ASUKA II 12-31-12 Arrival

The ASUKA II returned to Saipan early on 12-31-2012 for her 4th visit in the past four years. At a length of 790 feet, she is Japan's largest cruise vessel. She carried 726 passengers on this voyage, serve by a crew of 462. The passengers were entertained by youthful Carolinian entertainers from the Ataktak group. The departure will be feted by a helicopter dropping fresh flowers as she sails into the sunset of the final day of 2012. For more background information on this huge pleasure boat, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Asuka_II. Hope you enjoy this glimpse of this frequent visitor, returning with some of the same crew who staffed previous voyages. No idea how many passengers are enjoying a return to the luxury of this giant pleasure vessel. Jack Hardy