PORT ANGELES — The huge Holland America-owned Zuiderdam will dock for nine hours at Terminal 1 today, allowing those among its 1,952 passengers and 817 crew members who feel inclined to get off and explore.

The ship will dock near the Peninsula Plywood mill at 2 p.m. It is scheduled to depart at 11 p.m.

The passengers can take cruise-sponsored trips to Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent and North Olympic Peninsula wineries.

And local organizers are making sure the ship’s passengers have many more choices available to them.

Port Angeles Downtown Association, Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau and Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce staff members and volunteers have money-off coupons, informational tents, tours, shuttles and activities for the passengers.

Shuttles, shops

Shuttles will take passengers around downtown Port Angeles, to the Elwha River Casino and to historical- and art-related stops in Port Angeles, including an arts fair at The Landing mall on Railroad Avenue.

Downtown shops will stay open late for shoppers, said Barb Frederick, executive director of the Port Angeles Downtown Association.

Sequim, Blyn

Sequim business leaders and the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe also hope to catch the attention of some of the passengers.

The tribe is offering tours of totem poles in Blyn and shuttles to the 7 Cedars Casino.

An Art Walk and Irrigation Festival events such as the Logging Show in Sequim will also be advertised to the passengers today.

The luxurious ship will likely catch locals’ eyes.

Best viewing places

No cars will be allowed to drive or park near the cruise ship, said Mike Nimmo, marine facilities marketing manager for the Port of Port Angeles, who will be juggling logistics, since the cruise ship will arrive at the same time as a tanker due in for repairs.

Residents can walk to the area but are asked to avoid causing more congestion on the small dock.

A better spot to view the ship would be from the other side of the warehouse rather than on the Terminal 1 dock itself, Nimmo said.

A gated security area will prevent anyone from approaching the boat close enough to see, but the ship should be easily visible from the Waterfront Trail or from Ediz Hook, said Mary Brelsford, communications manager of the Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau.

Number of passengers

The number of passengers aboard is more than the capacity of 1,916 passengers stated on Holland America’s Web site.

That’s because the official capacity is based on a two-person occupancy of rooms, said Melissa Mefford, public relations coordinator for the Holland American line.

But the ship also has 280 triple-occupancy rooms and 153 quadruple-occupancy rooms.

Those are not calculated in the official capacity numbers.

So the actual capacity is 2,502 passengers.

The ship is on a four-day cruse from San Diego and will continue to Vancouver British Cwolumbia after it leaves Port Angeles.

Prior to arriving in San Diego, the ship sailed from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and through the Panama Canal as part of the repositioning cruise to bring the ship to the Northwest for the summer season.

Another ship May 15

Another Holland America ship, the Statendam, will arrive at Terminal 1 at noon May 15 and stay until 11 p.m.

It also is traveling from San Diego to Vancouver, British Columbia.

The Statendam currently has 1,213 passengers on board the ship and 580 crew members.

The official passenger capacity of the ship is 1,260, but with the 191 triple-occupancy rooms and the 87 quadruple-capacity rooms, the actual capacity of the ship is 1,578 passengers.

A cleanup of the downtown area will be held on Saturday to prepare for the Statendam, Frederick said.

Volunteers for the Downtown Clean Sweep will meet at 9 a.m. at the Conrad Dyar Fountain, First and Laurel streets, with their cleaning equipment.

For more information, phone the downtown association at 360-457-9614 or see www.portangelesdowntown.com, or phone Louann Yager, Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce volunteer coordinator, at 360-452-2363, ext. 17.

Clean Sweep volunteers can phone Bob Lumens at Northwest Fudge and Confections at 360-452-8299 or e-mail nwpa@olypen.com.