By Pacific Island Times News Staff
The Port Authority of Guam today welcomed MS Zuiderdam, the second cruise ship to visit Guam this year, ferrying nearly 2,000 people on board.
“The influx of passengers onboard the vessel is a boost to Guam’s tourism industry and highlights Guam as a premiere luxury cruise destination,” said Port General Manager Rory J. Respicio.
“The Zuiderdam’s arrival marks the second cruise-liner to visit in 2024 and we are tracking many more cruise ships to arrive this year.”
Nine more cruise vessels are expected to make a port call on Guam this year.
The MS Zuiderdam pulled into the Port Authority of Guam at 7:30 a.m. carrying 1,159 passengers and 761 crew members.
The cruise ship will stay here on Guam today while the passengers explore the island to include shopping and enjoying Guam’s dining establishments. The ship will depart at 5 p.m. today.
The cruise ship was met with a special dockside welcoming consisting of cultural dancers and a shell lei greeting.
Passengers spent the day exploring the island, shopping, and enjoying Guam’s dining establishments.
The 955-foot-long ship MS Zuiderdam is a Vista-class cruise ship owned and operated by Holland America Line. It is the lead ship of the Vista-class vessels, so named for the extensive use of glass in their superstructure, and is sister to three other HAL ships, Oosterdam, Westerdam, and Noordam. The last port of call before coming to Guam was in Hawaii.
Other potential cruise ship visits to Guam in 2024 include the MV Artania on Feb. 25, the MS Asuka II on March 3, the MS Queen Elizabeth on March 21, the Le Soleal on March 24, the Carnival on April 8, the Seabourn on May 14 and Sept. 7, the Le Soleal on Oct. 8, the Carnival on Oct. 22 and the MS Asuka II on Dec. 30.
