One Big Ship

One of those Really Big Cruise Ships was docked in Charlottetown today.

You could tell it was coming because all of the “We Welcome Cruise Ships” posters went up in local shops as they prepared to prostrate themselves to the ephemeral postcard and clubhouse sandwich buyers amidst their capsule ingestion of our delightful Island culture (this map for cruise ship visitors [PDF] is sort of “Charlottetown Lite” — how to lick the frosting out of our civic Oreo© in 5 hours or less; note how “FREE INTERNET” and Province House, the cradle of Canadian Confederation, are about the same size on the map).

Regardless of how soulless cruise ship tourism might be, one can’t help but be impressed by the immensity of the hardware involved. Here’s a picture we snapped this afternoon from Fort Amherst of the Holland America ship Rotterdam docked in Charlottetown Harbour. Click the photo for a larger version, with handy labels.

If you need any additional convincing that our city as seen through the fast food lens of the cruise ship visit is weird, look at how Holland America describes Charlottetown:

A provincial capital with a distinctly English feel. Where red double-decker buses motor along streets lined with gingerbread-trimmed Victorian houses; and tea is served promptly at three.

Exactly where does this Charlottetown exist? “Tea is served promptly at three?” Huh? Apparently they use some sort of automated “Describotron” system to write their copy, as here is how they characterize Victoria, British Columbia:

Stroll through the charming downtown of this very British city, with it’s double-decker buses, turreted castles, fine British woolens, tea and china. Or, just outside the city, visit the lush flora and fauna of Butchart Gardens.

Apparently double-decker buses, tea, and a British vibe go over big with the cruise ship set. Indeed, look how they describe London:

In the East Anglia countryside see the mill, bridge and medieval barns immortalized by landscape painter John Constable. Tour to London, shop stylish Knightsbridge, hop a double-decker bus.

The Rotterdam carries 1316 passengers and 600 crew. It was in port for 9 hours. The ship, in all its crazy bigness, is coming back on June 24, July 2, July 8, Sept. 23, Oct. 1, Oct. 13 and Oct. 21, so if you missed it this time, you can always catch it later in the season. We left Fort Amherst before it steamed out of Charlottetown Harbour; I think it would be quite a sight to see it leaving out there.

Comments

Dita's picture
Dita on June 19, 2003 - 03:58 Permalink

ah, the Rotterdam. God bless it and it’s American dollar. You can bet I put up a sign in the store window where I work.

Andrew Chisholm's picture
Andrew Chisholm on June 19, 2003 - 05:07 Permalink

When docked in Charlottetown the Rotterdam looks out of place, big time! When ever the ship docks here in Halifax it fits in nicely.

Rob's picture
Rob on June 19, 2003 - 19:44 Permalink

It would indeed be a very impressive sight to watch the Rotterdam leave from Fort Amherst. The channel that runs out of the mouth of the harbour is very, very close to the west side, near Fort Amherst. I have seen smaller ships from that side and it’s hard to believe they don’t run aground.

dave moses's picture
dave moses on June 19, 2003 - 20:14 Permalink

you know, pete, god forbid you ever actually have to work for a living.

Oliver Baker's picture
Oliver Baker on June 20, 2003 - 23:25 Permalink

There’s something paradoxical in the idea that a cruise that big _visits_ a small place. If Walt Disney Corp were to host its umpteen thousand employees in a Nepalese mountain village, which culture would be getting more of a view of which? If cruise ships get any bigger, their gravitational pull will bring the destinations to them.