Manila cruise port to break ground soon

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August 10, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The P5-billion Manila terminal for cruise vessels is close to breaking ground, with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) eyeing to firm up a lease agreement before the year ends.

The PPA is close to signing with the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) the 25-year lease, extendable by 25 years, for the property where it plans to build the cruise terminal.

PPA general manager Jay Santiago said his agency is negotiating the terms of the lease with the PRA, but the objective is to reach an agreement within the year.

“We have ongoing discussions on the terms of the lease with the PRA. We will definitely pursue the project, but have yet to sign the lease contract,” Santiago told The STAR.

“It will be partly usufruct, partly commercial lease, with a lease term of 25 years and renewable for another 25 years. We intend to sign the lease and, hopefully, break ground before the end of the year,” he added.

The project, costing P5 billion, seeks to make Manila a home port for cruise vessels, as the PPA wants to contribute to increasing tourist arrivals.

The terminal will be situated at the end of Aseana Avenue in Entertainment City, only 10 minutes away from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

In this location, tourists will find it convenient to book their cruise trips from the Philippines, as the terminal is located near NAIA, making flying in and out easier.

The terminal will also sit beside Solaire Resort Entertainment City and SMDC Festival Grounds, and will be adjacent to hotel-and-casino giants City of Dreams Manila and Okada Manila. It will also be encircled by condominiums that used to house employees of Philippine offshore gaming operators.

Based on preliminary designs, the terminal can handle up to four vessels at the same time. Ships will also be given a navigational channel of as wide as one kilometer and as far as 15 kilometers for safety compliance.

The PRA, for its part, is expected to limit approvals for future reclamation activities with respect to the navigational requirements of cruise vessels.

The terminal draws inspiration from Hong Kong’s Ocean Terminal, housing an all-in-one complex for dining, rest and recreation and shopping.

The Philippines, in general, is working on building up its name as a cruise destination, following wins as Asia’s Best Cruise Destination in 2023 and Best Port of Call in 2024.

Based on PPA data, the country welcomed 226,247 visitors from cruise trips in 2025, up by half from 2024’s 150,903. For 2026, the Philippines has so far docked arrivals from cruise giants such as Adora Cruises, Astro Ocean Cruises, Crystal Cruises and MSC Cruises.

The PPA is building a cruise terminal in Manila to improve travel experience. Cruise guests are presently received through Pier 15, where the Philippine Coast Guard also parks its assets.

In Luzon, the agency manages other projects capable of handling cruise arrivals such as the Ports of Currimao in Ilocos Norte, Salomague in Ilocos Sur and Coron and Puerto Princesa.

The PPA is also developing new cruise terminals to support future demand, including the Port of Alegria in Aklan, Port of Catagbacan in Bohol and Port of Balbagon in Camiguin.

In March, the Department of Tourism convened the first high-level meeting for cruise travel, as it outlined efforts to boost arrivals, such as infrastructure buildup and visa waivers.