DAVAO CITY – Leading passenger ship and ferry operator 2GO Travel will launch a Manila-Siargao route on Oct. 20.

The vessel Saint Francis Xavier, which can carry 1,900 passengers, will have a weekly trip. It will depart Manila every Monday and arrive in Siargao the next day.

Fares for the 28-hour voyage will range from PHP2,000 for super mega value accommodation.

“We have a very big ship and a welcome dance will greet the passengers to showcase the hospitality and warmth of the Filipinos,” Francis Chua, the firm’s business unit head, said in an interview Tuesday.

Ship amenities include a salon and spa, dining halls, a café, souvenir stalls, nightly live band, karaoke rooms, an arcade, and a clinic.

“It’s like we are on an international cruise ship. World-class and would give comfort to our sea travelers,” Chua said.

He said 2GO Travel is working with the Philippine Ports Authority, Maritime Industry Authority and the Philippine Coast Guard to identify more potential routes.

“For now, we are focused on the Manila-Siargao route,” Chua said. (PNA)