cruise ships

It comes with a range of other immigration announcements, including sector-specific agreements to support a shift away from low-skilled migrant labour, and a new 'Green list' of 85 hard-to-fill high-skill roles that provides a priority pathway to residency.

Visas for some 20,000 migrants already in the country are also being extended, and there will be new restrictions on students being able to work.

It has been two years since lockdowns were initiated by the Samoan government following the global outbreak of Covid-19.

TV1Samoa reports Chief Executive Officer for Samoa Ports Authority, So'oalo Kuresa So'oalo, confirmed the bookings had been made but they will only be allowed in port if there are changes in the SOE orders.

So'oalo said everything is dependent on the National Emergency Operations Committee (NEOC) especially the number of people that have been fully vaccinated.

Samoa Ports Authority chief executive So'oalo Kuresa So'oalo said the Sevens Seas Mariner, which was scheduled to arrive next Monday, has been cancelled.

The Samoa Observer reports it's the fourth cruise ship to do so in the past two months.

However, government spokesman Nanai Laveitiga Tuiletufuga said that contrary to recent reports, the ports of Apia remained open to cruise ships.

Nanai said some ships were being cancelled because they did not fulfil quarantine requirements from the Ministry of Health.