PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — This city is poised for a bustling year in tourism as 19 cruise ships are expected to arrive at its port, the local tourism office said.

The first cruise ship, MS Noordam, arrived on 7 January, while the second, AIDAstella, arrived today, 12 January.

Puerto Princesa City Tourism Officer Demetrio Alvior Jr. said this weekend that MS Noordam carried 1,916 passengers and 800 crew. Aidastella, on the other hand, has a capacity of 2,700 passengers and 620 crew.

The arrival of MS Noordam and Aidastella will be followed by two additional vessels on 15 and 28 January. More ships are scheduled to arrive in February, March, April, and continue through December.

“These figure excludes the crew members. Over 2,000 tourists are expected to visit as early as the second week of January,” Alvior said.

“The numbers fluctuate. Initially, we expected 23 ships, then 18, and now 19. Weather conditions often dictate changes in schedules,” Alvior added, emphasizing that Puerto Princesa remains a top choice for cruise liners.

Michie Meneses-Hitosis, representing the City Tourism Department (CTD), meanwhile explained that the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) ensures no cruise ship is turned away. However, when simultaneous arrivals occur, management must decide whether to proceed.

“Some management teams opt to skip Puerto Princesa due to port capacity challenges,” Meneses-Hitosis said, explaining that limited space at the port seems to affect the city's cruise ship arrival numbers.

To address this, Alvior highlighted the city government’s commitment to enhancing the cruise port.

Planned developments include the construction of a convention center designed to host major national and international events, ensuring Puerto Princesa remains a premier cruise destination.