The Waterlront: The Courtship

THEC URTSHIP CUNARD LINES, LIl\

Like a moving set piece from a Cole Porter musical, the Scotia Prince drifts away from the pier against a cobalt-twilight sky. She parts the black waters, slicing past the waterfront, a glittery vision of function wed to elegance:

From shore it's a delightful sight in warmer months. And it brings a good amount of visitors and revenue to Port-

other northeast port as far as I'm concerned," Graves says. "If you start to run a tally sheet on what the other ports have - Newport, Provincetown, Halifax, Bar Harbor - we have just 10 times as much. The problem is that there has been no professional marketing push for this . . . and the other ports are spending money and doing it in a professional manner." Working with Graves toward attracting the attention of the cruise lines is Carl Welborn, general manager of Moran -.J; --.Jf~. ""'

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land. But where are the big cruise ships, the luxury liners who ply the New England coast and the maritimes each summer, dropping anchor and sending passengers ashore? Of all the ports in New England, Portland remains the only one of any size that has no visiting cruise ships. None.

Alan Graves, president of the Propeller Club of Portland, thinks that ought to change. "Portland has more to offer than any Towing of Maine, Incorporated. T0gether they have been contacting cruise companies, suggesting Portland as an excellent way-port for passenger ships. Welborn points to the 400-percent growth of the cruise business since 1978. "Bar Harbor has tripled the number of cruise ships coming in," he notes. Newport, Rhode Island, has also seen a trifold increase. Halifax has doubled the number. Vancouver has .. five times the cruise ships coming into port. Seattle, Washington recently approved $75 million for the port authority to improve cruise ships facilities.

At issue is the capability of our port to handle cruise liners. The International Ferry Terminal under its present use sits empty virtually 23 hours a day in season while the Scotia Prince is jockeying

....•~ .• """";:;..-.no._-- •...•.""..,x,.,.,"~~ .. / between Portland and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. This leaves the pier available for daytime layoveJ;:sfor passenger ships. Suggested improvements of the facility for that use are still pending. Some designs call for expansion of the pier, including a slim wedge-shaped appurtenance fashioned to allow the pier to accommodate deeper-draft cruise and .container ships. Of course, cruise liners could always lay at anchor and send passengers ashore in tenders, but that's a whole different ball game, according to Alan Graves. "People don't spend the money that they do when they can tie up," he says emphatically. And that's the main idea, he feels, since "the merchants would benefit more than anybody."

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Cunard's Sea GocIJall 1

By M. Reed Bergstein

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Graves and Welborn have done much work on their own pursuing this goal. And while Welborn works in the tugboat business, he explains that cruise ships rarely require tugs, being more maneuverable than cargo ships and tankers. Pilots and docking masters have offered reduced fees for parking the cruise ships, he says. CJearly, there is the opportunity to attract this new kind of business. Commander Thomas E. Powers, USN 1 (Ret.), president of the Casco Bay I ..·..Council of the Navy League and Portland attorney, concurs. "It would appear ~ reasonable that the city of Portland can " support the continuing viability of its ~. waterfront," he says, "and that includes I"'.· r;~~rt::~lt~~a~f~n~h:a7~~e~~~~;~~~~ Pier. To the extent that funds are available for the continuing support of that facility, it would seem appropriate that the city can also support use of the funds for that purpose ... I think it is essential that the city council provides this subject the kind of attention it really deserves. " As an opening parlay to attract a good look at Portland as a way-port for passenger ships, the Propeller Club invited Julian Matte to visit the city. Matte is regional sales manager in New England for Cunard Lines Limited, the London-based cruise company whose reputation for genteel luxury aboard ship is unmatched in all the world. (Cunard didn't acquire the White Star Line until after that company had lost its flagship, the RMS Titanic). Matte himself seems the perfect embodiment of the firm: professional, accommodating, suave. In the movie version he might be played by Claude Rains. As a representative of Cunard, Matte came to Portland with an open mind and a view toward seeing how the city might rate under further scrutiny by the line as a possible stopover. And what does Cunard look for in a port? "Picture yourself as a passenger on a 'ship," Matte says. "What would you like to see in a port? There are a few things here, like an art museum, which certainly would be of interest because it's well-known everywhere. Hyping this type of thing is exactly the reason why people go to Bar Harbor, because it's a mecca for people who want to go on vacation. "

But does Portland rate? "If you can say, 'We have the museum, the Longfellow home,' these

Cunard Princess

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are the reasons why it would appeal to people," Julian Matte says. "The steamship company would take all of those things, plus the port facilities - what would enable them to handle passengers quickly, easily, efficiently - and they'd say, 'Well now, here's a port that we could possibly use.' And as a way-port, they would certainly give it a whirl. Down the line perhaps someday, if they week during the summer would create a dynamic revenue source while helping maintain our working waterfront.

It seems a natural. And it will sell a lot of calendars.

Cunard'8 Vistaljord

feel they can open up Canadian interest, then they might consider Portland as a terminal port."

