Sojourners! Here’s a new ferry option for planning your Cebu and Bohol trip!
If your trip involves Popoo Port, Bien Unido Port, or Ouano Wharf, there is a new route announcement worth saving before you make your travel plans. Mei Paldo C-Ferry Lines OPC has announced a route for MV Mary Carol B starting Saturday, October 3, 2026. The published itinerary runs from Popoo Port to Bien Unido Port and onward to Ouano Wharf, with a return itinerary in the opposite direction.
For passengers, the useful part of the announcement is the combination of a timed intermediate stop and a separate fare for each port pair. You can check the shorter Popoo–Bien Unido crossing, the Bien Unido–Ouano journey, or the full Popoo–Ouano trip without having to estimate a through fare yourself. The accompanying fare poster lists regular, student, senior/PWD, and child rates and states that the fares apply in either direction.
This guide follows the two supplied announcements rather than treating the new service as a 2GO-operated route. Mei Paldo is the operator named on the posters. As of October 3, the announced start date is today, but an announced schedule is not proof that a particular sailing has departed. Confirm your actual travel date, ticket availability, and boarding instructions directly with the operator before going to the port.
The announced route and starting date
The outward itinerary is Popoo Port → Bien Unido Port → Ouano Wharf. The return itinerary is Ouano Wharf → Bien Unido Port → Popoo Port. MV Mary Carol B is the vessel identified in the new-route notice. Although the artwork includes more than one vessel photograph, this article does not assume that another pictured boat follows the same timetable.
The notice says the route starts on Saturday, October 3, 2026. It does not explicitly state a daily operating frequency or list the days on which the service will continue after launch. That distinction matters when planning a weekday trip, a Sunday return, or a holiday journey. Ask whether the announced timetable operates on your chosen date instead of assuming that a launch-day poster guarantees daily departures.
Popoo to Bien Unido to Ouano schedule
| From | Departure | To | Arrival |
| Popoo Port | 7:00 AM | Bien Unido Port | 8:15 AM |
| Bien Unido Port | 8:45 AM | Ouano Wharf | 11:00 AM |
The morning itinerary leaves Popoo at 7:00 AM and is scheduled to arrive at Bien Unido at 8:15 AM. The onward departure from Bien Unido is at 8:45 AM, reaching Ouano Wharf at 11:00 AM. These are the posted times, not live arrival predictions. Weather, port clearance, boarding, and operational conditions can affect the actual journey.
If you are boarding at Bien Unido, use the 8:45 AM departure as your reference. The earlier 7:00 AM time belongs to the Popoo departure. If you are traveling from Popoo all the way to Ouano, the posted itinerary has an intermediate stop at Bien Unido; it should not be described as nonstop travel. Ask crew whether through passengers remain aboard and whether any additional boarding procedure applies at that stop.
Ouano to Bien Unido to Popoo schedule
| From | Departure | To | Arrival |
| Ouano Wharf | 12:00 PM | Bien Unido Port | 2:15 PM |
| Bien Unido Port | 2:45 PM | Popoo Port | 4:00 PM |
The return itinerary departs Ouano Wharf at noon and reaches Bien Unido at 2:15 PM. The onward sailing leaves Bien Unido at 2:45 PM and is scheduled to reach Popoo at 4:00 PM. Passengers going only from Ouano to Bien Unido should plan their pickup around the announced afternoon arrival, while allowing extra time for disembarkation and possible delays.
Someone boarding at Bien Unido for Popoo should use 2:45 PM as the departure time. It is easy to confuse the afternoon Bien Unido arrival with the departure when reading a poster quickly. Save the correct row on your phone, then check with the operator before your trip. Give the person collecting you the destination port and arrival time rather than only saying that you are taking the afternoon ferry.
How long does the posted journey take
Calculated from the announcement, Popoo–Bien Unido takes 1 hour and 15 minutes, while Bien Unido–Ouano takes 2 hours and 15 minutes. The reverse legs have the same scheduled durations. Each itinerary includes a 30-minute gap at Bien Unido between arrival and onward departure. These calculations describe the posted timetable; they are not a guaranteed travel-time promise.
The full Popoo–Ouano itinerary spans 4 hours from the 7:00 AM departure to the 11:00 AM arrival. The return also spans 4 hours, from noon to 4:00 PM. Use those totals when thinking about meals, onward road transport, and the time you need at your destination. For a separate flight or another ferry connection, leave a generous buffer and check the connection requirements independently.
One-way passenger fares for every port pair
| Route either direction | Regular | Student | Senior or PWD | Child aged 3 to 9 |
| Popoo–Bien Unido | ₱165 | ₱132 | ₱117 | ₱82 |
| Bien Unido–Ouano | ₱550 | ₱440 | ₱390 | ₱275 |
| Popoo–Ouano | ₱715 | ₱570 | ₱510 | ₱360 |
The fare poster labels these as one-way passenger fares and says they apply in either direction. A regular passenger traveling from Bien Unido to Ouano therefore has a posted one-way fare of ₱550, and the same posted rate applies from Ouano to Bien Unido. For Popoo–Ouano, the regular through fare is ₱715. The shortest listed port pair, Popoo–Bien Unido, costs ₱165 for a regular passenger.
Use the through-route row when budgeting a through journey. Do not build discounted through fares by adding the two shorter-route figures. For example, the two student leg fares add to ₱572, while the published Popoo–Ouano student fare is ₱570. The poster gives its own fare for each port pair, so a home calculation should not replace the operator’s listed amount.
