CruiseShips at the 2010 Winter Olympics?

Cruiseships will be prominent in the waters of Vancouver's Burrard Inlet during the 2010 Winter Olympics. Edmonton-based Newwest Travel has an agreement to bring the Norwegian Star to Vancouver for the Games. The ship would leave Los Angeles on February 6th and arrive in Vancouver 4 days later. It will be moored at the bulk marine terminal near the Lions Gate Bridge in North Vancouver, and will provide accommodations for 2,240 passengers.

The RCMP Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit is also getting into the act. They have chartered 3 ships to provide accommodation for 5,000 police personnel before and during the Winter Olympics. The ships include the 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation, the 1,916-passenger Holland America MS Oosterdam, and the 1,258-passenger MS Statendam. The ships were originally scheduled to be in service, but instead will sail empty when it cruises to Vancouver in early 2010. The total bill comes to $76 million. Passengers who were booked to sail on these ships will be offered alternate ships or sail dates or a full refund.