The Department of Tourism (DOT) has welcomed the pioneering visit of a cruise ship in Samar as it puts the province on the country’s cruise expedition map.

The arrival of Heritage Adventurer of Heritage Expeditions Ltd. In the Samar Island Natural Park on Monday marks Samar province’s inclusion in the increasing areas of cruise destinations in Eastern Visayas, DOT Eastern Visayas Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said Tuesday.

“This cruise visit opened the door to Samar being part of the expedition cruise product portfolio of Eastern Visayas,” she told the Philippine News Agency.

This is also the first time for Heritage Adventurer, a Portuguese-registered cruise ship, to make a port of call in Eastern Visayas. Most of the guests are from Australia, New Zealand, France, and other European countries.

The 130 guests explored the Paranas Eco-Trail within the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) headquarters for bird watching and trekking and visited a two-hectare privately owned arboretum with several tree species planted by the owner in Paranas town and the Kandiwata Rock Formation in the island town of Daram for leisure activities.

Guests also enjoyed various delicacies and authentic dishes made by Samar heritage cooks through the “Secret Kitchens of Samar” initiative.

“We consider this one for the books as it marks the first-ever expedition cruise shore excursion in the province of Samar,” Tiopes said.

The DOT regional chief said that in coordination with the Samar provincial government, they are conceptualizing and developing additional shore excursion activities and destinations in the province.

Samar is the only area in Eastern Visayas visited by the cruise ship. Prior to arriving in the region, the ship made a stop at Caramoan Island in Camarines Sur. The ship was scheduled to visit Bohol Tuesday.

In the past years, cruise ships have been visiting Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, and Northern Samar provinces. (PNA)