Japan cruise ship makes 10-hour stopover on Saipan
MS Asuka II, a luxury cruise ship from Japan, made another one of its regular calls
on Saipan with over 500 passengers yesterday.
THE LUXURY CRUISE SHIP LINER MS ASUKA 11 PULLED INTO THE SAIPAN PORT FOR A 10-HOUR
STOPOVER YESTERDAY. PHOTOS BY RAQUEL C. BAGNOL
Commonwealth Ports Authority manager Mary Ann Lizama said the vessel, previously known as M.S. Crystal Harmony, docked at about 7 a.m. yesterday and left Saipan a little past 5 p.m.
Lizama said the Asuka has been visiting Saipan as one of its regular stopovers every year.
“What we are trying to work on is to get these cruise ships to spend more time here and not just quick stopovers” she added.
At 5 p.m. yesterday, a helicopter flew over the Asuka 11 as she was getting ready to depart, “sprinkling” flowers on it.
Lizama said this is a regular practice if the ground handling agent is Saipan Shipping.
“They have been doing that for several years now — if they are the ground handler,” Lizama said.
M.S. Asuka II is on its “Oceania Grand Cruise 2013.” It left Kobe on Jan. 31, proceeding to Yokohama before heading to Saipan. From here, it will proceed to Rabaul, them on to Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney, Picton, Auckland, Noumea, Palau and back to Kobe on March 13.
An upscale 790-foot-long frame cruise ship that provides western-style luxury, Asuka II is one of the biggest luxury cruise ships in Japan. It has designer boutiques and stores, fitness a gym, a world-class spa, swimming pool, jacuzzi, library, coffee shops, tennis courts and pool tables, a theater, a children’s center and other amenities, including 11 public baths.
M.S. Asuka II made its regular Yokohama-Guam-Saipan-Yokohama cruise from Dec. 26, 2012 to Jan. 4.
In March last year, she made a 22-hour stopover on Saipan with 400 passengers and 470 crewmembers. For more information, email information@asukacruise.co.jp or visit www.asukacruise.co.jp.
Source: Marianas Variety, Saipán, Mariana Islands.
No comments:
Post a Comment