Mayor Arthur Celeste Welcomes Foreign Tourists at Hundred Islands National Park

City officials led by Mayor Arthur Celeste welcomed on Wednesday the luxury cruise ship MS Seabourn Sojourn for another stopover in the world-famous Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) here.

The cruise ship has 445 passengers, mostly Europeans and Americans, on board. It is manned by 318 crewmen.

Most of the passengers and crewmen disembarked from the ship and took advantage of the HINP’s pristine waters for a few hours by swimming, sunbathing as well as strolling in some of the islets.

MS Seabourn Sojourn is one of the most luxurious cruising vessels of the world with a passenger capacity of 450 seats.

Google search showed it is a ship flying the Bahamas flag.

The ship has a large, two-deck spa capacity of over 11,000 square feet, two outdoor swimming pools, and six outdoor whirlpool spas.

It also houses four restaurants and six bars and cafes having a seating capacity for over 800 diners though the vessel carries just 450.

With Mayor Celeste in welcoming the ship passengers and crew members were City Administrator Dr. Emielou E. Gellado, City Councilor Carolyn Dizon-Sison and some department heads.

The welcome reception by city officials to the guest was made at the Quezon Island, the biggest and most developed islands in the Hundred Islands group where students of the Alaminos City National High School showcased their talents in mesmerizing special presentations.

City Councilor Carolyn Sison-Dizon handed eKawayan plaques to the captain and crew of MS Seabourn Sojourn for the cruise ship’s frequent visit to the HINP, in behalf of Mayor Celeste.

Others who welcomed the visitors were former City Councilor Jan Marionne Fontelera, representatives of the Department of Tourism (DOT) regional office I and the reigning Miss Hundred Islands Apple Joy Bacay.

M/S Seabourn Sojourn is set to come back sometime in March this year. (PNA)LAP/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA