St. John’s waterfront was bustling with activity on Wednesday for the first time since the 2019 cruise ship season as the city welcomed its largest cruise ship.
This was also the opening of the container settlement Area 506 along the coast.
Ray Gracewood, founder of the Area 506 music festival, said the opening could not have gone more smoothly.
“The first day exceeded our expectations,” Gracewood said.
Watch: Transport containers are already a bustling commercial area on the coast
Explore the new coastal container village of St. John
The container village hosts St. John’s largest cruise ship ever visited
“And to think that this area was essentially a parking lot six weeks ago is pretty startling.”
He said there are still a few things that need to be done and others that will be fixed in time for the next big cruise ship.
The view of the container village Area 506, as seen from aboard the cruise ship Oasis of the Seas. (Submitted by Ray Gracewood)
“But for the most part, I think we’re in good shape for the season and we’ll see how [Wednesday] and then do a little reassessment and see if there are any additional changes we want to make before the next cruise ship arrives in late July. “
The village is designed to serve musical events and cruise passengers. The place will be open on all days of cruise ships, but there are also standard working hours when there are no ships in the port, so that locals can browse the site and its range of suppliers.
Gracewood said 27 vendors are already in order and only a few vacancies remain. Most suppliers are in recycled shipping containers – either alone or sharing one – but there are also food trucks on site.
“I think for the most part the feedback was amazing,” Gracewood said minutes after returning to land after touring the Oasis of the Seas.
He said the captain and crew were impressed with the container settlement – especially the area designated as a crew-only lounge.
“The first impression of the city for the passengers of the cruise ships … really paid off. And I think the feedback so far has been pretty positive, “he said.
Gracewood said the “soft” opening of the container settlement was deliberately planned for the arrival of Oasis of the Seas and its 5,400 passengers. The massive cruise ship docked at the container village on Wednesday.
Ray Gracewood, the founder of Area 506, said the graffiti alley behind him is a favorite of visitors. (Gram Thompson / CBC)
Jackie Diaz and Suna Kneisley are frequent cruisers and have traveled together aboard a ship from Sacramento, California.
Diaz said he wondered if there were parts of the ship that he simply would not have time to see during the five days on board.
“We’re on the level where they have a park. There’s a park in the middle, Central Park, and you walk in and there’s trees and birds singing and that’s amazing.”
Both women loved St. John’s new container village.
Kneisley said the use of shipping containers was a “super smart idea.”
Oasis of the Seas is the largest cruise ship to visit St. John. (Mia Earhart / CBC)
Gracewood said people like the use of shipping containers and bright colors, including the hyper-colored graffiti alley.
“I think at the end of the day it helps people re-imagine what it’s like to be a port city, I think that’s the point I get from people that it’s a great use of the coast and just a great example of an innovative project. for the city. “
Gracewood said June was a very busy month to open the container settlement. After a smooth opening on Wednesday, the venue will host an open day for locals on Thursday. There will be an open-air film festival on Friday, and on Saturday, July Talk will take to the main stage for the venue’s first concert.
By next week, the container village will begin preparations for the Memorial Cup and the Bash on the Bay concert series.
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