Subic Bay to become ‘cruise ship playground’ in Asia – SBMA

Subic Bay is poised to become the next “cruise ship playground” in Asia as 15 cruise ships are set to dock at the Freeport in 2018, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) declared on Saturday.

First to arrive on Saturday at 7:00 a.m. was Italian-flagged cruise ship Costa Atlantica, carrying more than 2,000 passengers.

Wilma Eisma, SBMA chairman and administrator, led the Subic Bay community in welcoming the ship at Alava Pier.

The Costa Atlantica arrives at Alava Pier in Subic on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. (Photo courtesy of SBMA)

With Costa Atlantica’s arrival, Eisma said Subic was now raring to draw foreign tourists to various attractions on its shores.

“Subic’s time to become the next cruise ship playground of Asia has already begun,” Eisma said in a statement. “We are very excited. I hope that this will spark our dream of making Subic a part of the inter-island itinerary of international cruise ships.”

“Costa Atlantica’s visit is just the first of some 15 cruise ship visits expected in this Freeport for the year,” she bared.

MS Ovation of the Seas, a Royal Carribean cruise ship, would arrive in June, followed by Voyager of the Seas in August, Eisma said.

Subic Bay would offer “the best tourism facilities and services for tourists from the arriving ships, with memorable and tailored-tourism experiences to meet the expectation of visitors,” the SBMA chief assured.

/atm