The child category is specifically for ages 3 to 9. The poster does not explain the fare for a child under 3, the age treatment at 10, or whether younger children need a ticket despite any possible fare exemption. Confirm those details directly. For student, senior, and PWD tickets, ask which identification and documentation the operator accepts and bring the applicable original identification.
Simple ticket budget examples
For two regular adults traveling one way between Bien Unido and Ouano, the listed passenger fares total ₱1,100. A return journey for the same two adults totals ₱2,200 if the listed fares remain applicable. Those figures cover only the arithmetic of the passenger fare table. The poster does not confirm whether terminal fees, other charges, or payment-processing costs are included.
For two regular adults and one child aged 3 to 9 traveling one way from Popoo to Ouano, the fare calculation is ₱715 + ₱715 + ₱360, or ₱1,790. For one regular adult and one eligible student traveling between Popoo and Bien Unido, the listed total is ₱297 one way. Keep a separate amount for getting to the port, meals, and transport after arrival.
When to arrive at the port
The announcement asks passengers to be at the port at least 30 minutes before departure. Based on that instruction, the latest arrival targets are 6:30 AM for the 7:00 AM Popoo departure, 8:15 AM for the 8:45 AM Bien Unido departure toward Ouano, 11:30 AM for the noon Ouano departure, and 2:15 PM for the 2:45 PM Bien Unido departure toward Popoo.
These are minimum arrival targets derived from the poster, not confirmed ticket-counter or boarding cutoffs. Arrive earlier if you still need to buy tickets, establish a discount, find the
boarding area, or travel with children and several bags. Ask about the exact counter and embarkation point when you call. A port name alone may not tell a first-time passenger where the vessel’s boarding queue begins.
Booking contact and questions to ask
The announcement lists the operations manager’s inquiry number as 09975377809. Use that contact to ask about the sailing date, available seats, ticket purchase procedure, accepted payment methods, and the correct port location. The supplied posters do not name an online booking website or provide a verified reservation link, so this guide does not recommend an unconfirmed booking channel.
Before paying, state your full port pair and passenger categories. Ask whether your quotation includes other fees, what time boarding closes, how much baggage is allowed, and whether unusual luggage needs advance approval. If you need to change your travel date, ask about cancellation, rebooking, and refund conditions before completing the transaction. Keep the ticket and payment confirmation accessible until the journey is finished.
Packing and onward travel tips
Keep your ticket, identification, phone, water, and essential personal items in a small bag that stays with you. A charged phone and an offline copy of the schedule help when mobile reception is weak. Use a waterproof pouch for documents and label larger bags with your name and contact number. These are general packing suggestions, not an operator baggage policy.
Avoid assuming that a passenger vessel accepts motorcycles, cars, or commercial cargo simply because the route connects ports. Neither supplied poster gives vehicle rates or a vehicle acceptance policy. If you plan to carry bulky equipment, a bicycle, or a shipment, obtain a specific answer from the operator. The passenger fare table cannot be used to calculate a vehicle or cargo charge.
Bien Unido is in northern Bohol, as identified by the Provincial Government of Bohol. A journey through this port may suit travelers whose actual destination is nearby, but do not assume that every Bohol attraction is a short ride away. Compare the port with your final destination and arrange onward transport separately. The stock-photo suggestion below shows Panglao scenery and should be labeled as general Bohol imagery, not as a photograph of Bien Unido or Popoo.
Can you make a same-day return?
On paper, a through passenger arriving at Ouano at 11:00 AM has only one hour before the listed noon return departure. A same-day turnaround may therefore look possible in the timetable, but it leaves little room for errands, a delayed arrival, or reaching the correct boarding queue. Confirm both sailings, return-seat availability, and boarding requirements before planning around that gap.
The same caution applies to passengers reaching Bien Unido at 2:15 PM and considering the 2:45 PM onward departure. That is part of the posted itinerary, but a separate ticket or boarding
arrangement still needs clarification. If your purpose is a family visit, an appointment, or a day of sightseeing, plan around the time available on shore rather than only the ferry’s total travel duration.
Frequently asked questions
When does the new route start?
- The supplied announcement gives Saturday, October 3, 2026. It does not explicitly establish daily operation after that date.
What vessel is named?
- MV Mary Carol B. Who is the operator? Mei Paldo C-Ferry Lines OPC, as shown on the announcement.
What is the regular Bien Unido–Ouano fare?
- The published one-way fare is ₱550. What is the regular Popoo–Ouano fare? It is ₱715 one way. Do the posted fares apply on the return trip? Yes, the fare poster says they apply in either direction. How early should passengers arrive? At least 30 minutes before departure, according to the route announcement.
Is baggage free, and can I book online?
- The supplied material does not establish a baggage allowance or an online booking method. Contact the operator for those answers.
Are the arrival times guaranteed?
- No guarantee is stated in the announcement; use the timetable for planning and confirm the sailing before leaving home.
Plan with the correct port.
MV Mary Carol B’s announced Popoo–Bien Unido–Ouano itinerary gives passengers a clear starting point: a morning journey toward Ouano, an afternoon return toward Popoo, and a published fare for each port pair. Choose your boarding port first, check the corresponding departure, and use the fare row that matches your actual destination. Confirm the operating date and ticket instructions before committing to onward travel.
Save the schedule and fare table together. That small step makes it easier to check whether you are boarding at Popoo or Bien Unido, whether you qualify for a listed passenger category, and how early you need to leave home. For current operations, the operator’s confirmation should take priority over a saved poster or an older travel-guide copy.
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