A cruise ship belonging to the global cruise operator Carnival Corporation is due in Samoa's capital Apia next week, the local port agent Betham Brothers Enterprises Ltd has announced.

The arrival of the MS Westerdam next Tuesday at 6am in the morning would mark close to three years since the visit of the last vessel MS Westerdam to Apia in November 2019.

"Port Agent, Betham Brothers Enterprises Ltd is excited to welcome back the first cruise ship since the MS Amsterdam called Apia in November 2019," the local stevedoring company said in a media release on Thursday.

"Since the Government of Samoa lifted all Covid-19 restrictions on the 22nd of September Carnival Corporation have wasted no time to include Apia on their Pacific Cruise itineraries for their subsidiaries Holland America, Princess Cruise Line and from 2023 P&O Cruises.

"Owned by the Holland America Line the MS Westerdam is calling [into] Apia on Tuesday 18th October at 0600 hrs."

According to Betham Brothers Enterprises Ltd, the second cruise liner MS Zuiderdam (Holland America Line) will be making its maiden visit to Samoa two days later on Thursday 20 October, and the third vessel MS Crown Princess (Princess Cruises) is due in Apia next month on Wednesday 23 November.

Information provided by the Betham Brothers Enterprises Ltd state that MS Westerdam makes her maiden call to Apia, arriving from Kona, Hawaii. Her next port of call will be Suva, Fiji. She brings with her 1392 passengers and over 35 different nationalities on board. The cruise liner began her journey on 2 October departing from Seattle, Washington.

Margarets Tours is the Shore Excursion operator for the MS Westerdam. The Samoa Tourism Authority are preparing arrival entertainment, a string band as well as working with the Police Band to welcome back our first Cruise ship to our shores, stated the Betham Brothers Enterprises Ltd media release. 

"The Samoa Ports Authority will be organising a flea market on the Port for the passengers and crew to enjoy. It is expected that both authorities will present commemorative plaques. Master Wouter Hoogadalem is the Captain of MS Westerdam, leading a crew of 772."