Destination: Campbell River?
On our southbound cruise, we have been forgoing a stop in Ketchikan, Alaska in favor of a visit to Campbell River, British Columbia. Located on Vancouver Island just south of Seymour Narrows and north of Vancouver, many guests question the reasoning of the stop as, in their words, “there is not much there.” So, why do we go?
The obvious answer is that it adds a new port which means guests wishing to combine back to back cruises have a least two ports which are not repeated. But there is more to it than that; by skipping Ketchikan southbound the ship is able to reach the very picturesque Inside Passage of British Columbia earlier allowing a full day to explore the scenic waterways between Vancouver Island and the mainland. During the summer this is the home to pods of resident orca that can be seen around place like Blackney Pass and Robson Bight. In addition, there is the daytime transit through historic Seymour Narrows where the undersea pinnacle of Ripple Rock was exploded; a highlight for buffs of navigation and engineering.
Though we dock in Campbell River in the late afternoon, the community rearranges its schedule to accommodate our arrival. Businesses stay open longer. A shuttle bus is provided to transfer guests into town including a stop at the museum. Admittedly, with disembarkation looming for an early morning the next day, many of our guests are not keen on doing much in Campbell River. Unlike most other towns visited on an Alaskan cruise, Campbell River is not touristy. However, with the pulp mill soon to be closing the community will probably be setting its sights on developing tourism infrastructure in the near future to attract more ships. In the meantime – it’s real.
Going past the strip malls and chain stores, the downtown of Campbell River is a charming area situated along the harbor with cute restaurants and storefronts. The town looks very much like any small town on Vancouver Island with one exception; the pier is on a First Nations Reserve. Dancers from the local “kwan” or village, welcome guests ashore. There are local Native vendors on the quayside. For those on foot, interpretative signs dot the sidewalks. In town the city museum is excellent. It contains a truly extraordinary collection on the Northwest Coast People of Vancouver Island including a historical time line that takes you through the introduction of the logging and fishing industries. Worth the $6 admission. You won’t find Diamonds International in Campbell River, but you will find friendly people who are proud of their community and happy to share it with visitors.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:34 am
Ms. Breen - My husband and I just got off the Mariner, and I want to thank you for your wonderful lectures and commentary. I learned so much to take back to my students this fall!
I wish we could have spent more time there, but we were out fishing for over four hours. and the weather had chilled me to the bone, so we did not get a chance to see the rest of town.
I have to say Campbell River was one of my favorite stops - the fact that I caught a 22 pound chinook salmon has nothing to do with it
The First Nations welcoming ceremony was enchanting. I felt bad they had to dance in the rain, though!
I hope the city retains its lack of commericalism for the future - it is a true gem in its own right!