OLD ORCHARD BEACH, Maine — Old Orchard Beach officials want to make the community a destination for cruise ship passengers headed to Portland.
Town Planner Jeffrey Hinderliter and Chamber of Commerce Director Bud Harmon met with state officials and cruise industry representatives last week to discuss the possibility of getting cruise ships into town. It was decided that for now, the best way to tap into the industry was to bus cruise ship passengers from Portland to Old Orchard Beach as an optional side trip.
Hinderliter tells the Journal Tribune of Biddeford that he hopes to have an arrangement in place next year.
Harmon says before moving forward, they have to make sure that local businesses are on board.
State Rep. George Hogan says it’s a good idea and would help the local economy.
Maine’s tackiest town a cruise ship destination? Lol…
I would expect the interest in this side excursion to be very limited – that town is like a cross between a beach, a public swimming pool and the Bangor State Fair – the sort of environment that people on a cruise are trying to avoid.