JOAN and BOB JOHNSON of Seaside love seeing the cruise ships in port when they’re driving into Astoria. They sent the Ear an article from last week’s e-mail newsletter www.cruisecritic.com, which features reviews of ships and destinations from actual passengers, not paid reviewers. “Maybe the residents of Astoria would like to read about their town through the eyes of a visitor,” Joan Johnson suggested.

“This little city, with its backdrop of towering trees, Victorian architecture and 19th-century boom-town history, feels quintessentially Northwest,” wrote San Diego-based JANA JONES of her experiences aboard Celebrity Cruise Line’s Mercury, which docked in Astoria recently.

“Because it was a Sunday, not everything was open. We grabbed a coffee on Commercial Street and window-shopped for awhile, returning to the port where, despite the cold weather, some enterprising craftspeople had set up booths and were exhibiting their wares. There were a couple of bands that played for the cruise guests, too; really quite enjoyable.”

Jones describes Astoria’s movie settings and a couple of local landmarks, and offers tips for cruise ship passengers interested in seeing the town. Read her full experience at (www.cruisecritic.com/ports/article.cfm?ID=117)