2GO Travel, the shipping and passenger transport unit of conglomerate SM Investments Corp.’s logistics arm, has introduced a direct sea route between Batangas and Cebu City to capture growing travel demand from Southern Luzon by bypassing the heavily congested hub of Manila.

The weekly service, which officially begins this July, will operate an overnight schedule departing the Batangas International Port every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and arriving at the Port of Cebu on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.

2Go expects the route to establish the fastest maritime link between the industrial and residential corridors of Southern Luzon and the primary economic hub of the Visayas region.

The expansion comes as local transportation companies seek to capture secondary market traffic outside Metro Manila, reducing transit friction for provincial passengers.

By eliminating the traditional requirement to transit through the capital's ports, the direct connection reduces total travel time for passengers originating from provinces such as Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon.

2GO Travel will deploy the MV 2GO Masikap to service the new route. The vessel is equipped with a range of commercial amenities designed to emulate a cruise-like experience, part of the company's broader strategy to compete against low-cost domestic airlines.

Onboard facilities include regional restaurants, a coffee shop, a salon and spa, a souvenir shop, entertainment lounges, and a dedicated medical clinic. To court commercial traders and long-stay tourists, the company is offering a 50-kilogram baggage allowance per passenger, a capacity allocation intended to accommodate small-scale entrepreneurs transporting regional goods between the islands.

“At 2GO, our customers remain at the center of every business decision we make,” Francis Chua, business unit head of 2GO Travel, said in a statement. “Our new direct Batangas–Cebu route gives travelers from Southern Luzon an easier gateway to Cebu while making sea travel more seamless and convenient.”

The launch is part of a multi-year network expansion by 2GO, which operates as one of the largest end-to-end transportation and logistics providers in the country. Domestic sea transport remains a vital component of the Philippine economy, moving both commercial cargo and passengers across its more than 7,000 islands where aviation infrastructure can be costly or limited.

Bookings for the new route have been integrated into the company's digital platforms, including its mobile application and regional retail outlets.