Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

American Samoa Visitors Bureau confirms 16 cruise ships for 2013

Posted at 22:44 on 05 December, 2012 UTC

The American Samoa Visitors Bureau has confirmed 16 cruise ships will call into the Port of Pago Pago in 2013, with some additional ships pending final confirmation.

This year saw 20 cruise ships - the highest ever recorded in the territory’s cruise ship history.

The Visitors Bureau executive director, David Vaeafe, says that while there are only 16 firm ships, they are bringing in a higher number of passengers and crews than in 2012.

He says he expects to release a firmed up list of the total number of ships in 2013 as well as an estimated number of the temporary visitors.

The first ship for the new year will call into Pago Pago in the later part of January.

The final ship for this year is the Ocean Princess, which is currently scheduled to arrive in the territory on the 13th of December, carrying up to 680 passengers and 390 crew members.