A three-decked, 210-foot-long luxury cruise ship carrying nearly a hundred well-heeled guests will be coming regularly to Chestertown beginning in late spring.
According to its website, American Cruise Lines is making Chestertown a regular port of call for its ship “American Spirit” on cruises from Philadelphia down the Chesapeake Bay to Alexandria.
The vessel, which the line terms a “small ship,” will be coming six times this year and making 12 visits next year, carrying up to 93 guests per trip, each of whom will be paying from $3,000 to $5,000 for a six-night voyage and up to $11,665 for a 14-night cruise.
The Downtown Chestertown Association and the Kent County tourism office are, obviously, delighted with the news about all those folks with such deep pockets to come strolling around town.
But the question for Chestertown is: Where are they going to park that big thing?
Town Manager Bill Ingersoll is scrambling around for engineering reports that would show whether the town dock it manages in conjunction with Sultana Projects and Echo Hill Outdoor School is sturdy enough for a ship that size to tie up.
Ingersoll recalls that when the dock was built they had to use 65-foot-long pilings because “the bottom there is like Jello.” A problem in learning the tolerances is that the engineer who designed the dock has since died. Ingersoll thinks a better docking site might be the county’s at the foot of High Street, but he’s been told it may be too shallow because of silting. That suggests negotiations with the county for some regular dredging to maintain it.
Another option may be the large floating docks at Chesapeake Landing. True, that’s private property, but some speculate the developers might welcome cruise ships while units are still being sold. Of course, tenders could be used if the ship has to anchor in the channel.
American Cruise Lines is clearly confident the problem can be worked out. It is already taking reservations for the cruises coming here, advertising that it offers “oversized staterooms, most with private balconies” and “wireless internet access shipwide” and “hairdryers in all staterooms.”
Its cruise, the line boasts, “brings passengers to some of the most fascinating places in America.”
And in Chestertown, it promises, “You will also find a delightful Farmers Market along Fountain Park as well as a dozen or more art galleries located throughout the city.”
Really.
Chris says
The ship could moor just south of the waterfront in the wider sections of the river allowing substantial space for swing during tidal shifts.
The town can provide a ferry of sorts to bring passengers to the foot of high street. Perhaps a deal with Sultana? I’m sure they would accept some coin to a] promote their project b] give those boys something to do during “downtime” (heh, no small figure) and c] provide a unique “passage” experience into Chestertown.
But instead we will dredge the river, destroy natural habitats and build some hideous 200 foot dock that will fall into disuse once the cruise liner changes its mind.
My 2 cents.
Kevin Shertz says
I Googled the company, went to their web site, but see no mention of Chestertown as an advertised destination. All I see is:
https://www.americancruiselines.com/destination.php?crn=17&act=i
Chesapeake Bay Eight-Day / Seven-Night Cruise
Day 1 – Baltimore, MD
Day 2 – Yorktown / Williamsburg, VA
Day 3 – Crisfield/Tangier Island, VA/Solomons Is., MD
Day 4 – Cambridge, MD
Day 5 – Oxford, MD
Day 6 – St. Michaels, MD
Day 7 – Annapolis, MD
Day 8 – Baltimore, MD
Can you provide a link to where the information you quote exists?
Kevin Shertz says
Never mind, I found it as soon as I sent my prior message… it’s at
https://www.americancruiselines.com/destination.php?crn=36&act=i