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Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority aims to exceed pre-pandemic cruise ship arrivals with a target of 20 ships in 2025
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Confirmed arrivals for 2025 include the Blue Dream Star, scheduled to dock on April 11, May 3, and July 8, each time carrying 1,053 passengers
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Additionally, the Viva Vie Odyssey is set to arrive on September 23, bringing 924 passengers along with 370 crew members
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Silver Dawn, a luxury cruise ship by Silversea Cruises of the Royal Caribbean Group, made its maiden call on New Year’s Eve with 596 passengers and 411 crew
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority aims to exceed pre-pandemic cruise ship arrivals with a target of 20 ships in 2025, according to SBMA Port Operations senior deputy administrator Ronnie Yambao.
“As the Chairperson of the SBMA Cruise Ship Industry Committee, we are eyeing to breach the pre-pandemic level of cruise ship arrivals in Subic Bay to reach 20 in 2025,” Yambao said in a statement.
Among confirmed arrivals is the MV Blue Dream Star, which will dock on April 11, May 3, and July 8, bringing 1,053 passengers each time.
Another confirmed arrival is the Viva Vie Odyssey, set to arrive on September 23 with 924 passengers and 370 crew members, Yambao added.
On New Year’s Eve, the MV Silver Dawn, a luxury cruise ship of Silversea Cruises, made its maiden call at Subic Bay Freeport. The ship carried around 1,000 passengers and 411 crew members to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Silversea Cruises is part of the Royal Caribbean Group, an ultra-luxury and expedition travel brand based in Monaco.
In a related development, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco recently expressed confidence in Subic Bay’s cruise tourism industry during a meeting with SBMA officials and Zambales leaders at the Subic Bay Yacht Club.
Frasco emphasized the potential to expand Subic Bay’s cruise tourism through homeporting and creating dedicated cruise port initiatives.
The tourism chief’s visit to Subic Bay Freeport was part of the Philippine Experience Program for the Central Luzon region, which aims to bolster local tourism and community involvement.
She added that Zambales can enhance its billeting facilities via Mabuhay accommodations and homestays, integrate the Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection program with barangay tanods (guards) in Olongapo City for tourist safety, and promote dive tourism.
