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For the second year in a row, Nome hosted the 1,800-passenger Westerdam cruise ship Thursday. Wandering passengers lined sidewalks across town as they debated whether to remove a layer in the blazing 60 degree heat.
Passengers came from all over the world, like Paola and Rob from Amsterdam. The Dutch duo said they met several locals on the short walk from Nome’s Small Boat Harbor to Anvil City Square.
“We've already had three talks with people, so nice, and they were so nice to talk to them. We feel very welcome here,” Paola said.
While standing feet from the Iditarod’s burled arch finish line, Rob said he’s watched the sled dog race on TV, but never witnessed it in person.
“You see these harsh environment, all the weather and the snow and the dark and how they how they can survive that,” Rob said. "It's incredible."
After a quick stop in Dutch Harbor, the Westerdam floated up to Nome through calm waters but overcast skies. Wearing a bright blue t-shirt, Connor Lommerse from Florida said Nome’s balmy 60 degree temps and blue skies were a welcome change.
“Some of the sea days we have on the cruise ship, it's been raining and foggy,” he said. “Right now in Florida it's about 100% humidity, with about 90 something degrees. So I'm happy I'm here.”
Retiree Gail Kishida said the extended time on the 28-day cruise didn't phase her. These days, she and her husband Gary Kishida live on cruise ships.
“We went to Sitka, Ketchikan and Valdez, and they're all wonderful, but this, the people are so friendly, and we're just having a great time,” Gail Kishida said.
On the north side of town, the gym floor of Nome’s Recreation Center turned into a buzzing marketplace. Local vendors sold blueberry jam, handsewn kuspuks and traditional beaded earrings. Sherry Czarnecki from New York bought moose-print fabric from Sew Far North and beaded earrings at the Craft Fair. She said everywhere she visited, people have been friendly.
“That makes it so pleasant to visit when you feel welcome and not feeling like we're infiltrating, you know. It really is a warm community,” Czarnecki said.
Down on Front Street a long line of grills sizzled as Bering Sea Lions Club members plopped down giant chunks of chicken basted in barbeque sauce. Plates with cole slaw, corn and a drink were being sold for $20 each.
The club’s president, Cole Cushman, said between Thursday and Friday the club’s volunteers would cook 1,100 pieces of chicken. He said the proceeds from this year’s Chicken Feed will go toward a longtime Bering Sea Lion’s Club member going through cancer treatments.
At 4:38 p.m. the final few passengers and crew boarded the last tender destined for the Westerdam parked just offshore. Reflecting on the day, shoreside activities organizer Robin Johnson said it was a success.
“Lots of happy people. All the tours rolled out on time, they all rolled back in on time. Nobody got lost, nobody got hurt. They were all happy,” Johnson said.
Johnson said the day the Westerdam is in town is the biggest of the year for her tourism company, Nome Discovery Tours. The company hired a small army of locals to drive, guide and assist the visitors. She said the services are often needed for the fledgling cruise-tourism destination.
“A lot of people don't realize we’re a gold mining community, so they think all the dredges out there were fishing boats. I heard that several times today, and when I told them, No, those are suction dredges, that's amazing to them,” Johnson said.
Johnson said a similarly-sized Holland America cruise is already booking for next year.
