Subic Bay Freeport – This premier Freeport has stepped up its services as it marked a significant milestone in the cruise ship industry, becoming the turnaround hub for the MV Costa Serena cruise ship on September 26, 2025.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño shared that the processing of passengers for the cruise turnaround was conducted at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC).
245 passengers from the Port of Busan, South Korea, disembarked the MV Costa Serena while some 2,700 passengers boarded the cruise ship for a six-day tour to other Asian countries.
The ship departed the Port of Subic Bay, en route to Keelung, Taiwan, followed by Ishigaki, Japan, ending its six-day journey at the Port of Manila.
“Turnaround cruises” refers to the practice where a cruise ship’s itinerary starts and ends in the same port, typically a major city like Miami or Rome, allowing for passenger and crew changes, and ship servicing before the next group boards.
These “turnaround ports” facilitate a continuous cycle of voyages, as opposed to repositioning cruises, which are one-way trips that move ships to a new homeport for a different season, often resulting in more sea days and unique itineraries. (Malou Dungog)
