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Philippine ferries: inter-island routes, fares and schedules
Most island crossings are run by a handful of companies. OceanJet runs the fast craft from Cebu to Bohol, Siquijor and Dumaguete; FastCat and Lite Ferries run roll-on roll-off ferries that also carry cars; Starlite Ferries sails overnight from Cebu to Surigao; and 2GO runs the long-distance ships from Manila. OceanJet allows 10 kg of baggage in its cheapest class, and the Coast Guard suspends sailings when a tropical cyclone wind signal is raised.
Which ferry company sails each island route
Cebu to Bohol. OceanJet sails Cebu City to Tagbilaran twelve times a day, about two hours, ₱960 in Tourist or Open Air and ₱1,440 in Business from 21 September 2026. FastCat and Lite Ferries sail to Tubigon on Bohol's north-west coast, day and night, for under ₱550, and carry vehicles, and Lite Ferries runs a slower boat to Tagbilaran every night at 22:00, with a midday sailing on three days a week.
North of Cebu. Ferries cross from Hagnaya and Medellin to Bantayan Island in 45 minutes to an hour and a half.
Cebu to Siquijor and Dumaguete. No fast craft sails direct, but Lite Ferries' slow boat leaves Cebu at 13:00 for Larena on Siquijor on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, due at 23:00. OceanJet connects through Tagbilaran: 13:00 from Cebu reaches Siquijor at 17:40, and 08:20 reaches Dumaguete at 15:00. Overland, buses run to Liloan in Santander, where Maayo Shipping crosses to Sibulan near Dumaguete nine times a day in 20 to 30 minutes. From Oslob, Super Shuttle Ferry crosses to Larena on Siquijor in about two hours.
Cebu towards Siargao. Starlite Ferries leaves Cebu's Pier 3 every night at 21:00 for Surigao, about ten hours; its newest ship, MV Starlite Gratitude, went on the Surigao run in July 2026. It also sells a 09:00 day sailing, due in Surigao at 19:00, on its own booking site. OceanJet also sells a daytime fast craft from Cebu to Surigao, 07:00 to 12:30. Fastcraft from Evaristo and Sons, Romans Road and others then cross from Surigao City to Dapa port on Siargao in an hour and a half to two hours.
Manila. 2GO boards at the North Port Passenger Terminal, Pier 4, Manila North Harbor. Its schedule, updated in January 2026, has MV 2GO Masigla to Puerto Princesa and MV Francis Xavier to Coron on Fridays at 17:30, and MV St. Francis Xavier to Siargao on Mondays at 18:30, due the next night at 23:30. The ticket includes the terminal fee. Since September 2026 2GO also sells boat, bus and van as one booking on a few routes, Manila to El Nido and Manila to Caticlan among them, under the name TraveLink.
Palawan. Montenegro Shipping Lines crosses El Nido to Coron in about three and a half hours from El Nido Ferry Terminal, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays in November 2026. Jomalia Shipping is not on sale online.
Boracay. Public ferries and speedboats cross from Caticlan jetty port to Cagban port in 3 to 15 minutes, after a terminal fee, an environmental fee and the boat fare, moving to Tabon and Tambisaan when the southwest monsoon makes the western side rough. In 2026 they moved back to Caticlan and Cagban at noon on 12 September.
Batangas. OceanJet stopped all its Batangas–Calapan sailings from 16 September 2026, but the crossing to Mindoro is still busy. FastCat's own current schedule has six departures a day from Batangas, at 01:00, 03:00, 07:00, 13:00, 15:00 and 21:00, and six back from Calapan, two hours across. Its rate page lists ₱755 Economy, ₱831 Premium Economy and ₱915 Business, and ₱461 for a bicycle. Go by FastCat's own schedule: some online listings show departures it does not run. SuperCat was sold online at 09:30, 13:30 and 17:30 for ₱828 for November 2026. Buses from Manila to Batangas Pier run from Buendia, Cubao and PITX.
Batangas to Boracay by sea. Lite Shipping put MV Lite Ferry Twenty on Batangas–Caticlan in August 2026. Its own booking system had no Caticlan–Batangas sailing on sale for mid-November 2026.
Ferry baggage allowance, fuel surcharges and weather suspensions
Weather suspensions come from the Coast Guard, not the operator. Throughout 2026 the Philippine Coast Guard has suspended sea travel in affected areas once a Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is raised, sometimes for all vessels and sometimes for vessels of 250 gross tons or less. Check the Coast Guard advisory for your area on the morning you sail.
