The Ro-Ro Experience: From Dalahican Pier to Balanacan Port and Vice Versa

Port of Lucena at Dalahican

Last year, the summer of 2013, was the first time that hubby and I got to ride a Ro-Ro vessel when we went to Oriental Mindoro. A year later, on the same month of May, we got to experience riding again a Ro-Ro vessel, this time bound to Mogpog, Marinduque.

From Manila, we rode a bus bound to Dalahican Pier in Lucena City. Our travel time took three hours and thirty minutes. It was an interesting ride, especially around the town of Sariaya, Quezon, where there are lots of ancestral houses. We arrived at DalahicanPier at about 11:45 in the afternoon. Fortunately, the line at the Montenegro vessel window was not long. After we purchased our ticket, we went to embark on the Montenegro vessel. It’s our second time to ride a Montenegro Ro-Ro vessel; the first time was when we went to Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro last year.

Montenegro Ro-Ro vessel

Our ride to Balanacan Port in Mogpog, Marinduque is very smooth. Personally, I prefer riding a vessel during summer time, as I am confident that the waves are not that strong. Montenegro has air-conditioned sitting areas and open air areas. We sat at the third floor of the vessel and enjoyed the sea breeze.

Hubby aboard Montenegro vessel

Just a few things that I’ve noticed… The comfort room is not that clean. There are no tissues available. It literally has the look and feel of a public comfort room. I also have comments as to the food available at the snack bar. There are junk foods, soft drinks and bottled water for sale. But since it’s a three-hour trip, I was expecting that there would be hot meals available. However, the only hot meals available are cup noodles, overpriced at 50 pesos each.

We were able to course through Tayabas Bay smoothly. It was almost 3:oo p.m. when I first got a glimpse of the island of Marinduque. As we come nearer, I could not help but gasp at the breathtaking sights. It felt like an island hopping tour, but on a big vessel instead of a small boat or ferry.

We arrived at the Balanacan Port at about 3:30 in the afternoon. We were not able to disembark immediately because we took the opportunity to take pictures of the picturesque Balanacan Port and the gigantic statue of “Ina ng Biglang Awa“.

The next day, we left the Balanacan Port at about 2:30 in the afternoon. This time, we rode the Starhorse Ro-Ro vessel, which is smaller than the Montenegro vessel, but definitely much conscious about the comfort of the passengers.

The Starhorse vessel which we rode looks like this one.

We rode at the topmost floor and found ourselves seated comfortably at the monoblock chairs that are slightly inclined so that it’s easier to sleep and relax. We sat on the last row, near the railings. We got to enjoy the view and that feeling as if you’re in a hammock, with the sea gently swaying the vessel.

Rodeo Bar

The comfort room of Starhorse vessel is air-conditioned. Tissue papers are readily available inside the comfort room. Near the comfort room at the second floor, you will see the Rodeo Bar, where you can buy snacks and hang out at the bar stools.

There is also an air-conditioned area inside the vessel, which looks much elegant and comfortable than the air-conditioned area of Montenegro vessel. Next time we plan to try the air-conditioned area.

Another thing that I like about Starhorse vessel is the open deck area. 🙂 The view of the blue-green waters of Tayabas Bay, the looming Mt. Banahaw, and the sunset boosted my open-deck experience.

You can see the navigators here. 🙂

Selfie

Once out at the open deck, you will feel compelled to take a selfie, with the aquamarine waters and blue sky as your background. It really is an exceptional experience to be out on open deck and to see and feel the vessel sailing smoothly, with the silhouette of the mountain outlined from afar, and the sunlight softly caressing your skin. 🙂

And from where I stood, I could not help but keep taking pictures…

 

The sun, the sky, and the sea.

Beautiful, isn’t it?

These are the views that can only be seen when aboard a vessel. An advantage of a longer journey, than a quick airplane ride. 🙂

Aboard Montenegro Lines and 2Go Vessel: The Batangas City-Calapan City Experience

It was my first time to ride a Roll-on, Roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel. Way back in 2004, I have experienced riding a passenger vessel bound to Aklan with my law school friends. We had a good time because the ship has so many amenities, including a mini-theater. Riding a Ro-Ro vessel is different experience, as you would experience a laid-back pace of  the vessel, since it’s carrying not just passengers but huge vehicles as well.

