{"id":1681,"date":"2019-09-09T10:09:48","date_gmt":"2019-09-09T10:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.southsidebelle.com\/?p=1681"},"modified":"2020-05-25T08:24:10","modified_gmt":"2020-05-25T08:24:10","slug":"cebu-ocean-park-what-to-expect-and-is-it-worth-the-price","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.southsidebelle.com\/2019\/09\/09\/cebu-ocean-park-what-to-expect-and-is-it-worth-the-price\/","title":{"rendered":"Cebu Ocean Park: What to Expect and Is it Worth the Price?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Cebu Ocean Park has finally opened its doors to the public!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t have a lot of experience when it comes to visiting gigantic aquariums, so when I visited Singapore\u2019s S.E.A Aquarium<\/a> in 2018, it was an experience of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The soft opening of the much-awaited Cebu Ocean Park last August 24, 2019, had excited me. It would be my second time to have an up-close encounter with different marine life behind glass walls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It would have been great if I got first dibs into actually seeing Cebu City\u2019s newest tourist attraction. Sadly, I\u2019m one of the unlucky few who didn\u2019t score the first seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So when my birthday came 2 weeks after its opening, I had a last-minute decision to visit the place, but this time with my family in tow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to Expect at Cebu Ocean Park<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Cebu<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Located at South Road Properties, right across SM Seaside City Cebu, the 1.5-hectare ocean park boasts seven-meter deep Oceanarium and 360-degree viewing tunnels that exhibit thousands of marine species. Aside from the huge collection of marine animals, the park also showcases other attractions that would encourage interaction for visitors namely, Jungle Trek, Creepy Critters, Fish Spa, Bird Feeding, Stingray interaction, Crocodile encounter, and Sea Trek.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of the mentioned attractions are located in their Center of Interaction and you need to pay a separate fee for each of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve been to any large aquariums before, don\u2019t expect too much when you enter Cebu Ocean Park. I was expecting to see large sharks and stingrays, but instead, I saw little ones. It\u2019s still in its soft opening stage, so you won\u2019t see bigger marine life that much. They\u2019ll eventually grow though and I bet more creatures will be added once the Grand Opening will take place on October 2019. I would love to see a giant aquarium with bioluminescent jellyfish and one with a giant octopus or dolphin by then as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes Cebu Ocean Park unique than Singapore\u2019s S.E.A Aquarium?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Singapore\u2019s S.E.A. Aquarium doesn\u2019t showcase birds as one of their attractions, much more a bird show! The Cebu Ocean Park, aside from having a few collections of avian life, also has a collection of other non-marine animals like snakes and other reptiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bird<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Bird<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The most instagrammable spots in the park? The 360-degree Acrylic viewing tunnels and the Deep Tank Lagoon that seems to be the park\u2019s version of S.E.A.\u2019s much bigger Open Ocean Habitat. It is as close as you can get to diving into the depths of the big blue sea. It\u2019s my daughter\u2019s favorite spot in the park during our visit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Deep<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You can spend as much time as you wish just watching the world swim by. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Deep Tank Lagoon is the last aquarium before you exit to the Gift Shop. By then, you won\u2019t be able to return inside anymore. So it\u2019s best to think twice first before proceeding to grab a little souvenir you or your kids can take home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tired and hungry of walking through the entire ocean park?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there are a few food stalls inside the park within the Center of Interaction, you can also enjoy a sumptuous Hong Kong-style meal at the park\u2019s Gusto Food Hall. The restaurant is strategically located right next to the Gift Shop before finally exiting the building. The food prices are very reasonable and you have a lot of food items in the menu to choose from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it a good time to visit Cebu Ocean Park now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ocean park is still in its soft opening stage. While 80% of the animals have already been introduced to the public, it\u2019s still okay to go especially if you are a tourist. If you are a local, you have more time to wait for the addition of the remaining sea animals before going. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The place is jam-packed on weekends so I would advise that you visit the place when you have time to visit on a weekday. That is, if you want to fully enjoy the experience without lots of people interrupting your view of the animals, much more your selfie game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a Saturday when we got there, so I was not able to get a lot of good photos or videos for my blog\/vlog. I\u2019m hoping to be back again, hopefully on a weekday after its grand opening in October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening Hours:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Monday – Friday<\/td> 10:00AM-6:00PM <\/td><\/tr>
Saturday- Sunday
& Public Holidays<\/td>		 9:30AM-6:00PM <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Entrance Fees & Other Fees<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Weekdays<\/td>PHP 600 – Locals
PHP 800 – Foreign<\/td><\/tr>
Weekends<\/td> PHP 800 – Local
PHP 800 – Foreign <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Fish Spa    <\/td>   PHP 100 <\/td><\/tr>
Croc Cage Encounter  <\/td> PHP 2000 <\/td><\/tr>
Stingray Interaction <\/td> PHP 1000 <\/td><\/tr>
Sea Trek  <\/td> PHP 1200 <\/td><\/tr>
Lories Feeding <\/td> PHP 100 <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

*Note: Children below 2 feet are free of charge<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

**Note: On its soft opening, those who have purchased tickets from August 24 to September 30 <\/strong>may use once again their tickets from October 1, 2019 until November 30<\/strong>, 2019. However, these tickets are non-transferable. Tickets bought from October 1, 2019 onward is for one time use only.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cebu Ocean Park Address:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

SM Seaside Complex, South Road Properties<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Telephone Number: (+632) 7557 888<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Website: http:\/\/cebuoceanpark.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Email: info@cebuoceanpark.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google Map Location:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n