Subic Bay Freeport – The MV Silver Dawn, a luxury cruise ship by Silversea Cruises, made its maiden call at this premier Freeport today (December 31) carrying around 1,000 passenger tourists.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño shared that the Silversea Cruises is part of the prestigious Royal Caribbean Group, and is an ultra-luxury and expedition travel brand based in Monaco.
“This is the maiden visit of the MV Silver Dawn to the Port of Subic. We can expect that 596 passengers, as well as 411 crew members of the ship, will spend their New Year’s Eve here,” he said, hoping that the people of Subic Bay Freeport will welcome them during their stay here.
SBMA Port Operations Senior Deputy Administrator Ronnie Yambao said, “As the Chairperson of the SBMA Cruise Ship Industry Committee, we are eyeing to breach the pre-pandemic level of cruise ship arrivals in Subic Bay to reach 20 in 2025.”
He added that the MV Blue Dream Star, among many other cruise ships that have confirmed its arrival in 2025, will be here on April 11, May 3 and July 8 and bring 1,053 passengers on board.
“Next is the Viva Vie Odyssey on September 23. The ship will bring in 924 passengers at double occupancy, along with 370 crew members,” he added.
Meanwhile, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco recently expressed her confidence in the cruise tourism industry of the Subic Bay Freeport zone.
During a meeting with the SBMA and other officials from Zambales at the Subic Bay Yacht Club, Frascosaid that Subic Bay’s cruise tourism can be expanded to include homeporting and creating dedicated cruise port initiatives.
Frasco was in Subic Bay Freeport as part of the Philippine Experience Program (PEP) Central Luzon leg.
She added that Zambales can develop their billeting facilities via the Mabuhay accommodations and homestays, integrating Tourist-Oriented Police enforcers for the Community Order and Protection (TOPCOP) program with barangay tanods in Olongapo City to ensure tourist safety, and promote dive tourism.
