SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Italian-flagged cruise ship Costa Atlantica arrived in Subic Bay Freeport on Feb 10 bringing more than 2,000 passengers, mostly Chinese, to the Freeport.
Costa Atlantica’s visit is the first of some 15 cruise ship visits expected in this Freeport for the year.
“Subic’s time to become the next cruise ship playground of Asia has already begun” said Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma who, along with SBMA officials and members of the Board, led the community in welcoming the cruise ship at the Alava Pier.
“We are very excited,” Eisma said. “I hope that this will spark our dream of making Subic a part of the inter-island itinerary of international cruise ships.”
Costa Atlantica is an 85,619-ton, 292.56-meter Spirit-class cruise ship owned and operated by Costa Crociere (Costa Cruises), an Italian cruise line based in Genoa, Italy and owned by Carnival Corporation & Plc.
Eisma had earlier announced the arrival in Subic of the Royal Caribbean cruise ship MS Ovation of the Seas in June, to be followed by the Voyager of the Seas in August.
Eisma said the Subic Bay Freeport promises to offer the best tourism facilities and services for tourists from the arriving ships, with memorable and tailored-tourism experiences to meet the expectation of visitors.
The Costa Cruises brand currently operates 15 cruise ships that provide cruise holidays in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean, Indian Ocean, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and South America.
Costa Atlantica is renowned for having all of its decks named after movies of Italian movie director Federico Fellini. Each deck is adorned with Italian-inspired decors of arts and furniture.
