Saipan - Northern Marianas Islands of the Pacific

Saipan is one of the Northern Marianas Islands and make up a Commonwealth of the United States. Located between New Guinea and Japan, Saipan is considered part of Micronesia. Although the island has a large American military base, beautiful beaches, and great shopping for (mostly Japanese) tourists, Saipan does not get many cruise ship visits each year.

The Seven Seas Voyager stopped for a day on Saipan, and many of us did a tour of the island. Because of the major World War II Battle of Saipan, many of the sites were war memorials. Suicide Cliff and Banzai Cliff are famous because thousands of Japanese soldiers and civilians jumped to their deaths rather than be captured by the American troops. The Last Command Post is an almost impenetrable rock cave set into the hillside. Three of the Japanese commanders committed hari kiri in the cave.

Although much of the island's history is sad because of the many Americans and Japanese who died or were wounded, its landscape is beautiful.