Cruise Lines Sail for Vineyard

By MANDY LOCKE

Destination: Martha's Vineyard. That's the proclamation
this season for two new cruise line companies and this speaks to a
larger trend for the Vineyard.

Norwegian Cruise Lines will deliver 1,500 to 1,800 passengers to
Terry McCarthy's Dockside Marina in Oak Bluffs starting next
Friday. This wave of tourists will arrive every Friday through the
summer. Oak Bluffs will continue to host Regal Cruise Line throughout
the summer as well.

American Classic Voyage will launch the new cruise line Delta Queen
Coastal Voyage this season with Martha's Vineyard as a premier
stop. This ship, carrying just 224 passengers, will land at R.M.
Packer's dock in Vineyard Haven.

"It's found money for the business community,"
said Oak Bluffs selectman Kenneth Rusczyk.

In terms of desired tourists, these cruise line passengers fit the
criteria.

"They spend money, and they bring passengers, not cars,"
said Vineyard Haven selectman Tristan Israel.

Norwegian Cruise Lines predict that each passenger will spend
between $80 to $100 a person, according to Scott Dario, owner of Island
Transportation Company. His company will be arranging bus tours for the
cruise lines.

"We depend on daytrippers," said Island Transportation
tour manager Gus Schroeder. In a two and half hour bus tour, the drivers
will show the visitors the down-Island sights along with West Tisbury,
giving them shopping time in Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. The company
planned ahead for the rush the cruise ships will bring.

"We needed more bus drivers to handle this load, so we
recruited college students from the University of Massachusetts,"
Mr. Dario said.

Norwegian Cruise Line plans to dock at noon and be on the open water
again by 8 p.m. Delta Queen Coastal Voyage will arrive early in the
morning and leave by 3 in the afternoon.

"They are low maintenance, and they make a
contribution," Mr. McCarthy said.

While the money these passengers bring to Island businesses is hard
to dispute, questions of sidewalk clogging, bus traffic and harbor
congestion are under evaluation.

Oak Bluffs executive secretary Casey Sharp said she will offer the
cruise lines a "cautious welcome."

"We need to balance the needs of our taxpayers and our status
as a tourist attraction," Ms. Sharp said.

She raises questions about the drain on their limited bathrooms and
the increased bus traffic.

"We intend to keep monitoring. If there is clogging,
we'll discuss it," Mr. Rusczyk said. He believes the cruise
ship passengers won't be a burden.

Ms. Sharp asked Oak Bluffs town counsel Ronald H. Rappaport earlier
this week to examine whether or not the town could be compensated for
the strain the cruise ships will put on the town's resources.

"We are looking for ways to get the town reimbursed for using
the town's infrastructure," Ms. Sharp said.

Mr. Rappaport said it is a bit premature to determine if the town
can legally charge the passengers and the cruise lines for use of the
town.

Oak Bluffs harbor master Todd Alexander said the Oak Bluffs harbor
will experience a bit more traffic but that they will be able to handle
it.

"Any change in traffic is something we all deal with,"
said Josh Williams, Oak Bluffs marina manager.

With the larger and more frequent of the two new cruise companies
docking in Oak Bluffs, along with the cruise ship business of Regal
Cruises, Vineyard Haven selectmen said they may want to recruit more
ships for the sake of town businesses.

"Maybe we need to promote ourselves better," Mr. Israel
said. He also noted that Oak Bluffs has done a good job of promoting
itself to cruise companies.

Mr. Israel said that logistics in the Oak Bluffs harbor might be
easier for cruise liners, but that Vineyard Haven harbor can handle
cruise ships and welcomes them.

Mr. Rusczyk said there appears to be no rivalry between Oak Bluffs
and Vineyard Haven regarding the cruise ships.

"Right now, it's a given that they come to Oak Bluffs.
We haven't heard any word of them trying to court them away from
us," he said.

This increase in cruise ships this summer may continue in the coming
summer seasons.

"We are committed to this area in the coming years,"
said Lee Lennon, shore excursion director for Delta Queen Coastal
Voyages.

Norwegian shore coordinator Joanne Salzedo said her company included
Martha's Vineyard on the cruise itinerary in response to customer
demand.

Why the Vineyard attracts cruise passengers is no secret.

"It's the Vineyard that attracts people to the Vineyard.
It's the Island mystique. The same thing that attracted us here
attracts them," Mr. McCarthy said.

If the influx continues, harbor masters, selectmen and business
owners will evaluate rising interest in the cruise line industry.

"It's not to say that everyone in the town will be in
favor of it," Mr. Israel said.

"I'm not in favor of opening the floodgates and letting
6,000 ships in," Mr. McCarthy said. "I'm willing to
try out the cruise lines. Hopefully they'll come and go and not
leave too many footprints in the sand."