By Jennifer P. Rendon
Boracay Island is set to welcome thousands of cruise ship passengers in 2025, with at least 17 arrivals expected, nearly double the nine recorded in 2024.
Malay, Aklan Mayor Frolibar Bautista announced on Thursday that five cruise ships are scheduled to arrive in January and February, followed by four in March.
“We also have bookings in September and December, and we expect the number to rise as the year progresses,” Bautista said.
The MV Norwegian Spirit was the last cruise ship to dock in Boracay in 2024, arriving on December 28 for its third visit of the year. It carried around 2,405 passengers and hundreds of crew members.
Bautista emphasized that the increase in cruise arrivals solidifies Boracay’s status as a top destination for cruise ships.
The Malay Boracay Tourism Office, in coordination with the Aklan provincial government, has been preparing for the influx of cruise passengers.
“We aim to provide a world-class experience. Even though their stay is brief, our goal is to encourage them to return with their families and friends,” Bautista said.
To accommodate the growing number of visitors, the local government has inspected island facilities and deployed security agencies to key areas to ensure tourist safety and comfort.
The anchor area for cruise ships has also been adjusted from 2 nautical kilometers to less than 1 kilometer from the jetty port, making access more convenient.
Recently, the local government conducted two sessions of the “Collaborative Approach: Boracay Cruise Ship Safety and Emergency Response Seminar.”
Key stakeholders, including members of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC), tourism frontliners, local authorities, cruise ship coordinators, and emergency responders, participated in the training.
The seminar covered topics such as:
- PCG Water Cluster Security Guidelines,
- Emergency Preparedness and Response Protocols,
- Trauma First Aid,
- Drowning Response, and
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
“Our priority is to ensure the safety and security of everyone visiting our world-famous island, especially cruise ship passengers,” Bautista said.
He assured that the local government would continue to adapt and improve to meet the evolving demands of Boracay’s growing tourism sector.
