LITTLE CURRENT—She is the newest cruise vessel in North America, if not the world. Having set out on her maiden voyage from Halifax on June 25 of this year, the Pearl Mist tied up this past week as her 260 passengers and crew visited Manitoulin Island for the first time.
The Pearl Mist is a brand new, state-of-the-art cruise ship boasting 108 finely appointed staterooms on her six decks, each with its own balcony. The cabins range from 302 to 580 square feet and can accommodate 210 passengers. The 335 foot vessel has a 56 foot beam and draws a miserly 12 feet under her keel, allowing this ship to go where few others of her type could go before. Propelled by 6,300 hp diesel engines, she offers state-of-the-art safety and comfort through full active stabilization.
Observers at the dock were impressed with the deft skill and maneuverability of the ship as she slid gently along side of the dock. That comes as little surprise to anyone who meets captain Jeremy Kingston, who has been at sea for over 45 years, working his way up the ranks from a junior officer. Despite Captain Kingston’s vast experience, this is actually his first trip on the Great Lakes and he declared himself very impressed with the waters as well as the people of the communities that have greeted the Pearl Mist on its inaugural visit to these waters.
“It has really been very pleasant,” said the captain as he greeted a group of local dignitaries and invited guests who came on board for a tour of the ship, courtesy of Pearl Seas Cruises director John Keereweer and local excursion provider Lakeshore Excursions’ Kelly O’Hare. Mr. Keereweer escorted the visitors through the ship’s six lounges, capacious main dining hall (capable of hosting all 210 of the vessel’s passengers for a full sit down custom meal), library, sports decks and outdoor fitness area.
The vessel also comes with launches for shore excursions. Although not necessary on this trip, the launches will come into play on the vessel’s Haweater Weekend visit when dock space is at a premium.
The Pearl Mist hosts well subscribed educational enrichment seminars in its lounges each evening and musical and other entertainment is provided through both onboard musicians and entertainers that come on board at various ports of call. Onshore, the diversions are diverse including theatre productions in Toronto, jazz entertainment in Parry Sound, tours of museums, powwow visits and unique kayaking and hiking excursions on Manitoulin Island.
While most of her passengers were off seeing the sights of Manitoulin or wandering the shops of Little Current, Mayor Al MacNevin presented Captain Kingston with a framed picture of the iconic 100-year-old Little Current swing bridge and in turn Manitoulin Publisher Rick McCutcheon presented a traditional copy of The Expositor to the captain.
“The local paper is how we know where we are,” laughed Captain Kingston. “If it is the Strait Times, you know you are in Singapore, I guess if it is The Expositor, you know you are on Manitoulin.”
Among the invited guests were Wes and Gail Leeson. Mr. Leeson is a too long unsung hero of resurgent cruise ship visits to Manitoulin and the North Shore, noted Lakeshore Excursions’ Bruce O’Hare. It was Mr. Leeson who stepped up as a pilot when the M.S. Columbus first came to call in the summer of 2002 and the lack of North Channel pilots first came to light. “Wes really was the hero of the hour,” said Mr. O’Hare. “I don’t know what they would have done without him.”
Captain Kingston and Mr. Leeson enjoyed a long conversation about all things nautical both in the visitors’ lounge and later on the bridge.
Much has changed and is changing in the business of navigation in the intervening 12 years.
Mr. McCutcheon recalled that the Pearl Mist’s second officer and navigator commented to him that while the traditional array of North Channel marine charts, parallel rulers and dividers that could be seen laid out on the chart table in the ship’s bridge are still in use, they are consulted with decreasing frequency as time goes on. “He noted that the paper charts are still in use, but less so all the time as he relies more and more on the ship’s global positioning system navigation system,” said Mr. McCutcheon. “He predicted that ‘within a year, we won’t be using them (the paper charts) at all.’”
Mr. McCutcheon noted that the navigation officer explained that updates to the GPS are instantaneous, accurate and constant while with paper charts, the navigator has to constantly adjust for changes sent to him.
“He also predicted that, within five years, he could imagine the ships needing only one person on the bridge as electronic data will likely control it from land-based offices,” said Mr. McCutcheon.
[pullquote]“He also predicted that, within five years, he could imagine the ships needing only one person on the bridge as electronic data will likely control it from land-based offices,” said Mr. McCutcheon.[/pullquote]
At recent, however, electronic systems play an important role in ensuring that humans are in place and moving among the ship’s controls. Sensors connected to the captain’s cabin will sound an alarm if there is no movement on the bridge within a set period of time when he is not present and monitor cameras on the bridge watch over the bowels of the engine room with Big Brother prescience.
A ship the size of the Pearl Mist has a large crew and many officers with titles that might not seem likely on a nautical vessel. Stefan Heuser’s nametag denotes his role as hotel director. “Most ships of this size will have a hotel director on board,” he said. When you are hosting 210 guests in luxury accommodations, it is important to have the people with the appropriate skills and experience to ensure those guests experience a seamless and enjoyable sojourn.
The kitchen boasts staff that would be the pride of any major five star restaurant to be found on five continents and a glance inside reveals spotless stainless steel and pristine surfaces.
Unlike the Cannard Lines days of old, there is no ‘captain’s table’ in the dining room or even ‘assigned’ seating, explains Mr. Keereweer. “People sit where they wish and with whom they wish,” he said. “The captain may stop by and ask to join a table as a nice surprise for people. It is a lot less formal.”
While many of the senior officers and crew have an English or German lilt in their voices, much of the crew hails from the Philippines. In all cases the officers and crew were impeccably polite and good humoured. Broad smiles are obviously the order of the day.
“Most of the crew members are from South Asian countries,” agreed Captain Kingston. “People from that region of the world seem to take on each day with the expectation of having a great experience. Sometimes it seems the rest of the world gets out of bed expecting the worst.” From what he has seen of Canadian waters so far, the captain noted, the prevailing mood is very much closer to the Asiatic model than the somber western outlook.
Booking passage on the Pearl Mist is not for the faint of pocket book, as this kind of luxury does come somewhat dear, but not so cher as might be expected. The Canadian cruises start at $4,150 for seven nights and top out at the category S (single) accommodation rate of $11,910 for the full 14-day rate, by comparison the Caribbean cruise rates start at $3,955 and top out at $11,345.
The Pearl Mist will be visiting Manitoulin Island five more times this season and is scheduled to return in 2015 for another six visits.
“The cruises are well-booked and filling up nicely,” noted Mr. Keereweer.
The new trend in cruise ships does seem to favour smaller vessels these days, as the Pearl Mist’s owner has ordered another two ships to be built in Germany. “Small vessels can go a lot of places that the larger floating resorts cannot,” noted Captain Kingston. “The experience is a lot more personal and intimate. On a massive cruise ship, there are thousands of people and you might not see the same folks from one day to the next. It tends to be a lot less personal.
On a ship like the Pearl Mist guests can develop connections with other passengers. “It is a completely different experience,” agreed Mr. Keereweer.
More details on the Pearl Mist can be found on the cruise company website at pearlseascruises.com.
