Peak period travel crowd on ferry sailings for the domestic run between the Mulifanua and Salelologa wharves.
By Staff Writer
The Samoa Shipping Corporation (SSC) is bracing for the expected holiday travel rush between the islands for the long Easter weekend starting today on Good Friday.
But they are more than ready to face the challenge with the Lady Samoa III back in service again to lead the fleet after dry dock work in American Samoa.
If there is any anxious anticipation for the SSC staff it is the size of the last minute crowd rush.
“It is just the nature of our people, always leaving everything to the last minute and we have to factor that into our sailing schedules,” SSC General Manager Leiataua Samuel Phineas explained.
To cope with the surging demands it is normal practice during peak periods for ‘travel when ready’ sailings, instead of the ferries keeping to a schedule, .
Early bookings, however, gives the SSC a measure of traveling numbers including vehicles to make it easier to plan ahead.
“We’ve already scheduled extra trips to cater for the demands based on the bookings and I don’t know but for some reason it is low this year,” Leiataua revealed.
The drop in bookings is all the more reason for Leiataua and his staff to become wary of the last minute surge of holiday makers.
The holiday break is one of the busiest travel times of the year on the domestic route the same as Mother’s Day.
Most of the holiday makers are working Savai’i natives based in Upolu rushing home to spend the holiday break with families on the big island.
The usual trend starts with the holiday makers pouring from the Mulifanua to the Salelologa Wharves and ends on the reverse on the return to work from Savaii.
The inter-island ferry trip takes just over an hour depending on sailing conditions.