08-08-2025
Bali set for cruise ship boom as new cruise terminal nears opening
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Cruise travel in Bali is set to boom with the official opening later this year of the Bali Maritime Tourism Hub in Benoa.
Indonesia's first international-standard cruise ship pier, it's been more than five years in the making and can accommodate up to three large cruise ships at once. No longer will passengers have to be tendered to shore.
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Joel Katz, Cruise Lines International Association managing director in Australia and Asia, says that Bali's port of Benoa is emerging as an important cruise destination in Asia.
'The Indonesian government has been working to encourage more cruise ships to visit in the future. With the right strategies in place, Bali has the potential to join other important cruise hubs in Asia like Singapore, Shanghai and Hong Kong,' he says.
It's exciting news for Australians who love visiting Bali and also want to discover more of Asia. Another plus? Instead of the dreaded flight home (often overnight) you can choose a leisurely cruise from Benoa to get back to Australia.
Katz says the number of Australians who take fly-cruise holidays outside our home ports is increasing at a fast rate. 'Australians who have cruised in local waters in the past are increasingly looking to other destinations overseas when they consider their next cruise, so I think Asian ports like Bali are going to increase in popularity,' he says.
An example is Viking's 17-day Komodo & the Australian Coast, a leisurely cruise from Bali to Sydney which takes in Lombok and Komodo National Park before sailing to Darwin and then down the east coast. There are two sailings in November, and more next year.
Meanwhile, Carnival Cruise Line has announced the Carnival Adventure and Carnival Luminosa are poised to explore Asia for the first time, both ships having itineraries visiting Bali from 2026.
But it's not just larger vessels visiting Indonesian shores. Luxury line Aqua Expeditions is expanding its itineraries in Indonesia with new voyages to South Raja Ampat (which begin and end in Sorong, reached via a domestic flight from Jakarta) aboard the 30-guest Aqua Blu yacht, giving guests greater access to some of Indonesia's most remote corners. The seven-night adventure takes in dive and snorkel sites like Fiabacet and the blue water mangroves, as well as the wildlife-rich forests of Kapatcol. The new itinerary will set sail for the first time in December 2026. Aqua Blu is the first ocean explorer yacht to be permanently based in East Indonesia.
And new Aussie luxury cruise brand Pearl Expeditions has an enticing East Indonesia and Raja Ampat itinerary aboard the 30-guest Paspaley Pearl from this December.
Joel Katz says Asian destinations expect that they will account for just under 10 per cent of all cruise passengers worldwide this year.
'But the region has set its sights much higher, aiming for a target of 20 per cent by 2035. I think that presents fantastic opportunities for Australian travellers. There are so many extraordinary destinations to cruise in, just to our north,' he says.
Originally published as Bali set for cruise ship boom as new cruise terminal nears opening
