Travellers hoping to get to Savai'i early have criticised the Upolu-Savai'i ferry service after the Samoa Express couldn't berth at Mulifanua due to another vessel taking a TV crew.

Eyewitnesses told the Samoa Observer the ferry arrived at Mulifanua but it had to reverse out again to wait for her sister ferry Fotu o Samoa to complete the loading of her passengers, which included the shooting cast members of the Australian Survivor reality TV series.

Families and tourists, who had waited at the Mulifanua wharf for the ferry to arrive from Savai'i, were already lining up when the Samoa Express was about to dock and were shocked when the vessel reversed out to sea. Some also thought the ferry had already returned – as it was completely out of sight from where they were lining up around the wharf – while others were not pleased with the delay.

This newspaper understands that there was no official announcement from the Samoa Shipping Corporation (SSC) officials to advise the waiting passengers of the delay.

One of the passengers Fatima Taumaloto, who waited in line with her children while also carrying her baby, expressed disappointment at the delay and not being advised. 

"We should've been informed and prioritised as we've been waiting here, standing for almost half an hour excluding the time we waited around the wharf," she told this newspaper. "I see that this is happening a lot now that whenever there's a private trip for tourists or government officials, the public passengers always come last and it's not nice."

Both Samoa Express trips from Savai'i at around noon on Tuesday and from Upolu at 2 pm were packed.

When contacted for comment on Tuesday, an SSC employer who is not authorised to speak to the media, said the vessel had to wait at sea while the MV Fotu o Samoa took on the crew of the Australian Survivors reality TV show.

"The boat did not return, it was waiting at sea while the other ferry (Fotu o Samoa) which was boarding members of the Survivor prepared for take off," she said. "The survivor members were boarding to leave for Manono and there was a delay but the other ferry which was coming from Savai'i didn't return all the way to Savaii."

Asked how many members of the Australian Survivors reality TV show boarded the ferry which delayed the 12 pm ferry from Savai'i, the SSC official said to contact the town office for information as it was paid directly at the main office.

The SSC official was also queried if this is the first time the Australian Survivors crew had chartered the Fotu o Samoa for their private trips, but she refused to answer the question.