All quiet on the Edgartown harborfront in December.
Timothy Johnson

Cruise Ship Line Eyes Edgartown as Port of Call

Steve Myrick
Tuesday, December 27, 2016 - 5:07pm

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23 Comments

Edgartown is expected to see more cruise ship activity this summer.

Harbor master Charlie Blair told the town selectmen Tuesday that American Cruise Lines is planning a schedule that runs from May 21 through Sept. 11, stopping in Edgartown two or three times each month as part of seven and ten-day cruises that originate in Boston and Providence. The vessel, American Constellation, is new, and holds up to 170 passengers.

The proposal mirrors one pitched by American Cruise Lines in Edgartown three summers ago.

“They like Edgartown,” the harbor master said. “It’s absolutely no strain, they come on a Friday night at 8 p.m., and they leave on Saturday at 5 p.m.”

`Mr. Blair said he will ask the cruise ships to anchor a bit further outside of the harbor than usual, to accommodate smaller vessel traffic. The cruise ship has its own launch to ferry to shore as many as 44 passengers at a time.

Also Monday, selectmen agreed to renew a liquor license for the Chappaquiddick Beach Club.

Comments (23)

Thomas, Edgartown

This is a terrible idea.Things are busy enough in July and August. This will make it so much worse. How about keeping those two months out of the mix? The restaurants and retailers could use it more in the shoulder seasons anyway.

December 28, 2016 - 7:50am

BillyB, OB

Wah, wah, wah. I'm tired of the whining. It's a harbor for goodness sake. It's where boats dock. Give it a rest and get over yourselves in Edgartown.

December 28, 2016 - 8:53pm

John, MV

If you're tired of the whining, you probably shouldn't be living on the vineyard...

December 31, 2016 - 7:38am

Nancy, Formerly Edgartown

Slippery slope. Newport, RI does this. There is now a list provided in the paper of the upcoming ships' schedules. Provides a list of cruise lines, name of vessel, locarion for mooring and times of arrivals and departures. Princess Cruise Line has 3,000 plus. Often 3 cruise ships a day. Discounts offered in all the shops if you have a cruise ship ID. Is that the way Edgartown wants to go?

December 30, 2016 - 10:02am

DM McHugh, NJ (but 3x a year visiting in MVY)

How is this a good idea ?

December 28, 2016 - 9:37am

Peter, West Tisbury

If everyone came by cruise ship, the rest of us could still get around by car.

December 28, 2016 - 11:30am

Alice

This sounds like something Aquinah should be doing.

December 28, 2016 - 10:21pm

Steve, Falmouth

There goes the neighborhood

December 29, 2016 - 8:26am

deshandra brown, mv

I'd rather see 170 people on foot in town spending money than 170 moped rentals clogging up the streets and parking places. Its a win win situation for the town.

December 29, 2016 - 12:15pm

MJ, 02539

This is a bad idea and a slippery slope. There is no 'lack of business' or foot traffic (or traffic in general!) in Edgartown during this period, and once this begins on a somewhat limited basis, where does it lead (more visits by more cruise lines?)? Many a quaint town / destination has been commoditized by the introduction of cruise ships. The island is generally overcrowded during the peak season, and I think that is definitely the case in Edgartown. If other towns that have more concern about volume of visitors and need more traffic to support businesses that are otherwise closing, they can proceed at their own risk, but I don't support this.

December 30, 2016 - 7:59am

Anne, Oak Bluffs

It's too bad Vineyard Haven won't let them dock to help revitalize the town. Oh no, I forgot, Vineyard haven is where businesses go to die. The powers that be don't want anything to happen there. Have a fun waterfront, no. A nicer view for folks getting off the boat, no. A better market with more parking, no, no, no! Yes, there are some successful stores, but there should be a lot more.

December 30, 2016 - 8:11am

BillyB, OB

I agree with you, Anne. Vineyard Haven has very little to offer. And I'm beginning to think their leaders want it that way. At least their actions are proving it.

December 30, 2016 - 3:52pm

Bob, Edgartown

Limit the trips to the late Summer [September] like they do with the blue-head busses that come in to eat at the Shanty

December 30, 2016 - 10:23am

Slater, VT

So glad I won't have to deal with that! Over 30 years on the rock and leaving was the best decision I've ever made. Watching the vineyard continue it's downward spiral toward becoming the playground of the rich and famous, and now the entitled too, is certainly painful though. Poor Martha.

December 30, 2016 - 11:13am

Michael, OB

However 30 years later you still seem to have an interest with what happens here.

December 30, 2016 - 3:07pm

Slater, VT

Yep. I enjoy a good laugh at what you're all destroying.

December 30, 2016 - 8:10pm

BillyB, OB

I have over 50 years on the Island. And it's a great place to be. Anyone who calls our island "the rock" probably should have left way before 30 years. Good luck in Vermont.

December 30, 2016 - 3:54pm

Slater, VT

Sounds like you're stuck between a rock and a hard place. Good luck on fantasy island.

December 30, 2016 - 8:07pm

John P, Edgartown

Anyone who doesn't call it "the rock" looking through rose colored glasses. We're destroying a beautiful place, but that's ok, we're taking their money hand and fist!

December 31, 2016 - 7:36am

Ships Ahoy!, Edgartown

What is the mooring fee? What embarkation fees are being levied? This level of foot traffic, any level of traffic for that matter, has a fiscal and social cost to the town that the sale of a few ice cream cones and t-shirts does not mitigate. There is water use for bathrooms and for food preparation, there is sewage that needs to be processed, there is a cost for police to staff the crosswalks, there is a cost for people who get stuck in more traffic because more people are crossing the streets, there is a cost for services in case of an emergency. I hope that the selectman have thought of the real cost of these day trippers and will charge them accordingly in the future.

December 30, 2016 - 2:53pm

Dan, Ob

Y'all are hilarious. American cruise lines ALREADY docks in vineyard haven, all summer long, and has been doing so for years now. It's never caused a problem and brings lots of older tourists to the island who typically wouldn't come otherwise. They spend their money, enjoy the sightseeing and island people, create a memory and go home. The perfect guests.

December 30, 2016 - 3:59pm

jasmine

It's 2 or 3 times a month for 170 people for one evening, what's the big deal? That's like one destination wedding without the cars. Let them gawk and spend, the businesses will be happy.

December 31, 2016 - 9:57am

Observer

Great! Now you know who to tap next for your housing fund. Charge a landing fee per person.

December 31, 2016 - 8:29pm

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Cruise Ship Line Eyes Edgartown as Port of Call

Steve Myrick

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