'It's a slower pace': Meet the people cruising to P.E.I.
Cruise ship passengers reflect on architecture, pace of life and sightseeing in P.E.I.
Cruise ship season is in full swing in the Charlottetown Harbour as more than 5,000 passengers came ashore on three cruise ships that docked in Charlottetown on Tuesday — and more ships arriving throughout the fall.
"Sista Jean" McClain, a blues singer from Los Angeles, and Ellen Osborne were among the passengers that spent a day in P.E.I.
The two were married three years ago. This is their first visit to the Island.
'I feel like I'm in Europe'
"It feels so good. Very quaint", said McClain. "I'm loving the way the houses are structured. Just the framing and architecture. It's a slower pace than Los Angeles."
"I feel like I'm in Europe", said Osborne. "The architecture, the pace, the food, the friendliness. It feels very European, and I didn't have to go to Europe. We were trying to find someplace that didn't have Zika, number one, and number two, that neither one of us has ever been before."
When asked if there was anything P.E.I. tourism officials could do to make their visit even better, McClain replied, "Oh, no. I think you guys should keep it the way it is. It's really friendly, which is the number one ingredient to bring more tourists in, and after we leave here, we're going to talk up this part of the world, and let everybody know just how wonderful it is."
'I got a little misty' at Green Gables
Linda Barra is from a rural community in Illinois.
She said she only recently became a fan of Anne of Green Gables, but the highlight of her P.E.I. stop was going to see Green Gables house in Cavendish.
"I got a little misty standing there. Just kind of emotional, reading about the story of this little girl. She's just a character, but she's probably near and dear to the hearts of little girls. Even little girls in old bodies."
Barra said Islanders were very welcoming.
More ships on the way
There are plenty more visitors on their way to P.E.I. by cruise ship.
Tuesday was the first of four occasions this season there will be three boats in port. There will also be three ships on Sept. 20 and 27, as well as on Oct 10.
There will be eight days this year when Charlottetown will host two cruise ships.