Royal Caribbean diverted its Ovation of the Seas, from Boracay port visit as the Philippines Government closed the island to tourism. A number of cruise lines have taken avoiding action after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the closure due to pollution problems.
- Ovation of the Seas will call at Manila on June 8 and at Nha Trang on October 16.
- RSSC-Regent Seven Seas cancelled the call of Seven Seas Voyager at Borcacay on April 3 and will probably do the same with Oceania Insignia that is scheduled to visit the island on April 18 while on a 35-night Far East & Coral Seas itinerary Tianjin to Sydney.
- Seabourn is currently reviewing the situation with the Sojourn ship due to call at Boracay on April 20 while on a 72-night North Africa & Pacific Realm itinerary Cape Town to Hong Kong.
The “tropical idyll in Southeast Asia”, Boracay has been plagued by sewage problems which transformed its blue waters into “cesspool.” This prompted Philippines President to close the island for 6 months starting on April 26.
18 ocean cruise ships carrying more than 50,000 passengers are scheduled to visit the island in 2018, according to Philippines Department of Tourism.
The shutdown is to provide extended period to clean up Boracay and surrounding seas.