NANAIMO – The Nanaimo Port Authority has announced the inaugural call of Crystal Cruise Lines – a luxury cruise line, to the Port of Nanaimo. The ship, called the Crystal Serenity, arrives Friday, August 5th at 7AM and departs at 5PM. The Crystal Serenity is consistently awarded the highest accolades by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler, among others.
“Our warm Central Vancouver Island welcome will be primed for this luxury ship call to our port,” says Bernie Dumas the Port’s President and CEO. “With feedback over the years that we host largest cruise ships very well, the Crystal Serenity with 1070 passenger capacity, is another line that we look forward to working with as our cruise program evolves.
“The Crystal Serenity is a luxury class cruise line designed to please a specific type of passenger. We are delighted that they chose the Port of Nanaimo for our local & regional shore excursions to the Alberni and Cowichan Valleys including the Parksville – Qualicum area.”
As passengers arrive in the cruise ship terminal, Tourism Nanaimo Travel Counsellors will greet passengers with Nanaimo Bar samplings and point the way to photo opportunities with the RCMP in Red Serge, the ‘Big Tub’ and displays of racing tubs from the Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society. Cannon firings at the historic Bastion are scheduled for 11 AM, noon, and 1 PM.
Passengers can also take in the popular harbourside walkway, the Pioneer Waterfront Plaza and our interesting museums. Complimentary shuttles transport passengers from the cruise terminal through downtown Nanaimo where they engage with local volunteers organized by the Downtown Nanaimo BIA. Contact with local culture include the downtown area, galleries, eateries and walking tours which receive positive passenger feedback on a consistent basis. Dumas continues: “Economically, this cruise call will have an average immediate impact of over $100,000 to the region. Additionally, passengers seriously consider our destination for a future multi-day visit.”
Quick Facts:
- The Crystal Serenity is 820 feet in length with a beam of 106 feet, draft of 25 feet with 13 decks and a cruising speed of 25 Knots.
- She carries approximately 1,070 passengers with a crew of 655.
- She is on an 11 day cruise starting on July 27th in Vancouver, cruising to Alaska and returning to Vancouver via Nanaimo, concluding on August 6th.
