Port: Manila
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Manila
The Philippine capital of Manila was founded by King Philip II of Spain. In the years that followed, the Spanish successfully prevented the Dutch, Portuguese and Chinese from settling in the Philippines. During the Seven Years' War the British occupied Manila, but agreed to return it to Spain in 1763. During WWII, the Japanese took control during a 1942 invasion, and eventually the U.S. recaptured the islands and returned them to the Philippines. In 1946, the country was granted full independence.
The following Shore Excursions are available for this port on this cruise, and may be reserved beginning 180 days before the cruise begins.
Modern Manilla Sights
Tour Code: MLA-001
Duration: 4 hours
Retail Value: $99.00
Price: Free
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The bustling city of Manilla has more than one side, with one half being a modern metropolis which is gaining more importance as a major artery in the financial life stream of the country. This tour is geared to give you an overview of this other half of the city.
Departing from the pier, you will travel first to the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, a reclaimed piece of land that is situated along Roxas Boulevard, reminiscent of the glorious years of the Marcoses. The drive through the complex starts with a glimpse of the fountain-adorned Cultural Center of the Philippines, the country's seat of cultural awareness. From here, you will proceed on to the Philippine International Convention Center and Folk Arts Theater, which are favorite venues for both local and international events, concerts and performances.
Adjacent to the Convention Center and Folk Arts Theater is the Coconut Palace, the site of your first stop. This unique building is made mostly of coconut materials and you will enjoy a guided tour here before rejoining your coach to continue on.
Located next to the Coconut Palace is the beautiful Sofitel Philippine Plaza, a deluxe hotel which offers a magnificent view of the Manila Bay. From here, you will next travel to the financial and commercial center of Makati, passing through the plush residential village of Forbes Park, dubbed as "Millionaire's Row".
Your final stop before returning to the ship is the American Memorial Cemetery, the largest and most beautiful of its kind located outside the continental U.S. No doubt you will be moved by the striking site of row-upon-row of white crosses that mark the graves of over 17,000 members of the military who lost their lives during World War II.
Please note: This tour includes approximately 1 hour of walking over mostly flat surfaces; however, there are stairs to negotiate at the Coconut Palace. This tour is not available to wheelchair guests and those guests with mobility concerns are cautioned to evaluate their personal level of ability and stamina. Loose clothing, and flat, comfortable walking shoes are suggested. The order of the sites visited or viewed may vary.
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Terms & Conditions:
Free Unlimited Shore Excursions are for full fare guests only, capacity controlled and subject to availability. Requested excursions may not be available at time of booking. Supplement will apply on Regent Choice excursions (indicated by the 
above) and excludes Private Arrangements and all Adventures Ashore programs. In order to ensure quality guides and sufficient transportation, we must provide the tour operator with passenger counts at least 36 hours in advance. Therefore no refunds will be given within 36 hours of tour departure for cancellations or no-shows. Please pay special attention to scheduling and tour lengths when booking your shore excursions. In many cases, it is not possible to participate in more than one tour per day in a given port. Tours operate rain or shine. Tours require minimum participation levels to operate so please sign up as early as possible. Tours may be cancelled if minimum participation levels are not met. Prices, Itineraries and General Information shore excursion prices are subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases or currency fluctuations. Please consult the Destination Services Desk onboard for information. During local or national holidays, access to certain facilities (such as museums or archaeological sites) may be limited or denied. In such instances, adjustments will be made to minimize inconvenience to guests. Some tours have limited availability. Tours are generally available for reserving 180 days prior to the beginning of a cruise. Please sign up early to avoid disappointment. Regent Seven Seas Cruises reserves the right to require guests to complete a liability waiver for select shore excursions. For more information, please visit the Destination Services Desk onboard.