More Cruiseship are coming into Samoa for the year 2008, thanks to the combined efforts of everyone involved in promoting Samoa as the safest and unspoilt holiday destination in the South Pacific.
The Cruise Vessel, MS Amsterdam is scheduled to arrive in Apia, on Saturday, the 26th January 2008 at 0800Hrs and will sail at 1800Hrs the same day.
The Amsterdam Cruiseship was also in Apia last year, 2007 in November and already, positive comments had been received from passengers of that visit regarding the beauty of Samoa as a tourist destination.The Amsterdam is on a World Cruise, and on this visit to Samoa, it is carrying approximately 1,380 guests. The local M & A Travel & Tours company will be providing tours to the majority of passengers of this Vessel when it calls Apia.
The arrival of the first ever visit by the Japanese 'Pacific Venus' Cruiseship to Samoa on 28 January 2008, at 3.30pm in the afternoon, will be greeted by an entertainment provided by the Samoa Police Brass Band on the wharf. A traditional Samoan welcome 'Ava' Ceremony will then be held onboard straight after, to welcome all passengers and crew of the Vessel, to be followed by the presentation of a plaque by an Official from the Government of Samoa to the Captain of the Vessel to commemorate the Vessel's first voyage to Samoa. The local Pacific International Travel & Tours will be handling all tours for the Pacific Venus passengers on this visit by the Vessel.
Efforts by the Samoa Cruise Travel Working Group Association are now underway to make sure Samoa is attractive and competitive enough in what it has to offer to the international cruiseshipn companies so they could be enticed to include Samoa in their South Pacific itineraries for their cruiseliners.
The following Vessels scheduled to call Apia in 2008 include:
M/S Crystal Serenity - ETA 06.02.08
M/S Volendam - ETA 09.10.08
M/S Amsterdam - ETA 11.11.08