Boracay Island Closed to Tourism, Cruise Lines Make Itinerary Changes

   April 14, 2018 ,   Cruise Industry

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.

Port of Boracay Island (Philippines)

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.