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The floating book fair will be at the Port of Cebu from October 15 to November 10, with over 2,000 titles on board
MANILA, Philippines – Get ready to set sail in a sea of stories as the world’s biggest floating book fair drops its anchor in Cebu City!
Doulos Hope will be at the Port of Cebu, Pier 5 in Cebu City from October 15 to November 10. From Tuesday to Sunday, the ship is open from 1 pm to 8:30 pm, where they will allow the last entry at 8 pm. It is closed on Mondays.
The six-decker ship will offer a diverse selection of over 2,000 titles on board, ranging from children’s books, biographies, cookbooks, classics, history, science, fiction, faith and religion, and medical and health. Doulos Hope shared they have stocks of over 120,000 books.
The ship previously made stops in Zambales, La Union, Manila, Batangas, and Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
Prices for books and items are typically listed in “units” to simplify transactions as the ship travels across different countries. These units are then converted into local currencies based on the exchange rate of the country where the ship is docked.
You may find price conversion charts at the fair.
Only cash and cards are accepted upon payment.
Over 361,000 books have been sold on board since its first visit to Malaysia in May 2022.
Aboard the Doulos Hope vessel, book lovers of all ages can enjoy quality time; either listening to a live band while reading, or basking in the cool sea breeze at the Hope Café. You may also have a cup of café au lait, soft-serve ice cream, or popcorn after browsing for books.
The Doulos Hope crew — comprising representatives from over 60 countries — come together to promote literacy, engage in local initiatives, and foster cross-cultural cooperation, education, and social awareness. Aside from donating books to establish libraries in schools, the crew members also help communities by providing aid, donating supplies and building homes.
Originally a hotel cruise ship, the “ship of hope” was first launched in May 2022. It is owned by German faith-based non-profit organization Gute Bücher für Alle or Good Books for All. Doulos, meaning “servant” in Greek, is the group’s way of spreading “God’s compassion for the world in the ports and countries they visit.”
The Doulos Hope is expected to serve in East Asia and Pacific Regions, as it can operate in shallower waters and access ports inaccessible to its sister ship, Logos Hope.
Visitors may book tickets online via https://gbaships.littleboxoffice.com. As of writing, online reservation for Cebu slots is not yet open.
Payment will be settled at the ticket booth. There is an entrance fee of P50, but children under 12 years old and senior citizens are free of charge. No pets are allowed on board and the ship is not wheelchair-friendly.
Walk-ins are welcome but it is not guaranteed that everyone can walk in, especially during weekends, as online tickets are usually sold out. — Rev Dela Cruz/Rappler.com
Rev Dela Cruz is a Rappler intern studying AB Journalism at the University of Santo Tomas.
