![]() John Stoll, vice president for land operations with Crystal Cruises, said the ship takes a number of environmental precautions, including low-grade fuel, freezing garbage, and: Although there is a sewage treatment system on board the ship, he said, “outside of 12 miles they can simply turn that thing off and discharge raw blackwater, greywater.” The assessment factors in sewage treatment, air pollution reduction and water quality compliance.Īccording to Ed White, an environmental specialist with the State of Alaska’s Cruise Ship Monitoring Program, Serenity was nearly in full compliance with state requirements when inspected earlier this year.īut Ahmasuk said that could be misleading, since those requirements only apply to the state waters near shore. The environmental advocacy group Friends of the Earth gave Crystal Cruises an “F” on its 2016 Cruise Ship Report Card. “And then impacts from oil spills, of course, affect food security.” “We should not underestimate the potential impacts from increased shipping: discharge in all of its forms, impacts potentially from noise disrupt our marine life,” Ahmasuk said. Though cruise-ship passengers contribute to the local economy, large vessels like Serenity can also pose a threat to the wildlife harvested for food and goods.Īustin Ahmasuk is a marine advocate for Kawerak, and in workshops he’s led throughout Western Alaska, he said communities have reiterated: Pingo sources much of its food locally, especially fish. “The trick is: You never know what the cool food of the day is going to be.” “Any day, whether you think it’s going to be a big day or not, your goal is basically to make as much food as you can to meet the demand without making crazy too much,” Pryzmont said. And then we had reindeer stew - that sold out as well.”īut overall, Hansen said about two-thirds of the total revenue still came from locals.įor Pingo Bakery and Seafood House, right on the square, it was a busy day - “Iditarod busy,” as chef and owner Erica Pryzmont said. “Dedicated Donna, she had to go back and make more Akutaq (Eskimo ice cream). Angela Hansen, who coordinated vendors for the Berry Festival in Anvil City Square, said Native carvers did especially well a number of passengers off the Serenity purchased large, expensive pieces.Īnd Hannah Katongan, who was working a fundraiser for her basketball team, said their food was very popular: And that’s too bad that at this time they are not intending to come back.”įor local businesses and artists on the ground last month, results were mixed. “That kind of money that’s not flowing through our community, even if it’s just one day, we need. They buy extra gear getting ready to supply those customers,” Hafner said. “A lot of our businesses, they ramp up for it. Hafner said the absence of the Serenity in the coming years could be significant. There’s a big trickle-down effect to a cruise boat that a lot of people don’t really look at.” “Buses that are hired require the bus drivers there - which, because the bus is being used, they have to buy fuel. We know the restaurants that provide the catering,” Hafner said. “The gift shops tend to go out and buy from a lot of the local people to supply their gift shops with the goods they need to sell to the tourists. And he said the impact in Nome is more far-reaching than you might think: Robert Hafner is executive director of the Nome Chamber of Commerce. These price tags are an indicator of the economic boost such a ship brings with it. It’s also one of the most expensive, with fares ranging from around $20,000 to over $120,000 per person. At 32 days, the Northwest Passage cruise is one of the longest operated by the company. The passengers it unloaded in New York City Saturday morning will be the last on its Northwest Passage route until at least 2020 - or possibly ever.Īccording to Crystal Cruises, the ship was booked full last year with nearly 1,000 passengers, but the numbers weren’t quite so high this summer, with around 20 percent fewer bookings. The luxury cruise liner Crystal Serenity, which stopped in Nome last month, won’t be coming around to Alaska again for at least two years. The cruise liner Crystal Serenity anchored offshore at Nome, 2017.
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