964.5 feet in length and 205 feet in height, the ship has 16 decks and occupied the entire stretch of the seaport’s pier.
The ship’s colossal dimensions, according to seaport manager Mary Ann Lizama, made it very visible from as far as Capital Hill.
The MS Queen Victoria is the fourth cruise liner that visited the island and the largest so far.
Its 1,758 passengers and 996 crew members filled all the buses and taxis on the island.
Lizama said tour agent PMT had to get the assistance of other tour companies to provide the passenger and crewmembers with buses and guides so they could tour the island.
The passengers also kept Garapan’s tourist district busy, bringing customers to local stores.
The Saipan Shipping Company handled the scheduling and needs of the vessel while it was docked here, and the passengers and crewmembers received a warm welcome from the Cultural Productions Inc.
Commonwealth Ports Authority Executive Director Efrain F. Camacho, along with Lizama and Judge David Wiseman, presented the cruise master a plaque of appreciation to commemorate the ship’s maiden port call to Saipan.
Before the ship’s departure, the passengers and crew were provided a special farewell performance by the Inatua Dancers.
The Taga Riders rolled in with a special farewell to the passengers as they drove alongside the departing vessel.
The Inatua Dancers, Saipan Shipping Company manager Darlene Cabrera and staff, PMT agents and guides, Saipan Stevedore staff, the CPA port police also waved goodbye to the departing passengers and crew of the MS Queen Victoria.
