Ovation of the Seas makes maiden calls in Subic Bay and Manila

Royal Caribbean International’s Ovation of the Seas made a double maiden call in the ports of Subic Bay and Manilla in the Philippines on 9-10 of June.

The 347-metre-long Ovation of the Seas, which has a guest capacity of 4,905, is now the largest ship to have ever called at any Filipino port.

To celebrate the maiden call at Subic Bay, Ovation of the Seas’ captain Flemming Nielsen exchanged commemorative plaques with local officials Atty Wilma Eisma, chairman and administrator of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, and Roberto Alabado III, assistant secretary of the Department of Tourism.

A similar ceremony was also held to mark the ship’s maiden call in Manila, where Nielsen was presented with the key to the city by Mancile Francisquiel, port manager of Philippine Ports Authority; Pocholo Joselito Paragas, chief operating officer of Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, Department of Tourism.

While in Subic Bay, guests were able to take shore excursions to various attractions, including the river valleys, Puning Hot Spring and the antique and replicated mansions from the Spanish colonial-era.

Meanwhile in Manila, guests were able to visit Taal Lake and Volcano and a pineapple plantation on the Tagaytay Tour. They were also able to go on a Manila City Tour to see Roman Catholic and Spanish-colonial era landmarks, including Basilica Manila Cathedral, San Agustin Church and museum, and the centuries-old ‘The Walled City’ that consists of fortified walls, church ruins and relics from Spain’s Conquistadores.