By: Marc Membrere
Good news for the start of this year for Samoa and especially local businesses. The Samoa Ports Authority (SPA) has confirmed that there will be 6 cruise ships scheduled to visit Samoa with hundreds of visitors and tourists.
And it starts today and more to come throughout February. That was a positive update revealed by the General Manager of the SPA Sooalo Kuresa Sooalo in his response to questions emailed to him by the Savali Newspaper on Tuesday morning.
The Authority also expects to receive more cruise ships after February he added. “Beyond February there are 9 other cruise ships confirmed for 2023 and 10 confirmations for 2024.” Samoa welcomed its first cruise ship MS Westerdam, Holland America Line owned, in October after it officially opened its borders in August last year.
Her arrival brought in 1392 passengers from over 35 different nationalities, and were welcomed by a colourful array of entertainment hosted by the Samoa Tourism Authority, other local organisations and associations and stalls on the wharf packed with a variety of Samoan handicrafts on sale.
The January and February schedule for cruise ships to dock at Matautu Wharf;
• Celebrity Eclipse 20th January
• Arcadia 8th February
• Amadea 14th February
• MSC Poesia (Maiden) 18th February
• Queen Victoria 19th February
• Amera 20th February
PHOTO: Marc Membrere
