Manila to Singapore Cruise: Manila
In this first post of a multi-part series, Bethany explores Manila, Philippines on her Manila to Singapore Cruise on Crystal.
Welcome to the start of my amazing Manila to Singapore cruise on Crystal! After a loooooooong journey to get from Tampa to Manila, I spent some time exploring Manila before embarking on the Crystal Symphony. Follow along as I explore Manila.
Manila to Singapore Full Itinerary
Below is the full itinerary for the trip. This post includes details about Manila. 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
Making My Way To Manila
I set off on Friday, February 21 for my 3-leg, 28-hour journey from Tampa to Manila. My first flight took me from Tampa to Los Angeles.
Flight #2 was the longest of the three…a 16-hour flight from Los Angeles to Hong Kong. Thank goodness for a roomy and comfortable United Polaris (business class) seat, which made the flight a bit more bearable. I then arrived into Hong Kong and had a bit of time to stretch my legs and walk around the beautiful airport.
My third and final flight, the shortest of the three, was a quick 2.5 hour flight from Hong Kong to Manila. I then arrived into Manila safe and sound the morning of February 23. I cleared immigration and customs pretty quickly, and met my driver. After getting to my hotel in Manila, I enjoyed a nice hot shower and caught up on some much-needed sleep.
First Morning In Manila
I enjoyed a leisurely start to my first full day in Manila. I found a large shopping mall, Lucky Chinatown, close to my hotel. It was a quick walk to the mall and, once there, I did some window shopping. Both my hotel and the mall are in Binondo, the city’s Chinatown. It is the oldest Chinatown in the world, established in 1594!
Best of Manila Tour
I had a wonderful overview of Manila on my afternoon ‘Best of Manila’ tour. My guide, Margareth, gave me a great tour showcasing some of the local highlights in Manila.
Flower Market and La Loma Lechon
The first stop of the tour was to see the large flower market. The flower market is several blocks full of stalls selling fresh and dried flowers. We then went to La Loma Lechon, the most popular place to buy whole roasted pig (lechon). Lechon are popular at parties and special occasions here in Manila. I got to sample a few items here, including roasted pig served with a liver sauce (which was actually very delicious!) and fried pig intestines served with a tangy vinegar sauce.
Chinese Cemetery
The next stop on the tour was the Chinese Cemetery. This is the second-oldest cemetery in Manila. While here, we first visited the beautiful Chinese temple. Then, we walked through the cemetery with its many large and elaborate mausoleums.
San Augustin Church and Casa Manila
My tour then took me to Intramuros, the walled heart of the city. The San Augustin Church was our first stop here. It is gorgeous both inside and outside.
Once outside of the church, my guide and I stopped for a quick snack. The mango sorbet was delicious! From San Augustin Church we walked across the street to Casa Manila. This is a section of traditional architecture.
Manila Cathedral
We then walked over to the Manila Cathedral. They were having a wedding here so we were a bit delayed getting inside, but once inside I got to enjoy the beautiful interiors.
Fort Santiago
The next stop of the tour was Fort Santiago. It was very interesting to explore this historic fort in the middle of the bustling city.
Rizal Park
The final stop of the tour was Rizal Park, a large park near the waterfront. I got my first official ‘Capture the Flag’ selfie of the trip here! Rizal Park celebrates the national hero (Dr. Jose Rizal), and there is a memorial at his execution site here in the park. He was killed by firing squad by the Spanish colonial government for the crime of rebellion after the Philippine Revolution broke out. This revolution was inspired by his writings.
Embarkation Day
The following day was finally embarkation day! It was wonderful to step back onboard the gorgeous Crystal Symphony. This is the same ship I sailed on in September 2023, from Istanbul to Venice. Embarkation was quick and easy, and I was soon on the ship with a welcome glass of champagne. I enjoyed the views of Manila, including Rizal Park that I visited the day prior. The Bistro was the perfect spot for a nice snack.
Cabin Overview
I was able to get settled into my cabin in the afternoon. I stayed in a solo Oceanview cabin on this cruise. It is a roomy and well-designed cabin on Deck 7 forward. The large windows overlook the wraparound promenade deck.
Dinner at Waterside
I wrapped up my first day on the ship with a delightful first dinner in the main dining room, Waterside. We set sail around 7pm this evening while I was enjoying dinner. I also had some delicious handmade chocolate truffles waiting for me back in my cabin.
- Appetizer: seared Wagyu beef crudo with mashed potatoes and horseradish cream
- Soup: chicken consommé with chicken confit ravioli
- Main course: pink-roasted veal rib eye with pumpkin puree, couscous, broccolini, thyme jus
- Dessert: apple and honey trifle (cinnamon Panna Cotta, caramelized apple, spiced apple bread, whipped cream)
Conclusion
My Manila to Singapore cruise started off well. The journey from Tampa to Manila was long but uneventful. Once in Manila, I had an opportunity to explore a bit of the city on my own and on a guided tour. Then embarkation day arrived, and I was delighted to be back onboard the Crystal Symphony.
Links
Check the main page for this cruise to read more about my adventures:
Click the button below for more information about Crystal:
