

[Smokey©]

Ogden Point has 'draft' allowances from 9.7-10.1 meters
Nanaimo Assembly has allowances from 9.2-12.0 meters
Campbell River allowance is for 10 meters.
The plan for the Nanaimo float is so boats with a deeper draft can tie up than those at the wharf because as pointed out by our friend Stan the Man, getting a deeper draft at the assembly wharf is next to impossible..