b’
‘
If the Pacific is the world’s greatest ocean, then the Philippines is one of its best-kept secrets. However, you’re not going to see much of a country comprising 7,641 islands on a road trip. Any serious tour of the Philippines will inevitably involve a sailing of some kind.
You can choose to weather the ferry system, or you can opt for something a little more opulent. From traditional sailing vessels that mirror centuries-old Filipino maritime culture, to state-of-the-art expedition ships equipped for deep-sea exploration, there’s a Philippines cruise to suit every traveller.
The dry season, from May to November, offers the calmest seas and clearest skies – though even in the wet season, downpours are short and the islands green. Avoid the typhoon season from July to November (two powerful, back-to-back typhoons struck within one week in November), but don’t shun the Philippines, for the archipelago depends on tourism.
Here are six of the best ways to discover these truly remarkable islands.
Find by cruise type:
Best for hotel-style luxury
Hong Kong to Bali
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Luminara is the latest addition to the Ritz-Carlton’s yacht collection – Edgardo Contreras
Key stops: Salomague, El Nido, Busuanga, Boracay and Cebu (Philippines), Komodo, Lombok and Bali (Indonesia)
Departure port: Hong Kong
Duration: 12 nights
Ship: Luminara
The route south from Hong Kong slips into one of the Philippines’ lesser-trodden sequences: Salomague’s coast, El Nido’s karst forests, Busuanga’s ship-wreck lagoons, Boracay’s white sand. It’s then onward via Cebu to Indonesia’s highlights of Komodo dragons and the Gili reef system, before easing into Bali.
Luminara, the latest in a trio of Ritz-Carlton superyachts, is a stunning ship. In fact, it’s so sleek, you feel as if you’ve taken root at a rather exclusive Mediterranean resort where the view is constantly changing.
Days unfold slowly: coffee on deck, snorkelling over coral reefs, cocktails in the observation lounge as the sun slides beneath the sea. It’s less a cruise than a 12-night floating house party with much better service.
Insider tip
Book a mid-ship terrace suite for the smoothest sailing and make time for the marina platform – you can kayak or paddleboard straight from the stern into the turquoise shallows.
How to do it
A 12-night Hong Kong to Bali cruise departing on January 3, 2027, costs from £18,400pp for a terrace suite. Includes premium drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities. Excludes flights.
Best for marine wildlife
Raja Ampat and the Philippines: The Last Paradise on Earth
Swan Hellenic
SH Minerva is an expedition ship, meaning it can get close to remote atolls
Key stops: Ayu Atoll, Pulau Penemu, Pulau Fam and Pulau Mansuar (Indonesia), Casulian Island, Bohol, the Cuatro Islas, Romblon Island, Marinduque and Manila (Philippines)
Departure port: Sorong for Papua (Indonesia)
Duration: 11 nights
Ship: SH Minerva
Both the Philippines and Indonesia are stunning, and every beautiful island within their archipelago is unique. So how do you decide? With Swan Hellenic, you don’t have to. The Last Paradise on Earth combines two of the most biodiverse marine regions on Earth – Indonesia’s Raja Ampat and the Philippines’ portion of the coral triangle.
And not just from a distance: SH Minerva’s ice-class hull and advanced positioning system allow it access to remote atolls and hidden lagoons that are off-limits to larger vessels.
There are more than 1,500 species of fish and 500 species of coral in Indonesia’s Raja Ampat alone. In the Philippines, known for its coral sanctuaries, you’ll come across whale sharks and manta rays. On board, there are Zodiacs for close-up wildlife encounters and a dive centre for certified divers.
Insider tip
Bring an underwater camera – the marine life encounters on this cruise are once-in-a-lifetime. The manta ray cleaning stations in Misool are one highlight among many.
How to do it
An 11-night Raja Ampat and Philippines cruise departing on April 28, 2026, costs from £7,700pp for an oceanview stateroom. Includes excursions, lectures, Wi-Fi and gratuities. Excludes flights.
Best for multi-generational families
South Asian Adventure
Crystal Cruises
Crystal Serenity has plenty of facilities and amenities, along with top-of-the-line service to keep everyone happy – Tom Griffiths
Key stops: Ko Kut (Thailand), Phú Quốc and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Muara (Brunei), Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia), Boracay, Manila (Philippines), Hong Kong
Departure port: Laem Chabang for Bangkok (Thailand)
Duration: 13 nights
Ship: Crystal Serenity
Crystal Serenity manages to keep everyone in the family happy: multiple dining venues, a spa, golf driving nets, an exceptional kids’ club, and just enough formality to make it feel special without ever feeling stuffy. The ship feels more like an elegant small resort than a floating hotel – all light-filled lounges, spacious suites and an easy, contemporary glamour.
The route threads through South-East Asia: leaving Bangkok, pausing on Thailand’s lush Ko Kut, slipping via Vietnam and Brunei, spending a day amid rainforests at Kota Kinabalu, then exploring the Philippines’ breathtaking Boracay and Manila’s old-world bustle before arriving in Hong Kong.
Insider tip
Book the ship’s shore excursion to the Puerto Princesa Underground River, where you’ll glide through an awe-inspiring cave system filled with dramatic limestone formations.
