The Norwegian Spirit, a cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), made its maiden call at the Port of Currimao in Ilocos Norte on December 25, arriving from Taipei, Taiwan. The ship brought over 2,000 passengers and 887 crew members to the port.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) highlighted that the arrival of cruise ships in various parts of the country this year signals a vibrant cruise tourism industry that could bring lasting benefits to all. The DOT is expecting 109 calls in 46 destinations nationwide, with other confirmed schedules extending to 2027.
In 2023, more than 100 cruise calls across multiple destinations were recorded, showing increasing industry confidence in the country’s capabilities. The MV Norwegian Jewel made its call at the Currimao port in February 2024, bringing over 2,300 passengers and 1,100 crew members.
Norwegian Cruise Line offers freestyle cruising, providing more choices of activities and the freedom to enjoy them at your own pace. “Unpack once and journey from port to remarkable port on a fleet of award-winning ships. Enjoy exclusive entertainment. Dine as a family, with friends, or savor a romantic dinner for two. Make your holiday your own,” NCL noted.
NCL emphasized that their cruises include a wide range of accommodations, delicious dining options, award-winning entertainment, exciting onboard activities, a variety of stateroom amenities, and more.
Starlink, providing fast internet service at sea, is now available on Norwegian Spirit. Using advanced low earth orbit satellites, SpaceX’s Starlink delivers industry-leading broadband internet connectivity, improving the capacity, speed, and reliability of internet on board.
On October 31, 2024, the MV Coral Geographer Cruise Ship, carrying 40 guests, mostly Australians, made a call at Higatangan Island in Biliran province.
Launched in March 2021, Coral Geographer is the newest addition to Coral Expeditions’ fleet, designed to access remote wilderness shores around the world that are often inaccessible to large cruise vessels.
