Subic eyeing bigger cruise tourism in 2025

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines — More cruise ships visits are expected in this emerging regional travel destination next year, as the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) dresses up this free port for better visitor experience and more tourism receipts.

SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Port Operations Ronnie Yambao, who is also chairman of the SBMA Cruise Ship Industry Committee, said in a statement that Subic intends to surpass its pre-pandemic cruise ship record with about 20 vessel arrivals in 2025.

The first of the expected cruise ships, the Bahamas-flagged MV Silver Dawn, arrived here on Tuesday, December 31, just as the Subic Bay Freeport was preparing for the traditional New Year’s Eve countdown at the waterfront.

The 212-meters long, 40,855-gross tons vessel is the third in the Muse-class series of high-end passenger vessels operated by Silversea Cruises, which is part of the prestigious Royal Caribbean Group, the ultra-luxury and expedition travel brand based in Monaco.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño, who led SBMA senior officials in welcoming the passengers and crew of MV Silver Dawn, said vessel would welcome 2025 in Subic.

“We can expect the 596 passengers, as well as 411 crew members of the ship, to spend the New Year’s Eve here,” Aliño said. “We hope the people of Subic Bay will welcome them during their stay,” he added.

Aliño had earlier cited the current SBMA program to further develop Subic’s maritime infrastructure and port facilities to ensure the safety of vessels and their passengers, as well as to promote and protect the environment in the free port.

This is expected to dovetail with Subic’s cruise tourism programs, which heavily banks on Subic’s natural protected harbor, as well as the numerous well-developed piers and wharves that remained from Subic’s former status as a United States naval base.

Following Silver Dawn, two other cruise ships have so far booked a schedule in Subic next year, Ymabao said. These are the Liberian-flagged MV Blue Dream Star, which is owned by Fujian China Transport Investment Group Co. Ltd. under its travel brand Blue Dream Cruises China; and the Bahamas-flagged Villa Vie Odyssey, which is owned by the US-based Villa Vie Residences that specializes in “residential cruising.”

MV Blue Dream Star will arrive in Subic on April 11, May 3, and July 8 with more than 1,000 passengers each trip, while Villa Vie Odyssey will be here here on September 23, with 924 passengers at double occupancy, along with 370 crew members.

Yambao said the SBMA is eyeing to revive the cruise tourism industry in Subic, which has already taken off before the Covid-19 pandemic derailed further progress in 2020. 

He pointed out that no less than Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco had expressed confidence in the cruise tourism industry of Subic, with the latter suggesting that Subic Bay’s cruise tourism can be expanded to include homeporting and creating dedicated cruise port initiatives.