Wrangell gets an extra-large, extra cruise ship visit in September

The 1,918-passenger Holland America Noordam has added Wrangell to its end-of-season itinerary, with a stop scheduled for Sept. 21.

The 935-foot-long ship will be on its final Alaska summer-season voyage, a 14-day trip from Vancouver, British Columbia, with visits to Ketchikan, Juneau, Icy Strait Point (Hoonah), Skagway, Sitka and Wrangell, with cruises into Glacier Bay, Endicott/Tracy Arm, Hubbard Glacier and Misty Fjords.

A stop also is planned for Prince Rupert, British Columbia.

The company plans to work with Wrangell tour operators to offer activities for passengers while in port, said Erik Elvejord, director of public relations at Holland America Line. The ship is scheduled to be in Wrangell from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day.

The port call in Wrangell is scheduled for the ship’s northbound run, between Ketchikan and Juneau. The cruise is scheduled for Sept. 18 through Oct. 2.

The company’s more common Southeast Alaska cruises run seven days, with just a single “glacier day,” rather than three on the 14-day voyage.

The borough announced the extra cruise ship visit last week.

Fred Angerman, Wrangell port manager for Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska, said the Noordam will be the second-largest ship he can remember calling on the community. Several years ago, the Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas, at 27 feet longer than the Noordam, diverted to Wrangell due to bad weather in Sitka, he said.

Tying up the Noordam at the City Dock will require use of the satellite dolphin, which is not connected by a walkway to the dock, Angerman said.

The Noordam, with a beam at almost 106 feet, can carry a crew of 800. It is powered by six generators with a total output capacity of 84,000 horsepower for propulsion and to provide electricity for the vessel.