Cruise Visits Continue for Digby

The ‘Spirit of Adventure’ cruise ship is scheduled to bring 500 visitors to Digby next October, the second stop on a 17day cruise that starts in Halifax and ends in Havana, Cuba

Organized by Saga Holidays of the United Kingdom, the cruise ship heads from Digby to New Brunswick, skips the U.S.A. altogether, and instead sails for Bermuda and the Bahamas.

Plans call for the Spirit of Adventure will be in Digby from 1 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 3.

Joy O’Neill of the Annapolis Digby Economic Development Association, says the impact of the ship’s visit should reach well beyond that one day.

“Studies show that seven per cent of cruise visitors return to the ports visited to enjoy longer stays,” she says. “So making sure the Spirit of Adventure’s passengers enjoy a first rate visit to Digby is really an investment in future tourism visitation.”

O’Neill said passengers on the high-end Saga cruise will have spent almost $5,000 per person for the trip and their shore spending averages about $75 to $100 each.

The last cruise ship to stop in Digby was the Balmoral of the Fred Olsen Cruise Lines with 1,200 passengers. O’Neill says a survey done after that visit showed most Digby retailers and restaurants enjoyed an exceptionally good day.

“The town really came to life on that chilly day in late October,” O’Neill said. “We generally only feel that vibe during Wharf Rat Rally or Scallop Days.”

O’Neill is part of Cruisefundy with Digby deputy mayor Mike Bartlett, Christopher Wright of Mariport Group, Jeff Sunderland of the port authority and Sherman Haynes from the yacht club.

As part of that team’s work to attract cruise ship visits, O’Neill pitched the port last year to Ambassatours, an Atlantic Canada travel company that was in the process of developing a regional itinerary with Saga Holidays.

“A Saga representative came for a familiarization tour, we showed her most of our major attractions, and the appeal of the region sealed the deal,” O’Neill said.

Saga Holidays’ online blurb about Digby mentions fishing, scallops, a busy harbour, well-kept parks, hiking trails, numerous pubs and restaurants and whale watching. The page also strangely suggests a trip to Cape Breton to see 600foot cliffs and whales breaching.

O’Neill is confident Digby has the infrastructure and experience to ensure a “fabulous visit” for passengers of the Spirit of Adventure.

She said Cruisefundy wants to help local businesses, taxi drivers and tour operators prepare for a busy day, and adds they need to prepare a brochure with a good town map, and will be looking for volunteers to welcome the visitors.

O’Neill hopes this is just a beginning. The Cruisefundy team, she says is targeting specific cruise lines and working with other small ports like St. Andrews and Pictou to arrange more familiarization trips.

Digby’s joined the Atlantic Canada Cruise Association this year and that she says is creating new opportunities and giving the community lots of publicity at cruise industry trade shows in Florida and Europe.

“We really feel that once they experience what we have to offer, they will want to work us into their itineraries,” O’Neill said. “We’re not ready for the Carnival megaships, but there is potential for growth working with niche cruise operators.”

Story by Jonathon Riley

The Digby County Courier

Dec 2011