Nanaimo to host largest Alaska ship, Celebrity Solstice

Bernie Dumas, president and ceo of the Nanaimo Port Authority, said work is under way with community partners DNBIA and Tourism Nanaimo, among others, to 'make a large impression' during the call. 

Passengers will be going on shore excursions in Nanaimo and throughout the region but many will spend all of their time in the community. As with every cruise call, the Nanaimo Port Authority has arranged for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in red serge for photo opportunities plus a free shuttle from the cruise terminal through the downtown.

In other plans, the Old English Car Club will display collector cars at the cruise terminal and a crafts market is expected to draw passengers to the downtown. Cannon will be fired at noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., and passengers will have the opportunity to fire the historic cannons.

'This is a benchmark for our services and cruise ship facility,' said Doug Peterson, port authority marketing and sales manager. 'The Solstice’s visit should reveal that our community is ready to embrace and commit to anything the cruise industry is willing to provide for us.'