Seastreak will again dock at Cold Spring
The Seastreak fall foliage cruises are returning to Cold Spring after a year-long hiatus caused by the pandemic shutdown.Â
The Cold Spring Village Board on Sept. 23 authorized Mayor Dave Merandy to sign an agreement with the cruise company for 2021. The first boats will arrive Saturday (Oct. 2) and Sunday (Oct. 3).
Beginning Oct. 8, cruises are scheduled for each Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Nov. 14. Passengers will be in Cold Spring from 10:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Friday boats will have up to 149 passengers and the weekend cruises will each have up to 400. Passengers must show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination.
Because the door on one of the two public bathrooms at the foot of upper Main Street is broken, the village plans to install four portable toilets.
In 2019, the cruise line paid the village $22,500 in docking fees, revenue that was lost in 2020.
Not everyone shares the outgoing Cold Spring mayor’s enthusiasm for the return of the Seastreak tourist scow. Unlike more comely sailing vessels like the Clearwater, the tanker is a three-story break-metal eyesore that sullies the cherished view across the river.
It’s noteworthy that few people enjoy the waterfront area while the boat founders for most of the day, because of the lack of view and proximity to the Seascow. If it didn’t sit all day, perhaps the waterfront could be enjoyed by locals and tourist hordes alike.
The docking fees collected may be just enough to pay for extra portable toilets the village added. For my money, the detriment to quality of life for locals just isn’t worth it.