My hubby and I were bound to Calapan City to attend the wedding of the brother of one of my law school best friends. We asked around what’s the best mode to go to Calapan City. A friend said that if we wanted a quicker travel period, then we should ride the 2Go vessel (formerly Supercat). And that if we wanted a slow, leisurely travel, then we should try a Ro-Ro vessel. And so we decided to try both: To ride the Ro-Ro vessel on our way to Calapan City, and to ride the 2Go vessel on our way back to Batangas City.

So this was taken at the Batangas City Port, when we were about to board the Montenegro Lines.

At the Batangas City Port

I highly recommend riding the Montenegro Lines vessel, as compared to the other Ro-Ro vessels docketed on the area. This is not just based on our experience, but also from the recommendation of our Mindoro-based friends. The vessel has an air-conditioned area where the passengers can lie around, sleep, watch television. The other area is open air, where there are also seats for those who wanted to enjoy the view all throughout the travel time, which is approximately three (3) hours. We also climbed the open deck for a better view. 🙂

Afternoon travel

Overall, we had pleasant experience riding the Montenegro Lines vessel. We experienced what we are aiming for: to have a long leisurely trip and to enjoy the view. 🙂 But for me, the best view is when we arrived at the Calapan City Port. This is the view that greeted us.

Calapan City Port

On our way back to Batangas City, we opted to ride the 2Go vessel, since it’s already late afternoon and we would love a quicker travel period. It’s not my first time to ride the 2Go vessel. It was formerly named Supercat, and I got a chance to ride a Supercat vessel bound to Bataan way back in 2010. Sadly, the Bataan-bound Supercat vessels were no longer in operation. 😦

It was already late afternoon, and I was anticipating a quicker travel period going back to Batangas City. The shot below was taken by my husband when the 2Go vessel (which we will be riding) was arriving at the port. The ticket for the 2Go vessel is much more expensive, but there were snacks offered during the trip. We were also each provided with our own lifejacket. Since the 2Go vessel is smaller than a Ro-Ro vessel, the ride is not that smooth. In fact, since it’s already late afternoon, we experienced being tossed by the waves during our initial journey. However, somewhere in the middle of the trip, the waves calmed down. But I could not forget how tough it was going to the rest room. I almost lost my balance. It was such an adventure. 🙂 The advantage of riding the 2Go vessel is the shorter travel period from Calapan City to Batangas City, which is for merely an hour. Plus, it was like riding an airplane, since there are snacks provided and friendly vessel attendants.

Weekend Journey at Oriental Mindoro, Overnight at Benilda ng Bancuro Resort

Oriental Mindoro, the rice granary of Southern Luzon.

It’s not my first time to visit the island of Mindoro since I managed to be a beach bum at Puerto Galera way back in 2003. But the trip to Calapan City early this May is a first for me and hubby. We visited one of my closest friends in law school together with other law school buddies.

There are two ways of reaching Calapan City from the Batangas City port. First, via 2Go passenger ship (formerly Supercat), which is an hour ride from the Batangas City. Second mode is via Montenegro Lines (or other “Ro-Ro” Roll On, Roll Off ship), the travel time of which ranges from two to three hours.

We opted for the second mode, which is via Montenegro Lines. We want the open-deck experience. And you would not regret the longer travel time for views like these:

Upon arrival at the Port of Calapan, this is the sight that will greet you.

We were fetched from the port by our “ninong sa kasal”. 🙂 We got to see more of the city on our way to their house.

From Calapan City, our caravan went to Naujan, Oriental Mindoro where the Benilda ng Bancuro Resort is located—which is the venue for the wedding of my friend’s brother.

The municipality of Naujan is almost an hour away from Calapan City. The Benilda ng Bancuro Resort is one of the major tourist attractions in the said municipality. At the entrance of the resort, you will see this.

You will also see this at the front, beside the resort. This is allegedly the home of the owner of Benilda ng Bancuro.

This delightful resort boasts of ornate woodworks, a huge (glowing) pool, huge statues, and Spanish-inspired structures and accommodation houses.

Refreshing to swim on the glowing pool

Spanish-style

The wise monkeys

 

As they say, if you are getting sick of the sun, sand and crowded beachfront, then try a weekend at Benilda Resort in Brgy. Nancuro, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. You get lots of space to think, relax and dwell upon things. And night swimming at the “glowing” pool is as refreshing as spritzing on your favorite citrus cologne.

On our way back to Batangas city, we tried the 2Go passenger vessel for a quicker travel time.

It’s like riding an airplane, with ship attendants giving out snacks during the trip, and the waves creating some “turbulence”. 😀