HALIFAX - Two massive cruise ships were docked in Halifax Harbour on Tuesday -- the Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam and Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess. Both vessels delivered thousands of Americans to the Nova Scotia capital for a brief visit. “It is nice, very nice,” said Gary Charland from Palm Springs, Calif., who admitted the trade tensions between Canada and the U.S. were on his mind as he prepared for his trip to Canada. “It is difficult to tune it out.” Some American tourists, citing the sensitivity of the trade war, preferred not to give their names for privacy purposes. One tourist visiting from Colorado said she was a repeat customer. The trade war did not alter her vacation plans nor dampen her enthusiasm for her neighbours to the north. “I like Canada, I especially like Halifax and I guess all of the gobbledygook doesn’t really seem to bother me,” she said, as she referred to the recent cross-border dialogue surrounding tariffs. As for who is to blame for the tariff tensions between the two countries, a tourist from Florida pointed the finger at Canada, a country he said has protectionist tariffs that are bad for his home country’s economy. “It is the same as what’s been going on the other way,” he said. “It’s OK if the Canadians charge tariffs, but it’s not OK if the Americans do?” A woman from Nevada came here to see the sites and enjoy our country’s temperatures. “It is 30 degrees cooler here, which is a big bonus, there is a lot of natural beauty in Canada, and you cannot just deny the majesty of creation when you’re in this area,” she said. Her husband also had a blunt message for both the U.S. president and the Canadian prime minister. “Those guys need to chill out,” he said. It should be noted that most Americans interviewed by CTV News gushed about how much they like Canada and Canadians. “We very much enjoy coming to Canada,” said Charland. “We very much feel that Canadians are not only our neighbours, but also our partners.” That’s a common opinion, according to Halifax-based tourism operator Sean Buckland, who pointed out American visitation is up this year in Halifax by roughly 13 per cent, largely because of two factors. “There is no question that Americans are taking advantage of the exchange rate and the increased value of the American dollar,” said Buckland, who is the owner and CEO of Ambassatours Gray Line tour company. “And the hospitality because we hear time and time again what a welcoming city and destination, we are.” A steady influx of American visitors coming to Canada comes at a time when Canadians are choosing to avoid travelling to the U.S. in increasing numbers because of their displeasure over the ongoing trade tensions. Charles Bartholomew, also from Palm Springs, used his visit to Halifax to urge Canadians to give his country a second chance. “Canadians are very welcome and we want them to come back,” said Bartholomew.
