Ang Pahayagan

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT— The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) welcomed the first cruise ship visit to Subic Bay for 2026 as the luxury liner MS Crystal Symphony arrived early Saturday morning, March 14, signaling renewed momentum for the area’s cruise tourism industry.

SBMA employees, together with students from nearby schools, greeted the vessel upon its arrival at around 7:00 a.m. The ship, carrying 550 tourists, is owned by luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent and operated for Crystal Cruises.

After disembarking, the passengers boarded seven tour buses for visits to historical sites and shopping centers within Subic, while two additional buses transported guests to the nearby Clark Freeport Zone.

According to SBMA Tourism Department Manager Mary Jamelle Camba, at least eight international cruise ships are confirmed to visit Subic Bay this year. Two additional vessels are expected this March, followed by another two arrivals in April.

On March 26, the Spirit-class cruise ship Adora Mediterranea, operated by China-based Adora Cruises, is scheduled to arrive with a total of 3,592 passengers and crew. The ship currently sails Southeast Asian itineraries from Chinese homeports including Tianjin, Dalian, and Qingdao.

Another cruise liner, MS Amadea, owned by Amadea Shipping Company and operated under charter by Germany-based Phoenix Reisen, will arrive on March 30 with 916 persons on board. The vessel is currently on a 146-day cruise that began in Bremerhaven, Germany, bound for the Canary Islands. Its Philippine itinerary includes stops in Manila on March 31, Romblon on April 1, Coron on April 2, and Puerto Princesa on April 3.

Meanwhile, the cruise ship MV Piano Land, operated by Corazul Cruceros, is expected to dock in Subic on April 6 and April 16 with a combined total of 2,722 passengers and crew.

Another confirmed visitor is Costa Serena, operated by Italian cruise line Costa Crociere, which is scheduled to arrive in Subic on October 25.

Camba said the upcoming cruise ship visits will “add another layer of magic to life in Subic Bay” and are expected to further boost the local tourism industry.

Captain Nenad Willheim (6th from left), ship master of MV Crystal Symphony, welcomes a delegation from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) led by Director Ted Del Rosario aboard the vessel during its maiden call at Subic Bay Freeport on Saturday, March 14, 2025.

Subic launched its cruise tourism program in 2018, welcoming 37 cruise liners and more than 49,000 passengers through 2019. The program generated an estimated ₱173 million in tourism receipts for the Central Luzon region before the global pandemic halted cruise operations in 2020.