Shelburne readies storm-damaged waterfront for 1st cruise ship in 4 years - Action News
Home WebMail Saturday, November 23, 2024, 01:52 AM | Calgary | -11.7°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
Nova Scotia

Shelburne readies storm-damaged waterfront for 1st cruise ship in 4 years

Shelburne is ready to roll out the welcome mat on May 2 when the cruise ship Marina and 1,200 passengers sail into the historic harbour.

Town hopes to see 3 or 4 cruise ships a season by 2022

Darren Shupe, Shelburne's manager of community and economic development, said it's "a slow, patient game to draw" the cruise ships back. (Colleen Jones/CBC)

Shelburne is ready to roll out the welcome mat on May 2 when the cruise ship Marinaand 1,200passengers sail into the historic harbour.

The sound of hammering and saws can be heard as crewsclean up Dock Street, which runs the length of the old waterfront.

Winter storms and storm surges caused extensive damage in early March, especially to the town's wharf where passengers will be brought ashore by a smaller boatonce Marinaanchors off the point in the harbour.

Crews are busy fixing up the wharf for the ship's arrival in early May. (Colleen Jones/CBC)

"The town dock took a bit of storm damage and we are working to have it ready for the visit," said Darren Shupe, Shelburne'smanager of community and economic development.

Shelburne isexcited to land thecruise ship this year. It's the first one to visit the town since 2014, and Shupehopes that willbuild to three or four ships by 2022.

"These are long-term processes," he said. "It's a slow, patient game to draw them back again."

Allan Reid says the cruise ship is good news for local businesses. (Colleen Jones/CBC)

But it's a game worth playing.

The cruise passengers are expected to have a direct economic impact of $60,000to the town.

"There's a lot of small communities vying for the attention of cruise ships," saidAllan Reid, who runsthe local saloon, The Sea Dog. "The fact that we have one is a big credit. We have a pretty town, I think it will sell itself and hopefully they'll be looking to come back."

Reid wasgetting ready to do storm repairs to the outside of the restaurant.

"I have to pretty the place up before the ship comes in," he said.

The Black Loyalist Heritage Centre was getting emails for bookings back in November. (Colleen Jones/CBC)

The cruise ship has spinoffs beyond Shelburnetoo.There are tours set for Lunenburg, Mahone Bay andjust down the road in historic Birchtown.

Vanessa Fells from the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Birchtown saidtours have long beenbooked.

"We've been getting emails since November, even before it was official," she said."Now everyone is excited. We are ecstatic there are people who want to come and learn about the Black Loyalists in the area. It's created a lot of buzz. If it goes well, it could bring more cruise ships to the area."

Cruise ship visitors are a different type of visitor for the town, says Chris Abbott. (Colleen Jones/CBC)

Buzzis good in the ultra-competitive tourism and cruise industry.

"It's a big deal and we're excited about it. It's great for tourism, great for the economy and supporting local businesses," said Chris Abbott, Shelburne'stourism and marketing manager.

Now, they just have tofinish repairs to the wharf so the visitors can land and see what Shelburne is all about.

The ship arrives in the historic harbour on May 2. (Colleen Jones/CBC)