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NUNAVUT
Five cruise ships are set to visit 12 Nunavut communities this summer, making a planned total of 20 stops in August and September, the territorial government reports. They will visit as many communities as last year but make fewer stops and carry fewer passengers.

The Clipper Adventurer was the only cruise ship to stop in Grise Fiord in 2011. The Clipper Adventurer is set to stop in six Nunavut communities this summer, including two visits to Grise Fiord. - photo courtesy of Jimmie Qaapiq

Pond Inlet, Cape Dorset and Kimmirut, will see fewer visits this summer compared to 2011. Gjoa Haven and Pangnirtung will not have cruise ship visits this year while Clyde River and Taloyoak have been added to the itineraries.

Cruise ship visits can only be a positive for the communities, said Colleen Dupuis, chief executive officer with Nunavut Tourism, as more visitors mean more people taking advantage of the arts and cultural opportunities communities offer.

"The boats this year, from talking to the cruise lines, are pretty much sold out," she said. "Last year, they were probably at about 80 per cent. The actual number of tourists coming on cruises will be up."

But information provided by the territorial government shows the boats' total maximum capacity in 2011 was 5,670 passengers while this summer, the total capacity is 3,520 passengers. The GN noted The World would have 200 passengers out of the vessel's 650 capacity.

New this year is The World, a privately-owned yacht where its passengers live on the boat. Dupuis said the boat came to Nunavut five or six years ago.

"This year, there are more people wanting to go on cruises in the North. There is the demand for that larger boat again," she said.

As for the economic impact the visits have on the communities, Dupuis said a cruise ship passenger will typically spend on average between $200 to $500 per cruise.

"I think it will be a great season," she said. "The communities are looking forward to hosting people and I think they've got good programs in place and I think the passengers coming will have a great experience here in Nunavut."

On the northern tip of Baffin Island, four boats are scheduled to visit Pond Inlet between Aug. 5 and Sept. 5, with the ships having the capacity to carry a total of 700 passengers, although The World would not be at full capacity.

Pond Inlet's acting senior administrative officer Colin Saunders said the community is always ready to accommodate the cruise ships but in the last several years, passengers have not spent as much as they used to.

"We offer cultural performances, traditional activities, interpretive hikes, community tours … and when it's requested, we play games with the cruise ship – community members versus the cruise ship," he said. "We would always appreciate if they could spend more but they do spend a few dollars."

In the western part of the territory, in Cambridge Bay, the community is very pleased to get cruise ship visits, stated Steve King, the hamlet's senior administrative officer. Cambridge Bay is scheduled to welcome two ships in late August with the boats' total capacity of 380.

"We are especially pleased The World will visit Cambridge Bay this summer," he said. "The cruise ship visits provide economic benefits for our community and the tourists get to experience Inuit culture in our wonderful community."

Taloyoak is on one ship's itinerary this summer, with passengers set to visit the community in late August. Senior administrative officer Chris Dickson said this is really good news.

"It gives a little more exposure to the community when the cruise ships come in. It's usually people (who) are very interested in the communities in the North," he said. "And it gives us an ability to showcase what we have to offer in Taloyoak."

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