Denpasar – In a grand celebration of the New Year, two colossal cruise ships, MV Nautica and MV Norwegian Jewel, are set to anchor at Benoa Harbor in Denpasar, Bali, on December 31, 2023, and January 1, 2024. These maritime giants are expected to bring in a multitude of tourists to the enchanting island.
Fariz Hariyoso, the Sub Regional Head of Pelindo Bali Nusra, disclosed that MV Nautica is scheduled to dock at Benoa Harbor on Sunday, December 31, 2023, at 08:00 AM local time. This cruise will carry 404 passengers and 394 crew members. MV Nautica is slated to depart on Monday evening, January 1, 2024, marking it as the 47th cruise ship to anchor at Benoa Harbor, as revealed by Fariz on Thursday, December 28, 2023.
The second cruise ship, MV Norwegian Jewel, is expected to arrive at Benoa Harbor on Monday, January 1, 2024, at 06:00 AM local time. This vessel boasts a significantly larger passenger count.
“MV Norwegian Jewel will bring 2,551 passengers and 1,033 crew members,” Fariz explained. The ship is scheduled to set sail again on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
Fariz highlighted that the tourists on board these cruise ships hail from Europe, America, and parts of Asia. He noted that the trend of cruise vacations has been increasingly popular among East Asian tourists, particularly those from China and Japan.
On average, the ships will dock for a duration of two days. Meanwhile, there are already 68 cruise ship requests for entry into Benoa Harbor in 2024.
Fariz also unveiled details about the Bali Maritime Tourism Hub (BMTH), a project aimed at expanding the dock’s capacity, with an anticipated completion date in 2024.
“With the establishment of BMTH, it is expected that cruise ship visits will increase, prolonging their stay in Bali, and transforming Bali into a home port for cruise ships. This, in turn, will contribute to the economic growth of the local community in Bali,” he concluded.