CRUISE ship SH Minerva of Swan Hellenic Cruises dropped anchor, about half a mile off Baclayon municipal port at almost 8a.m. May 5, 2026, bringing some 93 passengers of different nationals.
The cruise vessel has a total of 113 crew, about 60 of them are Filipinos, according to an Italian crew member, Margarita.
The visitors, who were ferried from the vessel over ten times to the port by their rubber boats, were welcomed by the town and provincial tour officials led by provincial Tourism Officer Joanne M. Pinat at the pier.
The visitors expected to tour the usual tourism route of Bohol — The Tarsier habitat, Loboc river cruising and to Rajah Sikatuna natural park scaling up to the Chocolate Hills in Carmen town. After their day tour, they were scheduled to be back at the ship.
The cruise ship came from Indonesia, to Bohol and to other destinations before Japan, Manila-based tour operator Benjie Bernal told Boholana tour operator Lourdes Sultan.
Before heading to Japan, the cruise ship will have a side trip to Leyte, Marinduque, Romblon, Manila then to Batanes along the way.
Bohol has been and still is the cruise ship destination even during the pre-COVID-19 pandemic. (Ric Obedencio)
