TACLOBAN CITY—The Australian cruise liner Coral Adventure is on an epic island hopping into Philippine history in Eastern Visayas, marked by port calls in the island towns of Biri and Capul in Northern Samar.
Biri boasts of iconic rock formations that never fail to captivate local and foreign tourists, while Capul is famous for its Galleon port that dates back to the pre-Spanish colonization of the Philippines.
In fact, the name Capul is reputedly a shortened version of Acapulco Capul in eternal commemoration of its importance during the Manila-Acapulco Galleon trade in the 1600s.
During their visit to Biri, the 73 Australian tourists who came on board the Coral Adventure had the “opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the Danggitan Village,” the regional tourism office said.
“They were truly captivated by the engaging stories surrounding San Bernardino Strait from World War II, shared with them at the Beach Camp,” it added.
After weighing anchor at Biri and Capul, the cruise liner’s next itinerary covers are Sambawan Island and Maripipi (Biliran), Babatngon and Tacloban City, Himulkilan Island, Inopacan and Canigao Island, Matalom (Leyte).
“Two weeks from now, it’s Limasawa and Padre Burgos (Southern Leyte), and Palompon (Leyte),” said Karen Tiopes, director of the Department of Tourism (DOT)-Eastern Visayas.
“We must be doing something good that cruise tour operators and ship cruise directors trust us to develop and deliver the right kind shore excursion experience,” Tiopes noted.
Meanwhile, the Northern Samar Provincial Tourism Office said the cruise call of the Coral Adventure off Biri’s iconic rock formations on November 1 “has sparked excitement.”
“This unique voyage to Biri Island harkens back to the island’s glorious past, which was frequented by foreign navigators. Romano del Rosario, DOT trainer and onboard Coral Adventure attending to the needs of 73 Australian tourists, has hailed this cruise call as the first of its kind in Biri,” it said.
“The Coral Adventure’s next stop within the day is the historic Galleon port of Capul in Northern Samar, marking the fourth visit to the historic town as the cruise call continues to attract visitors to the captivating Northern Samar seascape,” it added.
According to the provincial tourism office, the locals “took great joy in showcasing the Filipino brand of hospitality, with each conversation beginning and ending with the heartfelt greeting, ‘Mabuhay.’”
The cruise visit in Northern Samar was arranged in advance by Tiopes and Northern Samar’s Tourism chief, Ma. Josette Doctor, together with the local government of Biri, headed by Mayor Amelita delos Reyes, Biri tourism officer Vicky Mabutin, and other stakeholders.
“The successful cruise call of the Coral Adventure is poised to have another round in the near future. Their meticulous planning and coordination ensured that the cruise call provided a seamless and unforgettable experience for the Australian tourists,” the provincial tourism office added.
Earlier this year, luxury cruise ship Silver Shadow, with 330 guests on board, also visited Palompon’s famed Kalanggaman Island, as Eastern Visayas was included among the top local and international destinations recommended by travel experts for “revenge travel” in the post-pandemic period.