Manila to Cebu — fly or take the overnight ferry?
Tempted by the 2GO overnight ferry to save a hotel night, but is it actually worth the time?
Philippines travel Q&A
Tempted by the 2GO overnight ferry to save a hotel night, but is it actually worth the time?
Be honest with yourself about time. The 2GO ferry is roughly a 22-hour journey, fares from around P2,800 up to P8,000+ for a suite, meals included — fun once for the experience and the sunrise arrival. But a flight is about 1h20 and budget fares (Cebu Pacific, AirAsia) often land near P1,800-3,000 if booked ahead. Most people fly. Take the ferry only if the slow boat IS the trip. Compare on /ferry-vs-flight.
Took the 2GO once for the novelty — bring snacks, a power bank and earplugs, the karaoke goes late. Seas can get rough and sailings sometimes get cancelled in typhoon season (roughly Jul-Oct), so don't ferry it if you have a tight connection.