The nation`s great cruise ports: Miami, New York, Los Angeles and-Boston? While not in a league with such busy gateways, the historic city is lobbying for a stronger role in so-called ”Atlantic Frontier” specialty cruises of New England and Canada.
These trips-popular aboard luxury vessels including the Royal Viking Sun or Cunard Sea Goddess-call on such ports as Quebec City; Halifax, Nova Scotia; St. John, New Brunswick; Portland, Me., and Newport, R.I. The most popular time is the fall, when foliage is at a peak.
Boston is just a sightseeing stop for guests on most of the 30 or so cruises that will call there this year. Most lines use New York or Montreal as a starting point. Federal regulations won`t let cruise ships take on guests at more than one port.
But along with Bermuda cruises geared to the Northeastern cruise market, port officials want to see more Canada-bound journeys originating at the port. ”Boston is a very walkable city,” said Lana Razdan, senior public affairs manager for the port. ”And it is very workable and attractive for day trips as a port of call. So we don`t see being a port of call as a negative. But we would like to see some of the cruise lines that start in New York starting in Boston.”
During the Persian Gulf War, Seabourn Cruise Lines repositioned the posh, 212-passenger Seabourn Pride from Mediterranean sailings to Boston for 10 cruises to Canada and New England.
Warren Titus, chairman of the line, was so pleased with the trips that he scheduled two fall sailings from the port in 1992.
”It puts you a day closer to the cruising area (than New York does),”
he said, ”and the airport is in good proximity. We find Boston to be an interesting gateway city, with good hotels and a lot of tradition.”
Titus said that today`s Atlantic Frontier cruise-market situation is akin to that of the Alaskan cruise/tour market a few years ago: on the verge of major expansion.
”You have a lot of repeat business in the cruise industry,” he said.
”The great majority (of travelers) start in the Caribbean, and then after they have had that experience they start looking for other places.”
The Atlantic Frontier offers a change of pace for such cruisers, he said. ”They are a little bit older; they are repeat travelers,” Razdan said.
”They have done the islands and the more traditional destinations. They are looking for something a little more unusual, maybe places that have some historical interest.”
The port`s Black Falcon Cruise Terminal is less than two miles from downtown and five miles from Logan International Airport. A speedy water shuttle provides 10-minute service to the terminal, where there also is an adjacent Amtrak station.
The port also has hosted new-ship previews and inaugural cruises. On Aug. 19, the new 1,056-passenger Royal Majesty will sail for Bermuda before heading to Miami for regular three- and four-night Bahamas sailings.
All aboard
Rates of these sailings from Boston are per person, double occupancy.
– Seabourn Cruises (Seabourn Pride):
Sept. 18, 14 nights: Northeast Harbor, St. John, St. Pierre, Quebec, Bonne Bay, Baddock, Halifax, Camden; $9,740-$15,550.
Oct. 2, 14 nights: Northeast Harbor, Halifax, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Montreal, Baddock, Camden; $9,740-$15,550.
Includes air fare from selected gateway cities. Seven-day trips (Boston/
Quebec or Boston/Montreal) also available.
Details: Seabourn Cruise Line, 55 Francisco St., Suite 710, San Francisco 94133; 800-351-9595 or 415-391-7444.
– Chandris Cruises (S.S. Meridian):
Sept. 7, 6 nights: Bermuda; $795-$2,395, cruise only.
Sept. 13, 7 nights: Bermuda; $895-$2,495, cruise only.
Details: Cruise International, 256 Marginal St., Boston 02128;
617-569-6771.
– Majesty Cruise Line (M/V Royal Majesty):
Aug. 19, 6 nights: Bermuda; $999-$2,499, cruise only.
Details: Majesty Cruise Line, 901 S. America Way, Miami 33132;
800-532-7788.
