SUBIC BAY FREEPORT–After a successful maiden call at the Port of Subic last month, Italian flag cruise ship Costa Atlantica returned on Tuesday with its 2,500 passengers and crews.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairperson and administrator Wilma Eisma said the arrival of Costa Atlantica manifests their capability to handle cruise ships in Subic.
“We are dreaming of becoming the next cruise ship playground in Asia, and hopefully this will spark our dream to become part of the inter-island itinerary of the international cruise ships,” Eisma said.
Buses lined up at the Alava Pier that will transport passenger-tourists to various destinations in the Freeport, including Ayta indigenous park Pamulaklakin, Ocean Adventure and Zoobic Safari.
Some of the passengers preferred to walk through the Boardwalk Area of the Freeport’s Central Business District while others opted to look for and buy souvenir items at Olongapo City Public Market.
Dedicated to Italian movie director named Federico Fellini, the 85,619-ton, 292.56-meter cruise ship Costa Atlantica has 11 passenger decks (each named after Fellini’s movies) elegantly adorned with Italian-inspired decors of arts and furniture that render its passengers in awe of wonderful arts, lights and scenery day and night.
A review of being aboard MS Costa Atlantica described it as a “thrilling new experience, with interiors that are designed to amaze: like La Dolce Vita Atrium, a sumptuous, majestic lounge with three panoramic lifts that take you up towards the dazzling glass roof, the balconies looking out over the sea and the waterfalls on the staircase in Madama Butterfly Square, Spectacular settings where you can be the star of your own film every day”.
The unmistakable hand of Italian artist Milo Manara decorates Costa Atlantica’s interior with his illustrations adorning the decks and depicting famous scenes from Fellini’s works.
For this month, Costa Atlantica will be returning to Subic for the third time on March 20.
Meanwhile, other cruise ships have confirmed their arrival up to 2019.
Set to dock by the end of March are the MV Glory of the Sea, a 1,000-passenger six-deck cruise ship and Superstar Gemini with 2,500 passengers and crews on board. (PNA)
