Bellisima to visit Saipan today

The Saipan community is set to see the arrival of Japan-based cruise ship Bellisima, which is expected to bring in thousands of tourists to the CNMI.

Although the last few months have been slow in terms of Japanese tourism, numbers are expected to pick up with Bellisima making a port call today.

According to the Commonwealth Ports Authority, Bellisima is expected to dock at the Port of Saipan at around 8am today.

Meanwhile, members of the CNMI community, including agencies like the Marianas Visitors Authority, the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, the Hotel Association of the NMI, and more are expected to hold a welcoming ceremony for the ship’s passengers.

Bellisima is a nine-day Japanese cruise that starts off at Yokohama with its stop overs being Guam and then Saipan before heading back up to Yokohama.

The cruise left Yokohama on Dec. 30, with its passengers celebrating the New Year near the Northern Islands.