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Saipan gears up for Thursday’s arrival of cruise liner
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Posted on Mar 13 2012
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce attended a pre-arrival meeting yesterday afternoon to address coordination for the arrival of the Queen Mary 2 and her 4,000 passengers and crew this Thursday, March 15, 2012, around 4:45am. The Queen Mary 2 has decided it will not dock as originally scheduled at Charlie Dock. She will anchor outside the channel and ferry passengers and crew in 100-man vessels into Smiling Cove every 15 minutes. There are eight vessels that will run continuously beginning at 5:45am and running until 4pm.
At the pre-arrival meeting, the Commonwealth Ports Authority, Department of Public Safety, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration, CNMI Customs, Saipan Stevedore, Marianas Visitors Authority, PMT, Chamber, Tasi Tours, etc. discussed the activities planned at the Smiling Cove Marina. Restricted areas and accommodations for passengers were discussed. Limited access and restricted areas were outlined.
At the Smiling Cove parking lot area buses will be staged. There are 10 buses for sightseeing tours, five buses have been designated as shuttle buses to go back and forth from Smiling Cove and DFS Galleria. Next to the scales at Smiling Cove there will be artists selling handicrafts, souvenirs, local food, concessions, and shell leis. Cultural dancers are performing throughout the day.
It does not appear that taxis will be allowed in the bus areas. It was recommended to MVA and the Chamber that, as a result of heavy foot traffic passing through the American Memorial Park, taxis and others wishing to transport passengers to restaurants, etc. will be allowed at the parking lots next to the AMP amphitheater.
“Ranger Nancy Kelchner has no problem with Chamber members wishing to transport passengers to a restaurant, for instance, being given access to their parking lots for that purpose. Otherwise, DFS Galleria will be the drop off station for passengers and crew using the shuttle buses into the downtown Garapan area,” the Chamber said in a statement.
Additional questions are to be directed to CPA and MVA on acceptable access to the passengers of Queen Mary 2. (SCC)
