The Holland America cruise ship Amsterdam dropped anchor in the Alberni Inlet Sunday morning for a one-day stay in the Valley.
The buckets of rain dropping didn’t deter droves of passengers from disembarking the ship. They were ferried from the ship to the lighthouse dock by water taxi.
One passenger from Oregon said high winds in the canal made for a bit of a bumpy ride last night but once here he was fine.
“The rain? This is just like home,” he said before making his way onto a bus. “This isn’t too bad at all.”
The cruise appeared to have been sold out to the 1,200 passenger maximum, he added.
Civic officials and RCMP members were on hand to greet passengers after they cleared security.
“We’re a rainforest and people love the rainforest,” said Mayor Ken McRae from underneath a rain-pelted umbrella. “We’ll see how it goes.”
Buses taking tourists on a wild life tour and long beach tour appeared full.
The steam train was also readying to take passengers to McLean Mill as well as the Chase and Warren Estates Winery.
reporter@albernivalleynews.com