Sea-Ing Manila

The loose queue of passengers file up the gangplank of the Prestige Cruises Inc. ship on a nice summer afternoon. Some passengers, who come in big tour groups, settle around large tables on the upper deck, chatting excitedly. Other passengers, who come in twos or smaller groups, choose their own quiet corner on the upper deck or in the cabin to enjoy the view of Manila Bay.

The boat sets out from the dock at the Harbor Square of the CCP Complex off Roxas Blvd., and everyone falls silent to enjoy the sunset in peace.

Manila Bay is world famous for its legendary sunset, but somehow, being out at sea with the fresh breeze and the faint sound of the water lapping against the ship, the experience of the sunset becomes even more beautiful. No wonder painters and poets draw inspiration from this breathtaking sight.

When the sun’s rays are finally gone, the lights along the bay – which, for the passengers of the boat, is already at a distance – come on, and the shoreline is transformed into a cheerful and exciting scene. The city comes alive in a different atmosphere.

On board, passengers bask in the soft glow of the moon and the quaint lights of the ship. On deck, the band sets up for its first song, hinting at the lively night ahead.

Led by captain Edgar Balios, Prestige Cruise has been in operation for three years. The ship, which can hold anywhere from 80 to100 passengers at a time, makes three trips around Manila Bay Mondays to Fridays and four trips on Saturdays and Sundays. Passengers have the option of doing the cruise only, for P250 per person, or for P495 they get to enjoy a sumptuous dinner on board.

The cruises are popular not just with tourists, but with Filipinos as well, and especially with balikbayans, according to general manager, Lara Barraza. While the whole cruise is not full all the time, passengers usually fill the top deck right away because the view is best from there.

“Prestige Cruises, Inc. is the only Manila Bay cruise that offers dinner and live entertainment,” says Barraza. The full dinner is catered by the popular Barbara’s and is just enough for the hour-long cruise. Many, however, are happy to just order drinks and enjoy the singing and dancing.

“The cruise is doing well, especially with tourists,” says Barraza, adding that the tourists nowadays are mostly Koreans.

There are so many Korean tourists, in fact, that musical duo Karen and Buddy of Classic Revivals already know how to speak basic Korean as they encourage the passengers to sing along with them. Their repertoire is also mostly popular Korean songs, and the delighted passengers need little urging to get up and sing and dance along, much to the delight of the other passengers and even the crew. Some nights, the crew may even oblige passengers with a dance number.

As the cruise comes to an end and the ship heads back to the dock, passengers are greeted by the bright and colorful lights of Harbor Square, with the cool breeze making them forget the humid day that has just passed. Many on board echo a common Filipino reaction: “Parang wala sa Pilipinas, parang nasa ibang bansa (It’s as if you’re not in the Philippines but in another country).”

But after a few moments of reflection, you realize that this is, indeed, the Philippines – you are just seeing it, and appreciating it, from a different angle, a different perspective, as if for the very first time.

Prestige Cruises Inc. offers Manila Bay Dining Cruises Mondays to Fridays with boarding times at 5:30 pm, 7:30 pm, and 9:30 pm. Boarding times on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays are 5:00 pm, 7:00 pm, 9:00 pm, and 11:00 pm. Ticket outlet and boarding area is at CCP Harbor Square, CCP Complex, in front of Starbucks. For more information, call 832-8967 or 0927-555-5502.