Saturday, April 04, 2009

7,107 Islands Cruise (Manila-Subic-Corregidor-Manila)

When my friend/colleague offered to bring me along to a maiden cruise of this specific route, my heart leaped. Wow! A cruise! Here in the Philippines? That was the first time I’ve heard of it. I learned that there is this new company called 7,107 Islands Cruise which offers sea travel and tourism to those interested to try out this mode of transportation to famous spots in the Philippines. 

I checked its website, my calendar and asked myself, am I ready to take another sea trip? The last time I was on a ship I got so dizzy I told myself that would be the last time. But the word "cruise" has magic in it. There is a promise of rest, recreation and most important, discovery. So I said yes and two days after, off we boarded the ship at Pier 6 (North Harbor)
There was nothing spectacular about the exterior of the ship but once I got inside, there was something different. The reception area (I forgot the ship term!) was full of warmth and welcoming air. Certainly this originated from the courteous manners and warm smiles of the crew. Their wonderful service from the start to finish was impeccable. 

We had a small tour of all the decks, dining rooms, swimming and massage areas, video room, etc. And the best surprise? I got a room all to myself at the Promenade , complete with TV and ref (though I did not use them), with a view of the sea. 

The entertainment was really great especially the first night. While the ship cruised Manila Bay, the crooning voices of Jun Pulistico and Andy Costello serenated our ears. The Music Ventures band did great renderings of famous songs. The second night was also special since Marco Sison brought us back to the past with his beautiful songs. 

The food was delicious though the desserts need a bit of improvement. I won't forget the tasty lamb and juicy shrimps. We ate to our heart's content. The bartender patiently explained the drinks in his drink menu. 

Watching the sea and sky was a balm to the confused soul of my friend and a renewal for my drained mind. The cruise was peaceful, bringing us the needed respite for a few days.

Trips require discoveries and adventures to be complete and unforgettable. In Subic, we took the hop on-hop off bus and saw the choices available to us: Ocean world, Zoobic Safari, etc. We opted for the something new, a communion with the forest. Then in Corregidor, I retraced the trip I did a few years ago and remembered the valor and sacrifice of men and women who gave their lives for our country. 

The cruise was not perfectly perfect. There is some things that need to be improved. Like coordination of the day tours, being on time, name tags for the food being offered, a little brochure that would have made everything more clear. I salute though those who had the courage and the will to open the cruise traffic in our country. The Philippines as an archipelago deserves to be discovered through the sea. Thank you for offering us this possibility. This is something that must be experienced once in a lifetime. 

Me? I plan to have another one! Maybe Coron in Palawan?

For more information, visit www.7107islandscruise.net

For more pictures: visit here.

1 comment:

MelB said...

Jen, thanks for sharing your pics. They are awesome. What a great trip you went on. I love visiting historic sites. Are you moving this blog to the other site?

Lion Chaser Manifesto

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away.

Chase the lion.

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