Floating Hotel

It is docked at the bay area at the side of the Tent City of the Manila Hotel. I don’t really remember how long it has been stationed at that area but I took notice about a year ago when I attended a conference at the Tent City.

The big ship is the Floating Hotel and Restaurant, something that graced the pages of the dailies at the time of its entry into a Philippine port. It is a large ship, actually, and I guess its charges, both for food and billeting, will be boosted by the inevitable “ambience” which is sometimes more expensive than the taste and comfort that we pay for.

When I saw it, I simply marveled in awe because there is just probably no way that I can afford its amenities on government salary. I took the photo sometime ago from the uppermost floor of the new Philippine Ports Authority building along Bonifacio Drive. The tall structure on the left is of course the Manila Hotel high rise while the low buildings on the foreground are the usual port area warehouses cum office spaces.

The floating hotel is barely visible, although the ship’s smoke stack (with black and white paint) towers above the horizon. I have no way of determining whether the ship is making any money or not, or whether it is also a casino of some sort.

Maybe it’s a good place where our shipboard bound cooks, messmen, deck and cabin stewards and even housekeeping personnel can receive hands-on training. It is possible that the ship is not permanently docked at pier side but also make short rounds at the Manila Bay especially in the late sunset hours. Such short rounds by the bay may be the best and most fitting ambience that people will be most willing to pay for.

Of course I won’t be surprised if the floating hotel and restaurant also offers short cruise trips for honeymooners. If it does maybe the wife and I can go for another honeymoon.