Cruise Line reps charmed by Pictou County
“We wanted to showcase things people may not think of as regular destinations ... It’s important to share our experiences so they can create memorable experiences for our passengers.” Cindy D’Aoust, Cruise Lines International Association
Representatives from a cruise association visited Pictou County this weekend and liked what they saw.
“I couldn’t be more impressed,” said Cindy D’Aoust. “This will be a repeat for my family – very charming.”
D’Aoust and Lane West are based in Washington, D.C., and work for Cruise Lines International Association. They visited the area as part of a five-day tour of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick with stays in Halifax, Pictou County and Saint John.
Locally, some of their experiences included going on board the Ship Hector, adopting lobsters at the Northumberland Fisheries Museum, picking out vegetables and dessert for supper while at the New Glasgow Farmers Market, stopping in at Carmichael Stewart House, touring New Glasgow’s town hall, and going to the Museum of Industry in Stellarton. The also ate at area restaurants and stayed overnight at Pictou Lodge.
Their first trip to the region, they took video clips and tweeted about their experiences. D’Aoust explains that these will be part of a series about Canada and New England they’re creating as marketing tool for their members.
“We wanted to showcase things people may not think of as regular destinations,” said D’Aoust, with the goal to introduce new options for association members, which include cruise lines, travel writers and travel agents. “It’s important to share our experiences so they can create memorable experiences for our passengers.”
Geralyn MacDonald, co-chair of the Pictou County Cruise Line Committee and director of Community Economic Development for the Town of New Glasgow, met D’Aoust at a Cruise Canada New England Symposium and suggested she visit the area.
She said the CLIA representatives travel the world and take in experiences cruise passengers can have, looking for “hidden gems. It’s an opportunity for us to showcase what we have. We’re really happy to have them here.”
D’Aoust said they came in the summer because most people already know Nova Scotia as a fall foliage destination, and they wanted to demonstrate and share what’s available in different seasons.
Small cruise ships have been docking in Pictou Harbour for several years.
According to information from CLIA, cruise ship passengers and crew members make a significant annual contribution to the Canadian economy, with a total economic impact of $3.2 billion in 2016 – including direct and indirect spending.