Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

The first large cruise ship in nearly three years was welcomed to Haines Thursday evening by the Chilkat Dancers, the Haines Marching Band, public officials and business owners who were unsure how many would get off the boat to come shop.

Vice-Mayor Cheryl Stickler gave a speech welcoming Serenade of the Seas passengers that hailed from dozens of nations. The captain of the Royal Caribbean ship presented a model of the boat and a plaque to Stickler. The Chilkat Dancers and the band alternated performances for onlookers.

A California couple walking down Main Street told the CVN that Haines was "fantastic" and a good alternative to Alaska tourist towns.

"I love this," Joey Garson said. "It's authentic. We had a car and drove in the Interior for almost a month one time and the tourist towns are cool, but this is really cool. It's legit."

This year's cruise ship schedule promises more passengers than Haines has seen in 20 years, and given the two-year pandemic-caused hiatus, it's the first time since summer 2019 that large ships are scheduled to dock in town. Many business owners were unsure what to expect given that many of the ships are scheduled to dock in the evening hours. Local shop owners gave mixed reviews to the CVN after the first two dockings, one at 5 p.m. on a sunny day and another on a rainy Monday evening at 7 p.m.

Alaska Rods owner Rhonda Hinson was happy with Thursday's outcome. She said she stayed open and busy until 10 p.m., when the passengers had to reboard for their 11 p.m. departure.

"I think we were all a little nervous wondering if they would come into town or not," Hinson said. "They did. It was a good show. I stayed open until they were back on board. I didn't get out of here until a little after eleven."

The Beach Rose co-owner Robert Chadwell said he and his partner Tawny Darling also had a busy Thursday evening. "For such a late boat they seemed to really enjoy the shop," Darling said.

They said fewer people visited Monday and guessed that the late hour combined with rain kept people on the boat.

The Bookstore owner Amy Kane said about two dozen passengers visited her store, but didn't buy much.

"It was nice to see different folks but they seemed shopped out and a little tired," Kane said. "Most were looking for places to eat."

Passengers had just arrived in Haines after spending all day in Skagway. Haines Borough tourism director Steven Auch said the Serenade of the Seas is helping to promote passengers visiting Haines by offering an early dinner service at 4 p.m., before tying up.

"That allowed people to eat and then get off," Auch said. "The food on the ship does have some impact for sure. The time of 7 p.m. versus 5 p.m. is a pretty big difference, especially if they've been in Skagway all day. Both ships were in Skagway before they got here."

Monday's ship served dinner at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

The Frog Lady Fish Company owner Tracey Harmon said not a single cruise ship passenger ate at her food truck on Monday. When she solicited customers, they told her they'd already eaten on the ship, Harmon said.

Most of the business owners said they were hopeful that dayboat passengers would stir up more business as the summer progresses.