Travelling Phillipines

Hi foks!

Looking for some advice re: travelling the Philippines.

I'm travelling with one friend (meeting one there) between 6th and 20th of March. We're flying to and from Manila but plan to visit Cebu City, Bantayan Island and El Nido. Our dilemma is (despite my one of friends insisting it would be better to fly) that we would quite like to get some ferries.

I've heard VERY mixed reviews on Philippines ferries but basically we would be happy to ferry to Cebu, from Cebu to El Nido and then ferry back to Manila. But from experience would this waste too much time? We're happy to get maybe a flight back from Palawan if needed but just curious as to what the views etc. are like on the ferries and if there's chance to stop off on small islands?

Thank you!! :)

Yes in the limited time you have it would waste too much time. There's no ferry between Cebu and Palawan anyway.

Ah is there not? That's no trouble then, I think as it is we're going to get a ferry from Manila and make our way to El Nido and then get a flight over to Cebu! :) Thanks!

It's not like taking a bus where they leave once an hour. Ferries take 24 hours to get there from Manila and there's only i think one ferry a week. These vessels are not like the QE2. They don't have swimming pools, cinemas, and deck tennis courts. The food and drinks are a rip off, there's nothing to see except occasionally another ship or maybe dolphins but you might see them in the hour ferry from Hagnaya to Bantayan.

Just fly.

Out of curiosity, which companies are fairly reliable for ferries between Manila and Palawan? Found 2Go as the main one and a company called 'SuperFerry' is it?

Well we're aware that it's nothing frilly or designed for fun but we're not keen on getting so many flights to be honest, we're going to fly to Cebu from Manila but would rather get the boat from Manila to Palawan really! :)

While we're on the subject of boats to Palawan, LP says there were plans to start a RORO ferry from Mindoro to Coron (below). Did that ever happen? Does anyone have the details ? thanks

(I'm not taking a car - just figure that a big vessel would be more stable than the bangkas from San Jose in windy March).

Quote
> BORACAY TO PALAWAN VIA MINDORO?
> Plans were still being formulated at the time of research, but all signs pointed to a Mindoro–Coron (Palawan) RORO (roll-on, roll-off) route opening by 2015 or 2016....San José and Bulalacao are both in the mix for this new route. Bulalacao has a new RORO terminal and was negotiating with FastCat to launch direct daily trips to Coron Town. San José, for its part, was set to open a new RORO terminal at its Caminawit Port and hopes are that Coron will be one of the first routes served when it opens. The race is on.

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