Why are cruise ships docking in Vietnam, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Korea and others, when these places are no better than Manila or Cebu? This story was written by a Filipino couple who now lives in the United States. They want to share with the readers of Philippine Sentinel what they discovered as the reason why cruise ships skip Manila.
According to the husband, he and his wife take cruises regularly. They often talk to the Filipino crew whenever they take a 12-day Mediterranean cruise. The husband asked a Filipino waiter why all their Asian cruises skip Manila when they go to all the neighbouring countries of the Philippines.
He asked why Manila was not part of their itinerary. The Filipino waiter explained: “In the past, we had cruises that dock in Manila but the Customs Inspectors were very greedy so management decided to take a different route. During inspection time which happens upon arrival and departure, the Customs Inspectors, with their wives and children, board the ship to have a free meal. Before they finally give a clearance certificate for the ship to depart, they always ask for cigarettes and liquor. It is only in Manila where we experience that kind of treatment. The Filipino crew members were really embarrassed by their behaviour. We never had that kind of experience in other Asian ports.”
Most cruise ships have an average of 2,000 to 3,000 passengers.
Imagine the loss of tourism revenue for the Philippines because many cruise ships do not go to the Philippines. – ?
‘Why are cruise ships docking in Vietnam, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Korea and others, when these places are no better than Manila or Cebu?’ I’d answer this question by saying these places are way better than Manila.