No more cruise ships to dock in Subic in next two months, says SBMA

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said that no more cruise ships will dock in Subic in the next two months following the spread of novel coronavirus.

“Right now there’s no need to ban them because there’s nobody coming. They have already cancelled, all the ship liners have already given us feedback that they are not coming from February until March,” said SBMA chairperson and administrator Wilma Eisma on CNN Philippines Newsroom.

The statement came after the mayor of Olongapo City appealed to SBMA to temporarily stop accepting cruise ships until the virus is contained.

Earlier, the Philippine Coast Guard cleared the World Dream Cruise Ship from Hong Kong, which carried over 700 passengers and was supposed to proceed to a trip to Zambales tonight.

Another ship declared safe, “MV Ligulao” from Lianyungang, Jiangsu in China arrived on Monday and was set to leave Tuesday afternoon.

Eisma said that the World Dream Cruise Ship will go back to Hong Kong instead after a meeting with government officials and the Genting Cruise Lines, the company that owns the said ship.

“ [The World Dream] Cruise Ship decided it would be best for everybody to go back to Hong Kong instead of heading to Subic,” she said.

There are no confirmed cases yet of the coronavirus in the country. (CNN Philippines Staff)

PHOTO:

Passengers disembarked from World Dream during the cruise ship's visit to the Subic Bay Freeport on Dec. 11. (file photo)

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/1/28/No-more-cruise-ships-until-March-SBMA-.html

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More and bigger cruise ships expected in Subic next year

More cruise ships are expected to arrive in this premier trade and tourism port next year, as the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) continues to upgrade maritime facilities to increase cruise tourism traffic.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the Subic agency has already listed 38 confirmed cruise ship arrivals and two tentative bookings next year.

On top of that, four confirmed arrivals and one tentative booking have been posted for 2021, she said.

“Beginning January next year, we shall be seeing more and bigger cruise ships in Subic. This includes MS Spectrum of the Seas, which will dock here on December 27 and then come back for another visit on January 20,” Eisma said.

“Then on February 28, its sister ship, the MS Quantum of the Seas, will be arriving in Subic,” she added.

The two ships, which are owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International (RCI), the world’s largest cruise line by revenue and second largest by passenger counts, are among the world’s largest cruise ships in operation today.

MS Spectrum of the Seas is set to arrive with 4,819 passengers, while MS Quantum of the Seas will bring in 4,905 passengers.

“These arrivals will also serve to provide additional income to the Subic community, as well as neighboring areas that cruise passengers visit upon arrival here,” Eisma said.

According to SBMA records, the 19 cruise ship visits in 2018 yielded a total of 38,205 visitors and direct revenue of P8.4 million for the SBMA Seaport Department.

This year, the 15 cruise ship arrivals from January to October generated 38,985 visitors and an income of P8.07 million for SBMA Seaport.

Eisma pointed out that the actual income earned by all the tourism players in Subic and neighboring communities would be bigger since this would include money earned by tour buses and taxis, entertainment groups, restaurants and shops, tiangge vendors, theme parks and resorts, as well as malls in Subic and nearby areas.

Eisma said the SBMA aims to generate more cruise ship traffic by retrofitting the Alava, Bravo, and Rivera wharves in the Subic Freeport to accommodate more arrivals.

“We’re also upgrading the Subic Bay International Airport to attract passengers who may opt for the sea-air connection available in Subic,” she said.

Eisma said that another measure the SBMA would look into is the issuance of implementing rules and regulations for Executive Order 72, which governs the admission and stay of foreign nationals in Subic as temporary visitors.

The latest cruise ship to arrive in Subic was MS World Dream, which arrived on December 11.

World Dream, which has a capacity of 3,376 passengers, was designed for the Asian cruise market and is now operated by the Dream Cruises line of the global entertainment and leisure firm Genting Hong Kong. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

Passengers of World Dream buy local food products and souvenir shirts at kiosks set up by local traders near the Alava Wharf in the Subic Bay Freeport on Dec. 11.

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LOOK: MV World Dream arrives in Subic Bay

The cruise ship MV World Dream prepares to dock at the Alava Wharf for its maiden port call in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone on Wednesday morning (June 06).

Street dancers in native Ayta costume perform as they welcome the arrival of the cruise ship MV World Dream, which made its maiden port call in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone on Wednesday morning (June 06).

Passengers disembark from the cruise ship MV World Dream, which made its maiden port call in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone on Wednesday morning (June 06).

Passengers from the cruise ship MV World Dream pose for photographs with dancers in native Ayta costume following their arrival in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone on Wednesday morning (June 06).

Captain Jan Blomqvist of MV World Dream welcomes on board the cruise ship SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma following its maiden port call in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone on Wednesday morning (June 06).

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma hands over a memento to Captain Jan Blomqvist of MV World Dream following the arrival of the cruise ship for its maiden port call in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone on Wednesday morning (June 06).

/AMD/MPD-SBMA

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