In less than a week, two cruise ships visit Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY , Philippines —  The M/S Minerva cruise ship of Swan-Hellenic Company docked in this city port early morning of Friday, the second international vessel that sailed into the island in less than a week, following Wednesday’s arrival of M/S Europa of Hapag-Lloyd Cruise Company.

The two cruise liners brought in many foreign tourists who savored the natural and cultural heritage of Bohol during a day-guided tour in the province’s spots.

Melina Torralba Bullecer, manager of the BHT Bohol Holidays Travel and Tours, and tour operator Lourdes Sultan said Bohol is now considered as international cruise ship destination in the Philippines.

M/S Minerva had 293 tourists, Bullecer said, adding that Bohol is now the ship’s second port call after Manila before it will sail off to Sendakan, Malaysia.

As usual, the visitors on board ten tourist buses and vans, with tour guides, dropped by the Tarsier Sanctuary, the Looc River Cruise, the Panglao’s white beaches and the Chocolate Hills.

Bohol is now deemed the favorite destination of M/S Minerva, its latest visit of which was the fourth, after coming here in 2013, 2005 and 2003, Bullecer said.

Last Wednesday, the M/S Europa sailed from Manila and Boracay and dropped anchor offshore Tagbilaran due to shallow waters and narrow channel. It brought more than 300 foreign passengers, mostly Germans, according to Sultan.

M/S Europa is manned by more than 150 crew, mostly Filipinos. Its visit was the third time in Bohol, the first of which was last year, on January 11 and then on March 18.

The cruise ship used its “tender boats” to ferry its passengers to the port where seven buses and several vans were waiting to carry them to various tourist’s destinations in the province.  (FREEMAN)