Sunday, December 1, 2019

Travelling to Panay Island from Batangas via RORO




One of the options to travel to Panay Island from Luzon is by travelling via RORO from Batangas City. It may not be the best option for a 10 hour trip from Batangas port for those who are sea sick, but once you reached the Caticlan Port in the Island of Panay, you will have the convenient way to reach the scenic island of Boracay.

Few years ago, I travel the same Batangas-Caticlan route with a Calapan-Roxas land trip and another ferry to Caticlan. It was a back breaking trip because I had to transfer many times along the way. 


 Starlite Ferry Schedule 



2GO Ferry Schedule

Batangas port serves several RORO destination in Visayas regions loading big cargo trucks full of local cargo and passengers buses from Cubao and Alabang terminals in Manila. 

First thing first, please check the weather before travelling. The sea can be rough if there is a bad weather. Chances are authorities may not allow the vessel to leave the port and you may get stuck waiting for the weather to clear.

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You can book and pay tickets online or you can get your tickets at the terminal. 

My wife and I manage to get a one way ticket via MV Saint Anthony de Padua, a RORO vessel to Caticlan port from Batangas ticket office and paid P 1,310.00 for a tourist economy class, one day before we travel.  Batangas port can be pretty chaotic during the long holidays and receives a deluge of travellers from Luzon to Visayas provinces.

These are the room rates and fare:

Super Value Class. Non AC. Common toilet and bath. Double deck beds.              
P 1,250.00 inclusive of 12% VAT

Tourist Class. Common toilet and bath. Double deck beds.                                       
P 1,350.00 inclusive of 12% VAT 

Cabin for 4                                                                                 
P 1,930.00 inclusive of 12% VAT

Cabin for 6                                                                                  
P 1,930.00 inclusive of 12% VAT

Suite room for 2                                                                          
P 5,111.00 inclusive of 12% VAT

For complete fare rate, booking and schedules you can access the website:
https://travel.2go.com.ph/ 

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After a thorough security checks in the terminal and paid terminal the fee, we reached the waiting area for boarding. I think everything was smooth because my wife and I chose to travel in July which is not a high season. But before boarding the vessel, men and women were asked to form a separate line for final body screen and the security personnel deployed bomb sniffing dogs. It was a little inconvenience to endure but for the security purpose it was OK.  


Double Decks beds at Tourist Sections


At Tourist Section, they give free bed linen and one pillow case for free. Just give a valid ID for deposit which you can also collect after returning the next day.  

It was a pleasant travel 10 hour overnight travel for me to Caticlan Port. First, because the weather was good, which was my utmost concern. Second, the vessel have manage the boarding of the passengers very well. 

There are many facilities available on board the vessel. There is a small chapel, a restaurant that serves wide selections of meals and drinks, a bar with live band that also serves beers and snacks and a small lobby with cafeteria where you can order coffee and snacks.  

They also serve a FREE breakfast of tuna flakes and rice. To be honest, it taste blunt. But still good to fill the empty stomach. They also serve arroz caldo and there are other hot and cold drinks available on board.

We reached Caticlan port, in the island of Panay around 8 am the next day.

And while leaving the RORO vessel, I paused and looked behind me. I saw the white beach of Boracay and smile. I walked again to go to my next destination.  

More photos:


State Rooms




on board bar with live bands on the roof deck


this is the on board Resturant


the Famous BORACAY Island

  

Tuna flakes and rice breakfast





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