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Saipan welcomes cruise ship
A cruise ship docked on Saipan last Sunday, bringing with it 1,097 guests who visited World War II sites throughout the island.
Once the group of tourists stepped ashore, they were greeted by local dancers, courtesy of the Marianas Visitors Authority.
According to Pacific Development Inc. managing director Gordon Marciano, the cruise ship was called the MS Maasdam Holland America and that PDI prepared for the ship’s visit for about a year and a half. Marciano said they provided the tourists individual packages to use for their leisure.
Some of the guests also availed of services through online bookings of rental cars, taxis, diving, and other private accommodations.
Marciano said that some of the tourists went shopping at the Joeten Shopping Center, Duty Free Saipan T-Galleria, I Love Saipan, and many more stores throughout the island.
The group was on island last Sunday for about eight hours and departed at around 5pm. He said that they were on their way to Guam and would be on their way to Papua New Guinea and other Pacific Islands until they reach their last stop in Sydney, Australia.
Based on the ship’s expected itinerary on its website, the ship has already left Guam and is making its way to Papua New Guinea. The cruise ship left Yokohama, Japan last August and the tourists have visited Japan, Russia, the CNMI, Guam, South America, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The cruise ship will also be visiting the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia.
Marciano thanked the Commonwealth Ports Authority, the CPA Ports Police, Saipan Stevedore, DFS T Galleria, American Memorial Park, Tasi Tours, Top Development Inc., Paupau Tours, MVA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CNMI Quarantine, the Commonwealth Health Care Corp., and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs’ Commonwealth Council of Arts and Culture.
