ASTORIA Cruise ship passengers visiting Astoria get an added bonus in the form of local hosts who point them in the right direction, answer questions and make them feel welcome.

Visit the city on a cruise ship day and youll likely see locals wearing blue jackets and friendly smiles directing passengers to local attractions such as the Maritime Museum or the Riverfront Trolley.

Thats very comforting for people, said Marian Soderberg, Cruise Hosts co-coordinator. You know, you land in a place youve never heard of and youve never been to before, they dont have a visual perspective of whats going to happen next, so we give them a map printed by Polk Riley Printing and then we assure them that everywhere they go theyre going to run into people in the blue jackets. That takes away most of the anxiety of being in a new place.

Local Flair

Soderberg and her husband, Mike, know what its like to arrive on a cruise ship and find yourself on your own.

We would dock in communities, and the cruise ship lines would own the downtown core like in Alaska or people were constantly running after you to sell you something, she said. What we didnt have the opportunity to do was get acquainted with local people from any area where we traveled.

When asked to help welcome cruise passengers to Astoria, the Soderbergs knew what to do. Together they coordinate volunteers for Clatsop Cruise Hosts Inc.

The volunteers greet passengers as they arrive in Astoria, answer questions that range from How do we get to Fort Clatsop to Where is Starbucks? and provide shuttle service to downtown.

On any given cruise ship day, there are 80-90 people involved in making all of this happen, and those are just the volunteers, Soderberg said. Those arent the people who are employed. Were not talking about the Sunday Market vendors, the port officials or (Bruce Conners) team who are doing excursions.

A Working Port

The logging operation at the port, once feared as a detriment to the cruise ship business, has proven an attraction for passengers.

It is spectacular to watch the logging operation when youre elevated above it that way, and the passengers are fascinated by it, Soderberg said. They want to know what kind of trees those are, where the logs are going, whats happening. Its a thrill for them.

The Nonprofit Motive

The nonprofit group has 150 people who come from as far south as Manzanita and as far east as Knappa. The cruise line is making money, the excursion operators make money, so why do Cruise Hosts volunteer their time?

It all works because we have such a good time doing it, Soderberg said. Really its a pleasure to share what goes on in this corner of the world with other people.

Lasting friendships have formed within the group.

Recently we had a woman who moved to Florida, and people noticed that she wasnt on the schedule, and I had dozens of questions: Where did Gracie go? Whats the matter with Gracie? Gracies not on the schedule. Did you forget her? It speaks to the solidification of the group.

Volunteers do not receive awards. There is a kick-off party before the season starts and a gathering in the fall to say thank-you, but theyre doing this because they care about their community, Soderberg said.

Grateful Travelers

Cruise passengers appreciate the personal touch the hosts give the Astoria stop, Soderberg said.

People come back and share their stories and voice their appreciation, she said. Captains express their appreciation. (Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce executive director) Skip Hauke gets lots of letters.

In an age of instant messages and e-mail thats saying something.

Thats pretty impressive when you think that a passenger is so impressed and so thankful with whats going on here that they sit down and write a letter, she added. People dont take the time to do that any more.

Theyre not the only ones who have noticed. S. Bruce Conner, Senior Vice President of Sundial Travel and Cruise Center in Astoria, said cruise lines have noticed too.

As I travel to Seattle, to Miami, to LA, and have conversations with the itinerary planners and the presidents and vice presidents of the cruise lines explaining what a wonderful place Astoria is they recommend any town interested getting into the cruise business to come and see how Astoria runs, he said. It is the Cruise Hosts that truly are responsible for the success of our growth.

Economic Impact

Cruise Hosts may not be in it for the money, but the cruise ships have an effect on the economy, Conner said. The ships pay to use the port and the passengers spend while theyre in town.

A survey by Cruise Lines International Association found that a couple from a cruise ship will spend about $125 while in a U.S. port, Conner said. The ships coming to Astoria have an average of 2,000 passengers. About 20 percent stay aboard, leaving 1,600 or about 800 couples, he said.

Thats roughly $100,000.

A dollar that comes into the community circulates seven times, so the impact of each cruise ship is about $700,000, he said. Multiply that by the 21 ships that are due in port this year, that comes to $14.7 million dollars.

Flat-Screens & Pillows

Soderberg said its not just cruise passengers who spend while in port. Cruise Hosts also shuttle crewmembers around town. Costco, Fred Meyer and Ross are popular destinations.

Its shocking what they come back with. Huge boxes of food for their on-board crew shop, huge flat-screen TVs. Its not unusual for six or seven of them (televisions) to go onboard when theyre here. One day it was funny. There must have been a dozen crew members who bought pillows at Costco. I dont know what that was all about.

Join Cruise Hosts: If you have what it takes to wear the blue jacket and would like to be a Cruise Host, call 503-325-2354 or email Soderberg at clatsopcruisehosts@gmail.com.