OSAKA -- A luxurious British cruise ship on its maiden voyage made a one-day stop at Osaka port on Sunday morning and received an effusive welcome from citizens.
Fireboats from the Osaka Municipal Fire Department shot welcoming sprays of water into the air as the 108,806-ton Star Princess entered the port. The vessel is the largest passenger ship ever to call at a Japanese port.
A brass band from Osaka Prefecture University performed as passengers disembarked at Tenpozan wharf.
The Star Princess departed Singapore on Feb. 13 with about 2,600 passengers on board. It called at Naha port in Okinawa Prefecture on Friday.
The ship was to leave Osaka on Sunday night and head out into the Pacific Ocean. It is scheduled to arrive at its final destination of Los Angeles on March 10.