Airplanes will get us there faster but ships are still the best way to travel in an island-archipelago like the Philippines. This was one good lesson I learned during my last Cebu trip. In a province like mine which has no airport, fast ferries were a boon and took me to my destination in no time at all.
Fast ferries are “twin-hulled catamarans measuring an average of 35 to 45 meters in length and cruising at speeds of up to 34 knots (63 kilometers per hour).” They’re deemed to be better than your ordinary ship because they cut travel time by more than 50 per cent. Not to mention the fact that they’re affordable and offer great services and amenities such as full airconditioning, TV viewing and comfortable seats.
In the Visayas, ferries like Supercat, Weesam Express and Oceanjet take travellers from Cebu to other sought-after ports of entry like Tagbilaran, Bohol; Dumaguete; Iloilo; Bacolod; Siquijor; and Ormoc, Leyte, among others. Coming from our remote place in Southern Leyte, I caught the bus to Bato, Leyte where a Kinswell ferry took me in barely three hours to Cebu, just in time for me to catch my afternoon flight to Manila.
The good thing about these ferry connections is that the islands and tourist spots are now more accessible than ever.
And the increasing competition can only mean greater blessings to consumers as shipping companies outdo each other in laying out irresistible travel offers.
Negros Navigation, for instance, now docks directly in Caticlan where the world-famous island of Boracay is located. It also goes head to head with Superferry in offering the Coron, palawan cruise package.
Supercat also launched recently its one hour Batangas-Calapan, Calapan-Batangas route which are convenient jump-off points for Puerto Galera and the RORO going to Boracay.
Things can only get better for travellers. Biyahe na! (Let’s all go on a trip)
wow astig to ah. thanks for the tip
Just reading your blog today make me miss the Visayas just a bit more… but you failed to mention how safe it all is :-).. And the Coron Palawan trip sounds like something I just have to do as soon as possible.
interesting just-but please confirm you are not blogging for profit
Do drop by again, Paolo:)
I would like to think it’s relatively safe Pascal. Lots of foreigners in these areas too. Haven’t been to Coron myself.
Blogging for love and for content Vi. The profits are incidental 😀
Very informative! I’m gonna take your advise here and try to travel by sea for a change. I think mababa na rin ang rates nila ngayon compared sa planes pag pumatong na yung surcharges and taxes
Hey there Ajay! I wanted to let you know about something real exciting called Nostalgia Manila Free TV! Watch full-length DVD quality videos of some of your favorite shows! I think you\’d love this episode of The Smurfs! Check it out!
Been there, done that! But not the catamaran actually. We took a cruise to Iloilo first, then Bacolod, then on to Cebu. I’ve taken the supercat, too, enroute to Mindoro. Ayos nga.
YOu kow what I’ve always dreamed of? Having a cruise probably from Miami to the Bahamas! Or Europe! Hay naku! If only I have the means.
yay! you’re back. your site was down for sometime, yea?
Hi Ferdz. Sometimes it’s better to travel by sea..the view is much nicer out there:)
Thanks NM..sige, i-check ko! and congrats for having that feature…
Hi Tito Rolly. Pa-simple ka pa..ang dami mo nga byahe eh, hehe..
Hey Vina.. didn’t notice my site was down for sometime (??!!) haven’t been online much. Blame teh web host!:)