By Kendra Noyes
Staff Writer
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The Eurodam arrived in Cruiseport Gloucester Wednesday morning and passengers were greeted by a full staff of tour guides, set to embark on various excursions.
Travelers took 125 passenger water taxis from the Eurodam, which weighed anchor just inside the Dog Bar breakwater, to Cruiseport. These taxis also doubled as lifeboats that could accommodate up to 150 passengers in case of an emergency. Homeland security was also monitoring the port to insure all of the tourists safety.
City Councilor Ann Mulcahey greeted the visitors as they disembarked from the water taxis. According to Mulcahey, 800 of the passengers boarded Peter Pan buses headed to Boston. Many of the other 1,000 passengers and 900 crew members were scheduled to roam the city.
"Everything is running very smoothly," said Mulcahey. She said that the passengers were going on excursions, sightseeing landmarks associated with the Perfect Storm, and visiting the Man at the Wheel statue. She also directed people with a "walking guide" to downtown and showed them places where they could get a "beautiful sandwich." The walking guide and brochures were equipped with various coupons for discounted shopping.
The passengers walked through Cruiseport Gloucester and were greeted in an open ballroom and were offered multiple choices of brochures. "These are very nice people," said Mulcahey as the passengers passed by. Outside of the building excursions, people were able to get on CATA trolleys to take them around Cape Ann.
The cruise ship brought people from multiple cities into the port. Bridget Campbell from Chicago was enthusiastic about her tour of Cape Ann. "I love it here," said Campbell. "I still have my pictures from last time."
Campbell said she was looking forward to seeing the rocks on her Cape Ann excursion. She was travelling with her mother, 82, who was not on the tour with her. "I got to see 'the Fisherman' too," said Campbell.
Liz and Reed Knight from Salt Lake City, Utah, were also spending their day on land here in Gloucester. They planned to hop on the ferry and explore the city. "Maybe a little shopping," said Liz.
John McDonnell Jr., and his father, from Pennsylvania, were getting ready for to go a whale watch. They said that their tour was wonderful.
"We're having a very good trip," said McDonnell.
Other passengers were taking excursions to Rockport. Shelby and David Skinner, a couple from San Diego, Calif., took part in this scenic tour.
"She's an artist," said David Skinner. They were looking forward to seeing the art that Rockport had to offer.
