M/S Europa cruise ship brings tourists to Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — The M/S Europa, an international cruise ship of the Hapag-Lloyd Cruise Company in Europe, made a port call early morning yesterday bringing in some 369 mostly foreign visitors to savor Bohol’s tourist spots.

Provincial tourism officer Jo Cabarrus, who welcomed the tourists, told The Freeman the arrival of the cruise ships boosts the province of Bohol chance of becoming the favorite international cruise ship destination in the country.

The arrival of M/S Europa that did not drop anchor offshore, unlike other cruise ships earlier due to shallow and narrow channel at the Tagbilaran Bay, was the fourth to visit Bohol this year.

Cabarrus said M/S Europa—carrying 283 crew, most of whom were Filipinos—said the cruise ship came from Boracay island and, after Bohol, will sail to Kalanggaman Island in Palompon, Leyte, and then to Coron, Palawan on its way to Hong Kong.

The visitors took at least four tour circuits Bohol is known for. Some of them were toured to the usual day’s tour—Tagbilaran-Baclayon-Loboc-Chocolate Hills.

Others toured from Tagbilaran to Corella where the tarsiers are found, while a third group took Tagbilaran to Panglao; and Tagbilaran to Abatan river nature tour in Cortes and Maribojoc towns. Others just took a hike from this port to the city proper, Cabarrus said.

Two months ago, the M/S Silver Shadow cruise shop of the Silver Sea Lines, made a port call here, carrying at least 300 foreigners who toured the Chocolate Hills, the Loboc River and the tarsiers.

An Ilonggo carpenter of the M/S Silver Shadow, said the ship had 280 crewmembers, 70 percent of them Filipinos.

The international cruise ships, such as those Hellenic and Minerva companies and L’Austal comapnies, docked here during the last three years, each bringing hundreds of foreign visitors to savor Bohol’s tourist spots.  (FREEMAN)