“Wow, this cruise ship is so big, Nanay!” I had to tell our son, Akira, that not all ships are for leisure like the ones he sees on Peppa Pig. But in his mind, we were on a cruise ship. We can’t blame him though as we never got bored during our 37-hour sea voyage from Manila to Bohol ‘coz there’s so much to do in 2GO Travel passenger ships.
We usually go on a backpacking trip during my 2-month school break and for this year, we decided to go around the Philippines in June via 2GO travel and then fly to Japan in July. This trip was a prelude to Akira’s first formal schooling as a Kindergartener thus, calling it the Pre-Kinder Trip 2024.
We spent 10 days in the beautiful province of Bohol but our trip back to Manila was cancelled because of some technical issues with the vessel so we needed to rebook our tickets. Unexpectedly, we got an extension of 12 days more which prompted our sudden backpacking trip in Central Visayas—Bohol, Siquijor, Dumaguete, and Cebu.
2GO M.V. ST. FRANCIS XAVIER
Boarding Process
We arrived at the Manila North Port Passenger Terminal 4 three hours before our scheduled voyage. The three of us had to pay ₱100 each for the terminal fee (2 years old and below are free of charge) before going inside the departure area.
We immediately checked in at the counter and after showing our identification cards, we were asked to immediately proceed to the ship.
Akira was stunned by how huge the ship was as we left the port terminal. He had his past experiences with passenger boats but it was his first time riding a ship and he was overwhelmed.
We approached the ship and noticed that there were several staff in a single file assisting the passengers. One of them carefully carried Akira all through the stairway. Upon arriving at the front desk, we were guided to where our accommodation was. We then told the staff that we wanted to upgrade from our current one. We were asked to wait until after all the passengers had boarded and we had to pay a certain fee for our request.
We waited after all the passengers boarded and then we were ushered to our suite room. I love how convenient it was to have an onboard upgrade from 2nd Class to 1st Class accommodation.
Suite Room
The suite was huge and our son said that we were joking when we said that it wasn’t a cruise ship. The vibe of the room was giving us a classic hotel room in the metro with its two huge double-sized beds and a long utility table that serves as a work and dining table.
There’s also a Smart TV, a mini fridge, an electric water kettle, some shelves and a wardrobe cabinet. Life vests were also stored on the topmost part of the wardrobe.
Much to our surprise, the ensuite bathroom was spacious and there was a hot and cold shower.
The room also had a huge window that faced the front of the ship, we were just one deck lower than the bridge where the captain was. Imagine our son’s excitement when we’re sailing and he got to play pretend-captain.
Akira and I tucked ourselves in the warm duvet as we were sharing our thoughts for the day’s adventure. Christian, on the other hand, checked out the goings-on at Island Fiesta where a live band was performing for free.
We slept so well that we didn’t even feel that we were cruising. I woke up at six in the morning and when I parted the curtain, I saw that we were docked in Batangas Port.
Horizon Café
All meals on a 2GO voyage are included in the fare. If you book 2nd and 3rd class accommodations, you will have meals at the Island Fiesta Restaurant. You’d know the meal schedule ‘coz a staff will announce it to the public on the PR system surrounding the ship. There’s also a time limit for you to avail your meals using your ticket as a food stub.
All our meals were served at the Horizon Café as we were billeted on what is considered a 1st class accommodation (for business and suite classes). The café had a nice view of the sea as seen from the huge glass windows.
The menu for all the meals was very different compared to what they serve in Island Fiesta. It’s also a complete meal with soup, a main course (you will be asked to choose from two dishes), dessert, and a juice drink or coffee (for breakfast meals only).
We had seven meals and almost everything was good. The quality wasn’t what I was expecting. It’s more like we’re in a wedding reception rather than a passenger ship. The gracious server even mentioned that the cooks make every meal from scratch.
We specifically loved the beef tapa, chicken curry, and the buko pandan dessert.
I noticed that they do not serve pork dishes which is understandable so as to accommodate the different dietary restrictions of some passengers.
Overall Experience
We spent 37 hours on a trip that would only take 1 hour if we chose to fly rather than sail. But we didn’t get bored at all because of so many things that you could do inside the ship.
The upper deck was perfect during sunrise and sunset. We also had the chance to get close to the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway, the longest and tallest bridge in the Philippines, during our last morning voyage.
We also got to see four ports in the country—Manila, Batangas, Cebu, and Tagbilaran—which was a great experience for our son.
The live band entertainment, comedy performance, and videoke sessions were also something we looked forward to. It was a fun experience and also a spectacle to see the great talents of Filipinos.
2GO M.V. MASAGANA
Boarding Process
The passenger port terminal in Cebu is much better in the sense that even if it’s relatively old, it functions very well compared to the one in Manila. Our son also was free of charge from the terminal fee of ₱25 which was way lower than what they charge in Manila.
There’s also a kids’ play area on the port passenger terminal where Akira played with other kids while waiting for our boarding schedule.
The boarding procedure was very strict as males and females (and kids) were separated in a queue after we got off from the provided shuttle service. Our bags were searched by police sniffer dogs while we all lined up in a single file. When everyone was searched, we were led to the escalator that brought us to the ship’s atrium.
Again, we asked the front desk officer if we could upgrade to 1st class accommodation which was granted after everyone else boarded the ship.
Business Class
Just like our previous voyage, we got in at around midnight and everyone went to their assigned rooms. We were given keys to our room and in exchange, I had to leave my identification card as a security that I would be giving back the key.
Our room had two double-decker beds each with its curtain, night light, and a small floating table. The room was also equipped with a booth seat, a small table, a TV, some shelves, and a lavatory.
Akira asked if he could occupy the lower bunk alone. We agreed, so Christian stayed on his opposite lower bunk while I stayed on the upper bunk. This was his first time to actually sleep on a separate bed as we still co-sleep with him. He was so happy that he immediately shut the curtains on his bunk bed.
Fast forward to the next morning, Akira woke up and was surprised by the sleeping arrangement for a second then jumped off from his bunk and then transferred to where Christian was. They cuddled for a few minutes when he saw me looking at them from the upper bunk.
Horizon Café
To be honest, I like the ambiance and the staff at the Horizon Café from our previous vessel. They were cheery and always ready for our requests. Although the café here was cozy, the staff were rather aloof and were always in a hurry. Plus, they were stricter here in terms of the schedule and would ask us to leave if it’s past the time. Nonetheless, the food was good and the servings were generous.
Overall Experience
M.V. Masagana is one of the two fastest and largest vessels in the 2GO fleet together with its sister ship, M.V. Maligaya. Our 22-hour sea voyage was enjoyable because the TV in our room worked well throughout the journey. We also spent some good time on the upper deck of the ship where we watched 2GO’s official mascot “Captain Shippy” perform together with several college students who just finished their onboard training.
Akira bumped his leg inside our room ‘coz he’s an active 4-year-old kid then asked if we could go to the clinic to let his leg get checked. The cheery doctor and nurse welcomed us and eagerly listened to our son as he narrated what happened. The doctor checked his leg and advised him to be careful next time. The doctor and I knew all along that it wasn’t something serious but I love how she was game with everything.
Final Thoughts
While some would say that sea travel is time-consuming, it’s actually worthwhile when you have a 4-year-old kid in tow. Letting him see and experience different types of transportation is way to cool than letting him just see it on TV. I especially loved how we experienced sunny to cloudy and rainy weather in just one afternoon, a beautiful rainbow was the prize in the end.
Post a Comment