The remaining oceangoing cruise ship visits on Astoria, Oregon’s calendar this year have been canceled.
Bruce Conner, who is in charge of the Port of Astoria’s cruise ship marketing, told Port commissioners earlier this month that the final eight cruise ships planning to stop in Astoria will not do so because of the coronavirus pandemic. Twenty-nine passenger cruise ships were set to visit the port this year.
While two Norwegian Cruise Line ships docked at the Port this year — the Regatta and the Pride of America — both were crew-only vessels waiting out virus disruptions. All 38 oceangoing cruise ships on the Port’s calendar for 2020 were also canceled.
Will Isom, the Port’s executive director, said he was also not surprised the cruise ship visits were canceled given the surge in virus cases. But he acknowledged the financial blow of the cancellations.
Oceangoing cruise ships typically bring in over $1 million each year for the Port.