First cruise ship of the season
MSC Poesia brings about 2,000 people to Charlottetown in earliest visit ever
Visitors from around the world poured onto the streets of downtown Charlottetown to enjoy sunny skies and temperatures that topped 10 C as the first cruise ship of the season arrived on April 8.
Not only was it the ship's first time in Charlottetown, it was also the earliest-ever cruise ship visit to P.E.I.'S capital.
The passengers, who were from a variety of countries, were dressed in varying styles – some bundled up in the hearty winter clothing to those who dressed far more seasonally.
“This is my first time in Canada,” laughed Marrtin Uvrgtmsneimr of Germany. “The people and the country you have here is so wonderful, but it’s very nice and it’s very cold. Where I came from, the temperatures are in the mid 20s (C).”
Dane Rocket of Belgium said he was looking forward to seeing his first eclipse in 30 years, which was also happening on their day in port.
“They gave us eclipse glasses before,” Rocket said in reference to what was being handed out to each passenger at Port Charlottetown. “I saw it one time in Paris about 30 years ago, so I’m looking forward to it.”
The MSC Poesia stopped in the Charlottetown harbour on April 8 in the midst of a world cruise. Even though its capacity is 3,013 passengers and 987 crew members, the passengers Saltwire spoke to estimated there are more than 2,000 passengers aboard.
Eric Melinon of France talked about the various stops the ship has made so far – Africa, the Amazon, Brazil, Caribbean, New York and Miami – and where it will be going such as Norway, Greenland, Iceland, the Baltic Sea and Southampton, U.K.
Melinon added that the previous two stops, Halifax and Sydney, N.S., were freezing.
“It snowed on us over there. Here, the weather is quite
nice,” Melinon said. “Where I am from it is 25 C, a little better than this.”
Lilia Colazzo of Italy lamented that most churches on their walkabout were closed.
“Why didn't they open the churches for us?” Colazzo asked rhetorically.
Her husband, Luigi Blurn, was looking forward to seeing the eclipse in Charlottetown.
“We have glasses for this afternoon,” Blurn said, excitedly taking his glasses out of his jacket pocket to show Saltwire.
Corryn Clemence, chief executive officer of the Tourism Industry Association of P.E.I., said the ship brought lots of energy to the city on April 8.
“I think this is a huge win for not just the cruise season but for tourism as a whole this year to see a ship in so early,” Clemence said. “I think with the eclipse it is a double whammy because we’ve got accommodation providers up west all sold out (for viewing parties), so we have lots of activity around the Island. We couldn’t have asked for a better day.”
Peter Wolf of Germany said he was making his first stop to Charlottetown but has been to Canada many times.
“We like it. it was very cold and windy yesterday in Sydney (N.S.),” Wolf said. “I was shivering but we’ve seen some amazing sites. The weather is fine here. I hear you just got rid of the snow, so we are very lucky.”
Ronny Coste of the Philippines
was fascinated by the flowers blooming on P.E.I. Saltwire found him on his hands and knees photographing crocuses.
“This is my first time in North America, and the flowers are so pretty over here,” Coste said.
Bert Brutkalen of Holland said he cannot get over how friendly the people of P.E.I. are.
“You come out of the (Port Charlottetown) terminal and everybody is so nice,” Brutkalen said. “We have a long way to go on this cruise because we’ve been on the ship since the seventh of January.”
There was even a group of Maritimers on board.
Jeanne Goguen of Shediac, N.B., said the cruise just showed up on Facebook one day and she booked it.
“This is my second world cruise,” Goguen said. “A lot of my bucket list is being accomplished on this cruise. I’ve been to Charlottetown many times, but it is always good to come back.”