About this crossing
The Calbayog–Maya route is a Samar-to-Cebu sea link run by Lite Ferries (Lite Shipping Corporation), connecting Calbayog City on the western coast of Samar with Maya Port in Daanbantayan at the northern tip of Cebu. Unlike Lite Ferries' longer Matnog–Cebu crossings that reach up to Luzon, this is a within-Visayas island hop across the Visayan Sea, giving Samar travellers a direct water route into northern Cebu and onward to Cebu City.
Service on this pairing is daily, which sets it apart from the several-times-a-week Luzon routes, and the vessels are roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ships that take motorcycles, cars, vans and trucks in addition to foot passengers. The crossing runs about 9 hours, so it is effectively a half-day or overnight sailing depending on the departure slot. Because it is a shorter, purely inter-island route, fares are considerably lower than the Luzon crossings — passenger tickets fall in roughly the ₱560–₱680 range depending on accommodation class, with discounts for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and children.
Calbayog is a natural staging point for travel across Samar and toward Leyte, while Maya connects onward down Cebu's east coast toward Bogo and Cebu City, or to island-hopping boats for Malapascua. Vehicle fares are charged separately by size, and drivers should reserve deck space ahead of departure. Tickets can be bought online, at Lite Ferries satellite ticketing offices, or through affiliated ticketing partners; arriving at the port with a valid ID well before departure is advised.