Maritime
Royal Caribbean International’s cruise ship Ovation of the Seas
Credits : royalcaribbean.com
Asia’s Largest Cruise Ship
Ovation Of The Seas Makes
Double Maiden Call At Subic
Bay and Manila
R
oyal Caribbean International’s cruise ship Ovation
of the Seas, which is Asia’s largest and most
revolutionary, arrived at Subic Bay for the first
time today, June 8. She will also be making her
maiden call at Manila tomorrow, June 9. This is
the largest ever cruise ship to call at any Filipino
port, and with the highest number of guests
onboard totalling close to 4,600 from around the world. She is
currently on a 5-night cruise from Hong Kong.
To celebrate the maiden call at Subic Bay, a traditional plaque
exchange ceremony was held onboard between Ovation of
the Seas’ Captain Flemming Nielsen and local officials namely
Atty. Wilma Eisma, Chairman and Administrator of Subic Bay
Metropolitan Authority and Mr Roberto Alabado III, Assistant
Secretary of Department of Tourism. Senator Richard "Dick"
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Gordon and Ms Ma. Cristina Garcia, Vice Governor of Bataan
were present at the event as well.
The same ceremony will also be held to celebrate the ship’s
maiden call in Manila, with Captain Nielsen and Mr Mancile
Francisquiel, Port Manager of Philippine Ports Authority, Mr
Pocholo Joselito Paragas, Chief Operating Officer of Tourism
Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) –
Department of Tourism, and Atty. Solfia Arboladura, Director
of Manila Tourism and Cultural Affairs Bureau who will present
the “key to the City of Manila.”
At 347m long, 168,666 gross registered tonnes, and filled
with first-at sea features and technologies, Ovation of the Seas
is the largest cruise ship to enter the Philippines. She has a
total capacity of 4,905 guests staying in 2,091 staterooms and
hosted by 1,500 crew.