Sailing MV Mary the Queen

MBRS

We (Edith and I) planned going to Romblon Province after Christmas but the travel came 2 days earlier due to the ship's schedule. Yes, we traveled by water so we could experience the ride in a huge ship. I inquired about the trips and had our Manila to Odiongan reservation via phone. We thought we would not be able to make it to Pier 8 North Harbor where the MBRS cruise line was docked or so I thought due to the traffic jam along our way. We were received by the trained K9 dog of the harbor when we arrived there. The personnel conducted body check while luggage were examined by the police dog. Numerous people from all ages with their baggage mound to where they stood were already eagerly waiting for the ship which was yet to arrive. Our 5 o'clock trip was postponed to 8 o'clock but the ship finally arrived at 10 in the evening. It took an hour for docking and then 2 hours of refilling water, cleaning and boarding all the passengers.

MBRS ticket

We got in the ship and looked for our beds. The ship left Manila around 1 in the morning a day before Christmas. The ride was not smooth and it was not like what we thought. We found a bed and had a chat with our "neighbor" before we hurriedly went up to discover the inside of the ship. We came to a deck where there were a lot of good empty rooms. Those were cabins which were under repair. Their second class accommodation was almost the same with their economy class. Both class had air conditioner, double deck beds with foam.

K9 and its master checking the passengers baggage

BRS Ship is "new" according to our co passengers who like us were loitering at the upper deck. It  once belonged to Valencia, Spain and bought by the said shipping lines. The former name was Ciudad De Valencia. It was said that this line is owned by one of the prominent government official of Romblon.Below is an information about the vessel.

Name: Ciudad De valencia

IMO: 7915802

VESSEL TYPE: FERRY
FLAG: SPAIN
PORT OF REGISTRY: VALENCIA
STATUS: IN SERVICE
COMPANY: TRASMEDITERRANEA / ACCIONA TRASMEDITERRANEA
(OWNED UNTIL 2009)
BUILDER: UNION NAVAL LEVANTE VALENCIA - SPAIN
YEAR: 1984
GROSS TONNAGE (GT): 11513
LENGHT (m): 138,3
BREADTH (m): 20,5
DRAUGHT (m): 5,6
SPEED (kn): 21
POWER (kW): 13093
PASSENGERS: 982
LANE METRES: 480
NEW NAME: MARY THE QUEEN
SISTER SHIPS: CANGURO CABO SAN JORGE / CIUDAD DE BADAJOZ /
CIUDAD DE SEVILLA / CIUDAD DE SALAMANCA / DONATELLA
DABUNDO

Weekly sailing schedule were as follows:

1. Manila Monday 5PM - Arrive Romblon 3AM Wednesday
2. Romblon 4AM Wednesday - Arrive Cajidiocan 7AM Wednesday
3. Cajidocan 8AM Wednesday - Arrive Masbate 12 Noon Wednesday Masbate 10AM Thursday - Arrive Cajidocan 2PM Thursday
4. Cajidocan 3PM Thursday - Arrive Romblon 6PM Thursday
5. Romblon 7PM Thursday - Arrive Manila 5AM Friday
6. Manila 5PM Friday - Arrive Odiongan 3AM Saturday
7. Odiongan 4AM Saturday -- Arrive caticlan 6:30AM Saturday
8. Caticlan 8AM Saturday - Arrive Masbate 4PM Saturday
9. Masbate 2AM Sunday - Arrive Caticlan 10AM Sunday
10. Caticlan 12 Noon Sunday - Arrive Odiongan 2:30PM Sunday
11. Odiongan 5PM Sunday - Arrive Manila 3AM Monday

Fare from Manila to Odiongan was Php425 for students, Php 525 for regular passengers. We added P100.00 each for Odiongan to Caticlan.

We spent 14 hours sailing and were almost in Odiongan port when our ship stopped because according to the management, there was another ship docked on the port and it was impossible to come in. Good thing we decided earlier not to stop in Odiongan as we planned due to the delay of our departure and the long time we spent in the vessel. We abruptly changed our itinerary and eyed Boracay as our first destination so we decided to stop in Caticlan. Nearly 2 hours passed yet nothing happened. Passengers who were looking forward to spend their Noche Buena with their family were getting irritated already. Loved ones who were at the port waiting were also mad and bombard the management with questions. A ranting lady passenger, who could not stand the delay and who also related the event to her marine captain engineer in another country,  went to the management's office and dared the officer. There was a violent disturbance but paved the way for the fleet to move.

It was past 9 in the evening when we reached Caticlan.

air conditioned economy room