Fuel surcharges moved fares during 2026. MARINA raised the cap on fuel-related surcharges from 20 to 30 percent on 30 March 2026. OceanJet cut its surcharge from 10 July 2026, then added a new 10 percent on all its routes from 21 September, which it calls temporary. Island Star Express added ₱35 to ₱50 a passenger on the Boracay transfer from 20 March 2026. A fare printed before any of those dates may be out by a wide margin in either direction.
Baggage. On OceanJet, since 6 February 2026, Tourist and Open Air tickets include 10 kg and Business 20 kg, trolley and collapsible bags must be checked in, and excess is charged per kilo.
No ticket, no boarding. MARINA and the Coast Guard do not let anyone on a passenger ship without a ticket and a name on the passenger manifest, and MARINA reminded passengers of the rule in September 2026. Buy before you reach the gangway, and make sure the name on the ticket matches your ID. Senior citizen, PWD and student discounts are applied when the ticket is issued, so show the ID then.
The pier is on the ticket. In Cebu City, OceanJet lists its office at Pier 4, Lite Ferries sails to Tubigon from Pier 3 and to Tagbilaran from Pier 1, 2026 listings put FastCat at Pier 2, and Starlite sails from Pier 3. An office address is not a berth.
Zamboanga to Sandakan: the ferry to Malaysia
Aleson Shipping Lines posted sailings between Zamboanga and Sandakan in Sabah on its MV Antonia in January 2026. A fare listing updated in September 2026 shows the route with a cabin fare of ₱5,000 and a crossing of about 16 hours, but marks it as not currently running. Contact Aleson Shipping before planning around it.
Philippine ferry companies in operation
| Operator | Where it runs | Status |
|---|---|---|
| OceanJet | Fast craft across the Visayas, serving Bacolod, Batangas, Calapan, Cebu, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Larena, Ormoc, Siquijor and Tagbilaran. Cebu-Tagbilaran is the busiest of its crossings. | Running |
| 2GO Travel | Manila, Cebu and Mindanao overnight liners, Batangas hub | Running |
| Montenegro Lines | Batangas to Mindoro RORO; El Nido to Coron | Running |
| FastCat | RORO catamarans including Bohol and Camiguin | Running |
| Lite Ferries | Cebu, Bohol, Camotes and Mindanao | Running |
| SuperCat | Cebu-based fast craft | Running |
| Starlite Ferries | Roll-on roll-off ferries: Batangas to Caticlan, and Cebu to Surigao overnight from Cebu Pier 3 at 21:00. | Running |
| Jomalia Shipping | El Nido to Coron fast craft (MV Maica 10, from 1 October 2026) and Danao to Camotes. | Running |
Ferry routes with full schedules
Philippine ferry FAQ: baggage, weather, fares
Which ferry company is best from Cebu to Bohol?
For speed and frequency, OceanJet to Tagbilaran: twelve sailings a day, about two hours, ₱960. For a lower fare, a later night boat or a car, FastCat or Lite Ferries to Tubigon, under ₱550, or Lite Ferries' four-hour boat to Tagbilaran from ₱520.
How much luggage can I bring on a Philippine ferry?
It depends on the company. OceanJet includes 10 kg in Tourist and Open Air and 20 kg in Business, and trolley bags must be checked in. On other lines, check the allowance when you book.
Are ferries cancelled in bad weather?
Yes. The Philippine Coast Guard suspends sea travel in an area once a Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is raised, for all vessels or for smaller ones of 250 gross tons or less, whatever the operator's timetable says.
Why did the ferry fare change?
Fuel surcharges. MARINA raised the cap on fuel surcharges to 30 percent on 30 March 2026, and operators have adjusted since: OceanJet cut its surcharge from 10 July 2026 and added a temporary 10 percent from 21 September 2026.
Where does 2GO leave from in Manila?
The North Port Passenger Terminal at Pier 4, Manila North Harbor. The terminal fee is included in 2GO's ticket.
Can I take a car on a ferry in the Philippines?
Yes, on roll-on roll-off ferries such as FastCat and Lite Ferries. OceanJet's fast craft carry passengers only.
Is there a ferry from the Philippines to Malaysia?
Aleson Shipping Lines has sailed Zamboanga to Sandakan, with sailings posted in January 2026, but a September 2026 listing marks the route as not currently running. Confirm with Aleson before planning a trip on it.
Is there a ferry from El Nido to Coron every day?
Not in the low season. Jomalia Shipping has not been on sale online since 7 October 2026, and for November 2026 Montenegro was selling seats on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays only. Check your own date.
Ferry operators and agencies cited
