Cruise giants eye Philippines as cruise ship destination

MANILA, Philippines — Three of the world's leading cruise companies are eyeing to help develop the Philippines as a major destination.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia said that Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian cruise lines have expressed interest and offered advice on how the country can be a stop for cruising tourists.

"The cruise giants were open to working with the Philippines as a destination development while they discussed infrastructure requirements," Cuisia said in a statement last week, citing the embassy's report to the Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario.

Cuisia said cruise line executives are particularly interested in Vigan as a notable cruise destination. Vigan in Ilocos Sur is one of the top tourist destinations in the country because of its Spanish-era architectural structures and is currently vying to become one of the Seven New Wonders of the World.

A combined number of 61,700 Filipino crew members are employed in the three leading cruise firms, which also disclosed plans to hire more Filipinos as they expand their fleet, the ambassador said.

Earlier, the Philippine Embassy in Washington announced that native Philippine goods such as malunggay tea, coconut sugar and San Miguel Beer are already available and offered to guests aboard the Carnival Royal Carribean and Norwegian Cruise Lines.

"The cruise lines welcomed our proposals for them  to carry Philippine-made products such as souvenirs and furniture as well as other alternatives that they could offer their health conscious guests such as coconut sugar and malunggay tea," Cuisia said.