M/S Asuka II returns to Saipan

The CNMI continues to see visiting cruises make port calls on Saipan with the fourth one, the M/S Asuka II, making a daylong stop yesterday.

NYK Cruises’ Asuka II returned to Saipan yesterday after over two years since its last visit back in 2021.

The Asuka II, a small, luxury line cruise ship, pulled into the Saipan port at around 7:30am yesterday morning and departed at 5pm en route to its next destination.

During its brief stay, the Asuka II brought in over 800 passengers and over 500 crew members.

The 1990-built cruise ship (known then as Crystal Harmony) is owned and operated by NYK Cruises Co. Ltd.—a subsidiary of the Japanese container shipping company, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha/NYK Line.

The ship’s namesake (MS Asuka) is currently operated under charter by Phoenix Reisen under the name Amadea.

The Asuka II began its journey earlier this year, starting in Yokohama, Japan.

According to NYK Cruises’ website, the Asuka II was built in Japan over 34 years ago and was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Nagasaki for NYK’s former subsidiary, Crystal Cruises.

In 2006, Crystal Harmony was transferred from Crystal Cruises to the parent company, NYK-Nippon Yusen Kaisha, starting operations under its current name Asuka II.

Asuka II‘s visit comes just a week after the last cruise ship visit, the M/S Artania, which made its maiden voyage to Saipan last Feb. 26, bringing in over 1,500 visitors.

Prior to the M/S Artania, the M/S Zuiderdam visited Saipan and brought in over 1,000 passengers.

Holland America Line’s M/S Zuiderdam, a mid-size cruise ship, made its first voyage to Saipan back in February.

The largest cruise ship the CNMI saw this year was the MSC Bellissima, which brought nearly 4,000 Japanese tourists to Saipan last Jan. 4 for a day when the cruise ship made a port call on Saipan.

Thanks to these cruise ship visits, the CNMI’s tourism industry has been energized with over 7,000 visitors getting off the ships to see what Saipan has to offer.

During each visit, vendors lined up at the Port of Saipan with their goods, ready to give visitors a taste of the CNMI’s food and culture.

Dive companies, tour guides, and Mañagaha Island charters also lined up at the port, ready to accommodate the visitors.