Ever wonder what it’s like to run a whole ship? It takes years of expertise and dedication to brave the waves and sail the seas.

For 37 years, Captain Eugene Radam has been a master of his fate and the captain of his soul, literally and figuratively. He spent 33 years in international seas and four years in the Philippine seas. His experience earned him the title: Master Mariner.

Along with the media group, I was fortunate to meet him at the Bridge of the Cebu Ferry 3 of 2go Travel, the platform where the ship’s controls and commands can be found.

Capt. Radam explained to us the functions of each equipment in the Bridge. He said that the vessel runs at 18 knots miles per hour. I wasn’t able to remember everything. Nautical jargons made my nose bleed.

All I can remember was the magnetic compass and the phone for communicating to other ships.

Capt. Radam related that they do drills every week to equip the passengers and crew when an unexpected circumstance happens.

The Cebu Ferry 3 sails twice a day: one in the morning and one in the evening. I asked him about his preference. He said that he would prefer a day voyage. “Hindi kasi puyat,” he said laughing.

The staff at the reception agreed that daytime voyage also allows passengers to witness dolphins swimming near Dumali Island in Oriental Mindoro, where the vessel passes by.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to see them during our day cruise on the way back to Batangas Port last May 29, the day of the verdict of the Corona Impeachment Trial. I joked around, “Maybe the dolphins were watching the trial too.”

Read more: Cruising the Philippines: the alternative way to travel on a budget

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Special thanks to 2go Travel for letting us experience cruising in the Philippines.