Manila to Singapore Cruise: Boracay

In this second post of a multi-part series, Bethany explores Boracay, Philippines on her Manila to Singapore Cruise on Crystal.

Welcome to the first full day on the ship! Today’s port of call is beautiful Boracay, Philippines. Follow along as I explore Boracay.

Manila to Singapore Full Itinerary

Below is the full itinerary for the trip. This post includes details about Boracay. Looking for info on other stops? Check out the ‘Links’ section at the end of this post!

• February 23-25: Manila, Philippines
• February 26: Boracay, Philippines
• February 27: Puerto Princesa, Philippines
• February 28: At sea
• March 1: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
• March 2: Muara, Brunei
• March 3-4: At sea
• March 5-7: Singapore
• March 8: Hong Kong

A Warm Welcome to Boracay

This first full day of the cruise started with some clouds and light sprinkles, but it was a wonderful day in Boracay! This was a tender port for us, so after breakfast I took a tender to shore and got ready to start my excursion. We got such a warm and festive welcome at the tender port dock! A large group of people in colorful costumes greeted us with local song and dance. We each also got a necklace as a souvenir.

Motag Living Museum in Boracay

Today’s excursion was a fantastic visit to the Motag Living Museum. It is an interactive journey into the traditional lifestyle of the Aklanons. This open-air museum showcases the island’s rich history. Local artisans and farmers demonstrated time-honored skills and customs that remain alive in some rural areas today. We were each given a necklace and a crown made from leaves. A large group also gathered to sing us a welcome song.

Our guide took us through different areas, showcasing many different aspects of their local life. We learned how they bathe using coconuts and leaves made into a kind of soap. We also saw a large loom used to make cloth. A visit into a home let us see some of the sleeping arrangements and some of the day-to-day life. We also learned about many different herbs and plants used for various medicinal purposes.

We got to meet one of the water buffaloes up close and personal – they offered rides to people, but I politely declined! They then demonstrated how they plant and harvest rice. We got a chance to stop and enjoy a refreshing drink of fresh coconut water before continuing on the tour.

Some of the local snacks were also available for us to sample, including pop rice (similar to popcorn, but with rice) and fresh coconut. While enjoying our snacks, we also got to learn how they weave baskets and other items. The children also demonstrated a game they play with bamboo sticks on the ground.

Our wonderful tour ended with a warm and festive goodbye song, sung by the group. Everyone had big smiles as we waved goodbye to each other!

Heading Back to the Ship

After the tour ended, we made our way back to the tender dock. Another group of local performers was here to keep us entertained as we waited for the next tender ship to return.

The End of a Great Day in Boracay

My fantastic day in Boracay ended with a pretty fantastic sunset as we set sail. I was also happy to see a nice gift waiting for me in my cabin: a Crystal tote bag.

My dinner on the ship tonight was at Beefbar, a relatively new restaurant on the ship. It is a concept created in Monte Carlo, and is focused on a fusion of global street food flavors. Delicious food in an intimate setting…a perfect combination!

• Appetizer: tacos with Angus beef, tender wheat galette, avocado, Kobe beef butter, habanero
• Main course: filet mignon with Beefbar sauce (truffle sauce), homemade mashed potatoes and gravy
• Dessert: Pavlova with berries

Conclusion

My first full day on the ship was a fabulous one! We received such a warm and joyful welcome in beautiful Boracay. The excursion to the Motag Living Museum was both fun and educational. The day wrapped up with another wonderful dinner, my first time trying Beefbar.

Links

Check the main page for this cruise to read more about my adventures:

Click the button below for more information about Crystal:

Note: I fully funded this trip on my own and received no compensation or any other benefits from any service providers I used along the way. The opinions expressed here are my own and I am not being compensated by any service providers.