Compare operators
| Operator | Price | Rating | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lite Shipping Lines | ₱580 | — | 4h | Buy Ferry Ticket on 12Go → |
| 12Go Asia | — | — | 2h | Buy Ferry Ticket on 12Go → |
| 12Go Asia | — | — | 2h | Buy Ferry Ticket on 12Go → |
| OceanJet | — | — | 2h | Buy Ferry Ticket on 12Go → |
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Of the seven working port pairs between Cebu and Bohol, this is the one most travellers actually use — and the one where the choice of pier matters more than the choice of operator. Tagbilaran is Bohol’s provincial capital and its principal seaport, which means the crossing ends inside a city rather than at a rural causeway. Panglao and Alona Beach are a bridge away; the Chocolate Hills circuit starts here.
It is not, however, the fastest crossing on the strait, and it has not been for some time. OceanJet covers the 100 km in about two hours. The Getafe crossings do it in an hour and a quarter. What Tagbilaran offers instead is depth of service — around a dozen bookable sailings a day, a rebuilt terminal, and the shortest onward drive to the places most visitors are heading.
The practical consequence is that this pair is the right default and the wrong optimisation. Book it because you want frequency and a short taxi ride at the other end, not because you want to save time on the water.
The crossing at a glance
| Crossing | ~2 h (fast craft) · ~4 h (conventional RoRo) |
| Distance | ~100 km |
| Bookable sailings | 13 ferries daily on 12Go (August 2026) |
| Departure window | First 05:10 · last 22:00 |
| Fast-craft fare | ~₱790 Tourist · ~₱1,410 Business (OceanJet) |
| Cheapest berth | Lite Shipping conventional, from about US$9 |
| Cebu piers | Pier 1 (fast craft) · Pier 3 (conventional and RoRo) |
| Bohol pier | Port of Tagbilaran, Barangay Booy |
One number worth holding onto: 12Go currently lists thirteen ferry departures a day on this pair, twelve of them OceanJet. Every other Cebu–Bohol port pair combined does not match that.
Cebu → Tagbilaran
Fast craft leave from Cebu Pier 1. OceanJet runs the bulk of them, roughly hourly through the middle of the day — 11:40 arriving 13:40 is a representative sailing — in Tourist and Business class at around ₱790 and ₱1,410. Booked through 12Go the same seat prices in dollars, generally US$18–19 for Tourist, taxes included.
The cheaper option departs from Cebu Pier 3: Lite Shipping runs a conventional vessel that takes about four hours and sells from roughly US$9, with bunk classes rather than airline-style seating. There is a 22:00 sailing, which is the one to know about — it crosses overnight and saves a night’s accommodation, and it is the reason this pair’s last departure is so late.
Pier 1 and Pier 3 sit about 800 m apart inside the same port complex, and Lite Shipping has historically moved sailings between them. Confirm the pier printed on the ticket rather than the pier you assume. With luggage, that 800 m is not a walk you want to discover thirty minutes before departure.
🚢 Check Cebu → Tagbilaran schedules and book on 12Go
Tagbilaran → Cebu
The return leg runs the same vessels on the same timings, but the ground logistics are different in one way that catches people out: there is no Grab in Bohol province. Ride-hailing does not operate here as of 2026. Getting to the Port of Tagbilaran means a tricycle from the city centre, a van-for-hire from Panglao, or a transfer arranged through your accommodation — budget 30 to 45 minutes from Alona Beach, 10 to 15 minutes from central Tagbilaran.
The port itself is in Barangay Booy, about 2 km out from the city centre, so “in Tagbilaran” is true at the scale of the island and slightly optimistic at the scale of a morning. Arrive 45 to 60 minutes ahead for a fast craft, 90 for an overnight RoRo.
Arriving into Cebu, fast craft berth at Pier 1, which is a 15–30 minute ride from IT Park, Ayala, or Fuente, and 35–50 minutes from Mactan-Cebu International Airport. There is no direct shuttle between the pier and the airport. If you are connecting to a flight the same day, count the pier-to-airport leg separately from the two-hour crossing — that is the step people compress and regret.