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are dozens of cruise ship companies worldwide. And as efforts continue to upgrade our marine facilities and the quality of Portland, hopefully these companies will discover what a splendid port this is, and start bringing passengers from around the globe.

What a fine sight. The really big liners, their hulls spanking-white in the sunlight, flags fluttering, steaming into Portland harbor. Even a few such ships each

All Cunard photos courtesy 01Cunard Line Limited, 555 Frith Avenue, New York, New York 10017.

Continued from page 11

sausage pie, pasta, omelets, deli sandwiches are among the international attractions in this cozy place. The soups and chowders are intriguing as well. A sunny patio when season permits. Breakfast,lunch, and dinner. Sunday brunch. Art exhibits by local talent. MC,V. 772-7115. DiMillo's Floating Restaurant. Long Wharf, Portland. Unique floating restaurant has steaks, seafood, Italian cuisine, ribs, and, always, lobster. Fine wines, nightly chef's specials, and entertainment. Lunch and dinner daily. Sun· day brunch. Major credit cards. 772·2216. Dock Fore. 336 Fore Street, Portland. Daily specials in this cozy Old. Port setting include burgers, quiches, soups, chowders, fresh fish, steamers, and mussels. Lunch and dinner. 772-8619. EI Mirador. -50Wharf Street, Portland. The true taste of Mexico comes to the Old Port. Direct from New York City, EI Mirador is one of Portland's newest and finest restaurant additions. Authentic Mexican recipes are created from the freshest ingredients daily. Dine in the lxtapa, Chapultapec, or Veracruz Rooms. Linger over a margarita in our exciting Cantina. Outdoor dining seasonal on our Patio. Open for lunch and dinner. Call for reservations. 781-0050. F.Parker Reidy' •. 83 Exchange Street, Portland. Great steaks, seafood, soups, and American favorites are staples at this popular restaurant, a favorite with Portland's law community. 773-4731. The Galley. 215 Foreside Road, Falmouth. Located at Handy Boat Yard, The Galley offers a beautiful view of Clapboard and Chebeague Islands plus sleek racing yachts and an impressive, varied menu of seafood specialties. Cocktail lounge on upper deck._A must for the yachting set. 781·4262. The Good Egg Cafe. 705 Congress Street, Portland. Breakfast is the specialty in this comfortable cafe. House favorites are the homemade hash, English muffins, and multi-grain pancakes. The egg variations are endless, and there are herbal teas and fresh ground coffees. Monthly exhibits by student artists. Weekdays 6-12, Saturday 7-2, Sunday 8-2. 773-0801. Gorham Station. 29 Elm Street, Gorham. A lovely full· service restaurant in a restored railroad station. Steak and seafood, American favorites. 839-3354. The Great Lost Bear. 540 Forest Avenue, Portland. The exotic burgers, the friendly service, the etched glass, the hilarious menu make The Bear a special spot. There's also the award-winning chili, ribs, chicken, and steak, and of course, the homemade Toll House Cookie Pie. For summery days, there is a patio in Bearidise Alley, and for Sundays, a champagne brunch. Lunch and dinner 7 days served right to 11 :30. 772-0300. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. 15 Temple Street, Portland. Exotic coffees and teas, interesting conversations, great location near One City Center and Nickelodeon movie theatres. Open late in the evenings. 773-4475. Hamilton's India Restaurant. 43 Middle Street, Portland. Northern and Central Indian cuisine by chef Hamilton Ash. Spicy, inventive, excellent. MCNISAjAm. Express. 7734498. Honefeathers. 193 Middle Street, Portland. The award· winning menu offers fresh char· broiled fish, stir-fries, steaks, veal·Oscar, as well as notorious "Horse-fries" and nachos. Many daily specials, served by a cheery, creative staff. Elegant and fun. Entertainment nightly. Lunch and dinner, 11 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. daily. Major credit cards. 773·3501. HuShang II. 11 Brown Street, Portland. Award.winning Szechuan, Shanghai, Mandarin, and Hunan cuisine. A Portland mainstay. Lunch and dinner daily. 774-0800. HuShang III. 29 Exchange Street, Portland. Shrimp in black bean sauce, cashew chicken are among the Sze· chuan, Hunan, Shanghai, and Mandarin dishes offered. Daily luncheon specials, homemade Chinese soups. Two brick-and-glass dining rooms. Lunch and dinner. Major credit cards. 773-0300. J'sOyster Bar. 5 Portland Pier, Portland. Delicious waterfront spot for seafood lovers. Oysters, steamed clams, very fresh seafood. 772-4828. Jameson T avem. 115 Main Street, Freeport. Steaks, veal, seafood, and daily chef's specials. Veal sauteed with prosciutto, provolone, and mushrooms is a favorite. served in <In Continued on page 24 Ease into our sauna or hot tub after cross country skiing on virgin trails. Savor wholesome natural meals and revitalize. No crowds, nice people, beautiful facilities. Only 40 minutes from Portland. Easy! Call for our brochure:

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