CRUISE SEASON IN PEI Only Canadian stop for Peace Boat
Posted on 05/06/2016 | About Prince Edward Island
When Veendam arrives in Charlottetown on Monday, she will kick off the PEI cruise season. The number of ships arriving will be down from last year but eight ships will be visiting for the first time including a floating peace village that is making Charlottetown its only stop in Canada.
Peace Boat is a Japanese non-governmental and non-profit organization that works to promote peace, human rights, equal and sustainable development and respect for the environment. It charters a passenger ship that travels the world on peace voyages.
Their website states, ‘Peace Boat believes that travel in itself can be a tool for positive social and political change, and seeks to create and implement best practices in responsible travel and what we call travel for peace and sustainability.’
The Peace Boat’s current ship is the Ocean Dream, a cruise liner that has been adapted to accommodate lecture halls, classrooms, offices, workshop rooms and rehearsal areas.
"It's a really different type of vessel," said Corryn Morrissey, the business development manager for Port Charlottetown.
"It is predominantly Japanese passengers on board. It is a world cruise and they do a lot of educational seminars."
Peace Boat's 91st Global Voyage departed from Yokohama, Japan on 12 April 2016, and will return to Japan on 27 July 2016, sailing for 107 days around the world with a port of call in Charlottetown on June 15.