How to do it
A 10-night South Asian Adventure departing on April 10, 2027, costs from £6,700pp for a double guest room with ocean view. Includes all meals, selected drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities. Children under 12 cruise free when sharing with two adults. Excludes flights.
Best for getting off the beaten track
Asian Island Odyssey
Heritage Expeditions
Heritage Expeditions reaches islands typically off the usual itineraries
Key stops: Calayan Island, Divilacan Bay, Polillo Island, Caramoan Peninsula, Samar Island, Bohol Island and Bucas Grande Island (Philippines), Bitung, Gorontalo, Seho and Taliabu Islands, Buru Island, Banda Neira, Kei Cecil Island (Indonesia), Darwin (Australia)
Departure port: Keelung for Taipei (Taiwan)
Duration: 18 nights
Ship: Heritage Adventurer
This itinerary goes on an off-the-beaten-path voyage, as far from other cruisers as you can get. Heritage Expeditions’ Asian Island Odyssey starts in Taiwan before hitting one of the Philippines’ most remote islands – windswept and unspoiled Calayan.
From there, a succession of Eastern Philippine gems so remote you won’t see another cruise ship. Indeed, the cruise expects to make history as the first ever to visit Polillo Island.
After leaving the Philippines, Heritage Adventurer sails down the coast of Indonesia’s Sulawesi and then onto Maluku (“the Spice Islands”), including glorious Banda, once the world’s only source of nutmeg. The cruise concludes Down Under, reaching Darwin, having traversed some of the richest and most spectacular maritime environments on Earth.
Built for expedition travel, Heritage Adventurer carries around 140 passengers in classic, steel-hulled comfort – a true hybrid of research vessel and boutique ship, complete with Zodiacs for beach landings and an on-board team of naturalists. This is exploration with polish.
Insider tip
Pack binoculars and a camera with a telephoto lens – the remote islands host numerous endemic bird species and marine mammals rarely seen, including the critically endangered Philippine eagle.
How to do it
An 18-night Asian Island Odyssey departing on June 25, 2026, costs from £10,044pp for a main deck triple cabin. Includes excursions, expert guides, educational lectures and gratuities. Excludes flights. (heritage-expeditions.com)
Best for a longer sailing
Sydney to Singapore
Cunard
Cunard’s Queen Victoria retains the glamour of classic ocean liners
Key stops: Airlie Beach, Townsville and Cairns (Australia), Bitung (Indonesia), Puerto Princesa and Manila (Philippines), Hong Kong, Chan May for Hue or Nha Trang, Phu My for Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Singapore
Departure port: Sydney (Australia)
Duration: 26 nights
Ship: Queen Victoria
For those who still believe that travel should come with a touch of the dramatic, Cunard’s Queen Victoria remains one of the great survivors from the age of ocean liners.
On board, it’s all polished wood, sweeping staircases and that unmistakable Cunard hush: tradition, yes, but with Wi-Fi and nightly martinis. Afternoon tea is taken beneath crystal chandeliers, where waiters wear white gloves and the silverware is still polished by hand.
The 26-night voyage from Sydney to Singapore sails through the heart of the Asia Pacific, calling at the Philippines for a welcome dose of the tropics – the jungled shores of Palawan and the glorious chaos of Manila – before tracing a line north to Hong Kong and Vietnam.
Insider tip
Take afternoon tea in the Queen’s Room with a window seat; the day-sea arrival into Puerto Princesa is one of the quiet highlights.
How to do it
A 26-night Sydney to Singapore itinerary departing on February 24, 2027, costs from £3,999pp for a Britannia inside cabin. Includes full board plus a standard drinks package. Excludes flights.
Best for a sustainable option
Tao Philippines Original Expedition
Tao Philippines
Paraws are traditional Philippine handcrafted ships
Key stops: West Busuanga, Linapacan and Daracouton Bay (Philippines)
Departure port: El Nido (Philippines)
Duration: Four nights
Ship: Tao Paraw traditional sailing vessels
Paraws, traditional Philippine handcrafted ships, have plied these waters for centuries, and this four-day expedition from Tao Philippines allows you to cruise with minimal environmental impact while also directly benefiting local communities.
Sailing between El Nido and Coron follows ancient trading routes through the Bacuit Archipelago, stopping at uninhabited islands, snorkelling in crystal-clear lagoons, kayaking through hidden caves and learning traditional Filipino sailing techniques from local boat masters.
Accommodation is in beach camps, with simple bamboo huts and shared facilities, while meals feature fresh seafood and tropical fruit picked from island trees.
Insider tip
Bring reef-safe sunscreen and a waterproof dry bag for your belongings – you’ll be in and out of the water constantly, and protecting the coral reefs is paramount to the Tao philosophy.
How to do it
A four-night Tao Philippines Original Expedition departing on April 1, 2026, costs from £485pp, staying at off-grid bamboo basecamps. Includes all meals, accommodation, activities and local guides. Excludes flights to Puerto Princesa and transfers. (taophilippines.com)
About our expert
Murray Garrard
Murray got his sea legs young, when he took a topper off a beach in South Devon and charted a course for the south Atlantic, only to capsize yards from the shore. Not put off, since then he’s spent as much time on – and indeed in – the sea as possible, sailing on every ocean and every type of ship.
Telegraph Travel’s cruise expert, Murray Gerrard
Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.