🚢 Check Tagbilaran → Cebu schedules and book on 12Go
The ports
The Bohol-side terminal is worth understanding before you book, because it was rebuilt recently and the rebuild is why this pair carries the traffic it does. The Philippine Ports Authority completed a new passenger terminal at Tagbilaran in 2021, adding a dedicated fastcraft berth alongside the existing RoRo vehicle ramp. Before that, fast craft and vehicle traffic contended for the same infrastructure. The separation is what allows OceanJet to run a near-hourly schedule at all.
- Port of Tagbilaran — the Bohol terminus, PPA-operated, UN/LOCODE PHTAG.
- Port of Cebu — the Cebu City baseport, of which Pier 1 and Pier 3 are two berths.
Operators on this crossing
Bookable online today: OceanJet (fast craft, the dominant carrier here) and Lite Shipping (conventional, cheapest, overnight option).
On the schedule board but not reliably bookable: SuperCat has run this corridor for years but did not appear on 12Go’s board at all in this check, and its own booking channels have gone quiet before — verify before planning around it. Trans-Asia Shipping runs a weekly daytime RoRo, sold direct rather than through 12Go. 2GO Travel calls at Tagbilaran as part of its Manila liner service, not as a Cebu–Tagbilaran product.
That distinction matters commercially. Five operator names on a timetable is not five booking options, and a traveller who plans around SuperCat because the name appears on a pier signboard can find themselves without a seat.
How to book
- Decide fast craft or conventional — two hours at roughly ₱790, or four hours (including a 22:00 overnight) at roughly half that.
- Search the corridor on 12Go for your date and direction. The two directions are separate searches, not a toggle.
- Pick a class. On OceanJet the classes arrive together; the difference is seating and boarding priority, not speed.
- Pay for instant confirmation, then print the ticket. Several operators here still decline a phone screen at the gangway.
- Keep small bills for the terminal fee, which is collected in cash at the pier and is not part of the online fare.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Cebu to Tagbilaran ferry take?
About two hours on the fast craft and about four on the conventional RoRo. Both directions run the same timings.
Which Cebu pier do I need?
Pier 1 for fast craft, Pier 3 for conventional and RoRo sailings. Lite Shipping has moved between the two, so confirm the pier on your ticket — they are about 800 m apart.
How much is the Cebu–Tagbilaran ferry?
OceanJet has run roughly ₱790 Tourist to ₱1,410 Business through 2026; on 12Go that shows as about US$18–19 for Tourist. Lite Shipping’s conventional crossing starts around US$9. Confirm the live fare for your date before counting on a number.
Is this the fastest way from Cebu to Bohol?
No. The Getafe crossings are quicker — OceanJet does Cebu Pier to Getafe in 1 h 15 m, and Sunriser Cordova runs Cordova to Getafe in 1 h 20 m. Tagbilaran wins on frequency and on how close it lands you to Panglao, not on crossing time.
Can I get a Grab at Tagbilaran port?
No. Ride-hailing does not operate in Bohol province. Use a tricycle, a van-for-hire, or a transfer arranged by your accommodation.
Is there an overnight sailing?
Yes — Lite Shipping’s 22:00 departure from Cebu Pier 3, arriving in the early hours. It is the cheapest berth on the pair and saves a night’s room.
Related
- Cebu to Bohol by Ferry: All 7 Port Pairs Compared — the full fare-and-port comparison.
- Cebu ⇄ Tubigon Ferry — the cheapest crossing, for Bohol’s northwest.
- Cebu ⇄ Getafe Ferry — the fastest crossing, for northern Bohol.
- Port of Tagbilaran — terminal layout, facilities, and onward transport.
Schedules, operators, and fares verified against 12Go on 2026-08-20; port infrastructure detail from PPA and the Bohol Tourism Profile. Confirm live schedules and fares before booking.