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Cruise ship Costa Atlantica drops by Saipan
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- Passengers aboard Costa Atlantica disembark from the cruise ship for a day tour of Saipan last Jan. 3. (Justine Nauta)
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- A group of male indigenous dancers perform to various local songs to welcome the cruise ship Costa Atlantica after it dropped anchor on Saipan last Jan. 3. (Justine Nauta)
The cruise ship Costa Atlantica dropped anchor on Saipan last Jan. 3 to give its passengers a day to tour of the island and to restock on the ship’s supplies and refuel.
As the passengers made their way to shuttle buses at the Port of Saipan in Puerto Rico, they were welcomed by a group of male indigenous dancers who performed to various local songs.
According to Gordon I Marciano of Pacific Development Inc., whose company handled the logistics of the cruise ship’s Saipan stopover, with the speedy clearance of Customs and Border Protection and the help of the CNMI’s Ports Police, they assisted the guest to make sure they were all safely on board their shuttle buses, private transportation, and/or taxis.
The guest took advantage of this stop to tour around the island, swim at Micro Beach in Garapan, or go jogging around American Memorial Park in Garapan.
Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC, T Galleria, and Top Development Inc. provided shuttle buses to passengers who wanted to tour the island until it was time to leave for their next destination, Shanghai. The group of entertainers performed one more time as the passengers of the cruise made their way back to the vessel. The guests also received gift bags from the community.
The Costa Atlantica is on a 50-day voyage cruise with stops in French Polynesia, Micronesia, Japan, and then China, according to Marciano. This was their third visit and, hopefully, not their last, he said.
“Ghilisoow yan si yu’us ma’ase to our partners in the tourism industry, from [the Marianas Visitors Authority], [Commonwealth Ports Authority], Saiship, T-Galleria, Saipan Stevedore crew, [Customs and Border Protection] and all first responders present for all the ground support,” said Marciano.
