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V O L . X X I I I N O. X I I M AY 2 9 , 2 0 1 7 14 Best of the rest Among other ports, Rockland, Camden and Boothbay Harbor are all expecting more ships this year, while Bath and Belfast will see declines. Tom Peaco, executive director of the Penobscot Bay Chamber of Commerce, says that while places like Camden or Rockland don't have anywhere near the capacity of Portland or Bar Harbor, "the feeling is positive that it's a nice addition to our economy while not really changing the character of the area." Smaller ports are also a draw for cruise lines such as American Cruise Lines, whose eight-day Maine cruise starts and ends in Portland with stops in places such as Castine, Belfast, Camden and Bath. " e passengers get a much more authentic experience," says ACL's marketing director Charles Robertson. In Washington County, Eastport is not expecting any cruise visits this year as it nears the fi nish line of a $16 million breakwater reconstruction project that took more time and money than planned. e pier collapsed in late 2014. Christopher Gardner, executive director of the Eastport Port Authority, says the city's breakwater reconstruction will be "substantially fi nished" by mid- to late July, though it will hold a public celebration on July 4. "We're going to try to bring the cruise ships back to the way we know that we can," Gardner says, citing the recent purchase of a bus to do local sightseeing tours. "We don't want to compete with Bar Harbor," Gardner says. "We recognize that they have their own niche and their long-standing traditions." And while Bar Harbor may have to eventually limit the number of visits to its port, Eastport would welcome vessels with open arms. "We'd take all we could get," he says. Eastport also has another feature that many rivals don't: Besides deep water and a pier where ships can dock, Eastport is one of the few Class 1 ports in Maine that can accept foreign passengers and off er customs clearance on site. "We have tried to market ourselves as much to the logistics of the vessels as the experience," Gardner says, adding that the town is in discussions with cruise companies to drum up long-term business. "I think we have some great opportunities." R e n e e C O r D e s , M a i n e b i z s e n i o r w r i t e r, c a n b e reached at rcOrDes @ mainebiz.biz and @ RSCOrDes www.harriman.com @harrimancreates Providing Design Excellence in Lewiston-Auburn and New England for 147 years! http://bit.ly/2rjbfpr Downtown Auburn Transportation Center © Blind Dog Photography Financing that fuels progress for all. Local lender and national leader in rural business development To work with us or apply for a loan, call 207-504-5900 or visit CEI has committed millions of dollars to growing good jobs, supporting environmental sustainability and creating shared prosperity in Maine and across the country since 1977. » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E P H O T O / J I M N E U G E R Bar Harbor Town Manager Cornell Knight wants the town to buy the former ferry terminal from the state.

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