Calm seas welcomed the Seven Seas Mariner to St Helena on Thursday of last week allowing 214 passengers to step ashore. Tourism Attendants were waiting at the Wharf to receive the visitors; this is now a common feature of the St Helena Tourist Office for visiting cruise ships. Parks were occupied with a number of taxi drivers who were to be busy with Island tours.

The vessel was already nestling in James Bay by the time most people arrived for work; she departed just after 6pm the same day.

HE the Acting Governor Kurt De Freitas was invited on board in the afternoon and received a model of the vessel from the Captain. In exchange, the Acting Governor presented the Captain with a plaque from the people of St Helena, as this was the first time for the Seven Seas Mariner to visit the Island.

Whilst on board, the Acting Governor also saw a number of school children entertaining the passengers with St Helena songs. The group portrayed their musical talents singing Whip and Chain, Beloved Isle, To a Stranger and other locally composed songs. It was evident that this was much enjoyed by all of the passengers who had assembled in the Horizon Lounge, for the songs were well applauded.

The Mariner had on board 308 passengers but is capable of carrying 700. Built in 2001, this fairly new 50 tonne vessel is on a world tour, and from St Helena she departed for Ascension Island. 150 of the passengers were on the world tour whilst the remaining had joined after the tour commenced.

Pamela Young, Director of Tourism said that around half of passengers chose to go on a tour. The Tourist Office received some comments from the visitors on the beauty of the Island and how much they had enjoyed their visit.

Last year, the Seven Seas Navigator, a sister ship to the Mariner but smaller in size, visited St Helena for the first time. This vessel had on board some of the visitors who called again this year. It is hoped that Radisson Seven Seas cruise ships will now call at the Island on a regular basis.

This marked the end of the cruise season for 2002/2003, and the next cruise ships are due to arrive in October, marking the beginning of the new cruise season 2003/2004.