Well now, Norwegian Cruise Lines is on my 'DO NOT PATRONIZE' list AND I was planning a coastal cruise too...TOO BAD, YOU LOSE..

Having taken a cruise of Alaska this year, Prince Rupert has a lot more to offer than many of the smaller cruise ports in Alaska. Icy Straight Point is basically just a strip of over-priced nicknack shops.

Juneau and Ketchikan are nice and do have a lot to offer, however.

It sounds like Prince Rupert tourism needs to find a mirror so that they can take a hard look at themselves. Why is it that they are reactionary, instead of being proactive.

Not much to see in Prince Rupert, never has been, never will be.

Having lived in Prince Rupert up until a few years ago,I know for a fact that there is very little to offer a cruise ship and it's passengers.
Rupert hypes it up,but the reality is,there is not much to see or do,and the shopping is very poor at best.
Sooner or later,that was bound to catch up with them.
Prince Rupert Tourism needs to pull it's head out of it's butt.
Norwegian Cruise Lines won't be the last to go, but unfortunately,they are big one to lose.
There already have been others who dropped Rupert.
There is no "gaps" in the Prince Rupert experience for cruise ship guests...there are huge canyons!
Somebody in Prince Rupert Tourism needs to wake up!

I feel bad for Rupert though, first the govt, puts the kibosh on oil tankers on the north coast, and now no cruise ships? They just put that multi million dollar port in that they've been waiting years for, and now they aren't going to be able to use it anywhere near its capacity? kind of like our "new" airport, all that money spent so the odd transport plane and italian military plane can stop by.

I do not know how much money there is for locals to capture. I do know that places like Jasper, for instance, make their year over a 3 month period in the summer. Anything they make after that is more or less gravy. I doubt that cruise ships bring in as much money as a summer with virtually all accommodation in Jasper filled. The accommodation and restaurant industry in Rupert would get a pittance in comparison.

So can Terrace retailers set up seasonal shops in Rupert? Do they already?

Look at Campbell River. $19 million for their terminal facilties. Much nicer than Rupert with museum, etc.

http://www.timescolonist.com/travel/Campbell+River+cruise+terminal+dealt+blow/3928137/story.html

Tourism is a risky business, especially when times are tough. One has to provide a quality product. It is costly to provide something new that is not already well supported over time by locals and tradition.

http://0.tqn.com/d/cruises/1/0/x/Q/4/RSSC_Mariner_Campbell_River_83.JPG

There used to be a museum in Prince Rupert. Is it still there? Nothing magnificent, but okay as I recall. The old Port Edward cannery is interesting but I don't know how easily tourists without a vehicle can get to it.

I think tourism Rupert needs an overhaul.

What were they doing when the cruise ship were coming... sitting around thinking they are the best. It goes all the way up to the mayor and the city managers, saying that what is good now is by luck, if you want to keep it, earn it.

They are still stuck in the day and time when CN put in the rail into Rupert, they think that it is there god given right to have it delivered to them. Nope, not in this century, if you want to maintain it, you earn it. Otherwise, the tourist money goes to where they are welcomed.

There is still a museum in Prince Rupert billposer.
And you're right it is...ok.
The Port Edward Cannery has potential,but it has never really developed into anything much.
There has always been a money problem it seems,and a few years back,it was managment issues, as I recall.
One thing after another, and it always looks half-finished.
It should have been a big thing, and the government/s should have been on board with some serious funding.
I personally have never seen any Terrace retailers try to sell in Rupert,so far.
Most people from Rupert just drive to Terrace,or they make a weekend of it and head for Prince George.
We pulled out of Rupert because it just wasn't happening,and according family members who live there today,it still isn't happening.
Kind of a shame really, but you can't live on dreams and promises.

They should advertise "Apache Pass". Maybe that would bring some tourists. OK, I just wanted to throw in some humor.

Maybe Prince Rupert (and Prince George) should stop throwing money at seasonal growth through tourism and accept the reality that it may have to shrink in population. A town can only support the people who can earn a living there.

Prince George could also accept that reality. Instead of throwing money at the huge airport expansion (if you build it, they will come), chopstick factories (shudder) and multi-million dollar bypasses, we should that the city could actually shrink and it would not be the end of the world.

The downtown will never recover and no number of casinos (with or without underground parking, courtesy of the taxpayer) and sports festivals will sustain it. The centre has moved to Mortgage Heights and that is a fact we should face.

On another front, this city will never be a retirement or tourist destination, even as the climate warms, as long as the air is not fit to breathe.