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Subic Bay Freeport marked a milestone as the turnaround hub for the MV Costa Serena on September 26
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245 passengers disembarked from Busan, South Korea; about 2,700 passengers boarded in Subic
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The cruise ship departed Subic en route to Keelung, Taiwan, then to Ishigaki, Japan, before concluding its voyage at the Port of Manila
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Turnaround cruises begin and end at the same port, allowing for full servicing and passenger exchanges
Subic Bay Freeport marked a milestone as the turnaround hub for the MV Costa Serena on September 26.
A total of 245 passengers from the Port of Busan, South Korea disembarked from the vessel, while about 2,700 passengers boarded for a six-day tour of Asian destinations.
The cruise ship departed Subic en route to Keelung, Taiwan, then to Ishigaki, Japan, before concluding its voyage at the Port of Manila.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman and administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño said passenger processing for the cruise turnaround was conducted at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.
“Turnaround cruises” refer to itineraries where a ship starts and ends at the same port, enabling full servicing, crew and passenger exchanges, and preparation for successive voyages. This operational model differs from repositioning cruises, which are typically one-way routes to a new homeport for a different season.
With Subic “fast becoming a cruise ship playground in Southeast Asia,” SBMA is also preparing to build a dedicated cruise terminal.
The project will be implemented in two phases: the first, estimated at P1.2 billion, will cover construction of a jetty with two berths measuring 380 meters and 350 meters, each with a depth of 12 meters.
The second phase, with an estimated cost of P9 billion, will involve reclamation works for a passenger terminal and a leisure and commercial area.
Costa Serena, part of the Costa Cruises brand, returned to the Philippines with Subic as its turnaround port, following a successful inspection conducted on April 23, 2025. Subic will serve as the embarkation point for passengers starting the cruise to Taiwan and Japan, with Manila as the final disembarkation point.
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