Ahead of the visit of an international cruise vessel
TACLOBAN CITY – The island towns of Biri in Northern Samar province and Maripipi in Biliran province are gearing up to welcome foreign guests aboard the expedition cruise vessel, Coral Adventurer.
Coral Adventurer is set to make a port call to Biri Island on November 1 and Maripipi the following day where the passengers are eagerly anticipating to immerse themselves in the local culture and explore the popular attractions in both towns.
This cruise ship carries 74 Australian citizens, all of whom are enthusiastic about embarking on shore excursions that promise to offer enriching local interactions and cultural exchanges. These experiences are designed to make their visit truly unforgettable.
In preparation for the cruise’s arrival, local government units, in collaboration with the regional office of the Department of Tourism have conducted a series of comprehensive training sessions.
These sessions aim to ensure that everyone involved in welcoming the foreign guests is well-prepared to provide an outstanding guest experience. The focus is on adhering to stringent safety protocols and upholding the highest service standards.
Biri and Maripipi represent just two of the latest additions to the list of expedition cruise destinations in the region. Also included are Tacloban City, Babatngon in Leyte, and Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte.
DOT-8 Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes expressed her enthusiasm about expanding cruise destinations in Eastern Visayas.
“Our strong partners in the cruise industry had been asking us to identify more sites, and we are looking at more places aside from the usual ones like in Eastern Samar and Samar,” she stated.
Tiopes further highlighted that Eastern Visayas consistently receives positive feedback after each cruise call because they ensure that guests have a distinct experience in every place they visit.
“We made sure that what they experience in Biri will not be the same experience that they will have in Sambawan(in Maripipi),” Tiopes shared adding that strong support from local government units, especially in developing shore excursions, plays a crucial role in enhancing the cruise experience.
The arrival of the Coral Adventurer is expected to further bolster the tourism industry in Eastern Visayas, showcasing the region’s natural beauty and cultural richness to a global audience.
The Coral Adventurer will also explore other places in the region, visiting other breathtaking locations such as Kalanggaman Island in Palompon, Cuatro Islas straddling both in Hindang and Inopacan, all in Leyte; and Limasawa, Southern Leyte all of which have been previously frequented by excursion cruise ships.
The Coral Adventurer is one of the three expedition cruise ships operated by Coral Expeditions, a pioneering expedition cruise company based in Australia.
Launched in 2019, the Coral Adventurer is a tropical expedition ship designed to access remote coastal areas in Australia and internationally, often inaccessible to larger cruise ships.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
