By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE MS Amadea, a premium German cruise ship operated by Phoenix Reisen, received a lively island welcome when it arrived at the Port of Saipan early Tuesday morning. Passengers were greeted by cultural dancers, local vendors, and a street‑market-style reception organized by the Marianas Visitors Authority.
The cruise ship brought 380 passengers and 305 crew members on its latest stop in a months‑long world voyage. It last visited Saipan in 2023.
Lars Zhan, tour coordinator for the Amadea, said the warm reception stood out immediately.
“Yesterday we were in Guam, and there was nothing,” he said. “When we were coming to the port [in Saipan], there were dancers welcoming our guests. They are in a good mood right from the start, and there are shops where they can buy souvenirs.”
Zhan said he cannot pre‑organize excursions before reaching Saipan, but upon arrival he coordinated with Pacific Development Inc. to arrange shuttle buses for two‑hour historic tours around the island.
“So, I’m organizing excursions based on what the guests want to do,” he said.
Street‑market welcome
MVA Managing Director Jamika Taijeron said the agency prepared a festive reception tailored for the Amadea, which, unlike Japanese cruise ships, did not have a pretour package.
“We organized a street‑market–type activity to welcome the passengers of MS Amadea,” she said.
The setup included cultural dance performances, car rental booths, arts and crafts displays, and food vendors offering local specialties. Passengers browsed souvenirs and took photos with performers.
A world cruise itinerary
Zhan said the Amadea is currently on a world cruise that has taken passengers across the Pacific and beyond. Before Saipan, the ship called on Guam, the Marshall Islands, the Hawaiian Islands, San Francisco, San Diego, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama, before crossing into the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It also visited the Canary Islands after departing Germany.
The ship is scheduled to depart Saipan at 6 p.m. Tuesday for Tokyo, where it will begin a two‑and‑a‑half‑week stay in Japan before continuing on to South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
Zhan said he was pleasantly surprised by Saipan’s hospitality.
“Yes, because I was here last time three years ago and we had no welcoming,” he said.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
