Benoa Port Emerges as New Hub for International Cruise Tourism

On the southern edge of bali Island, Benoa Port in Denpasar has now transformed into a new international marine Tourism hub. No longer just a stopover point, Benoa has developed into a Cruise Tourism base, where giant ships from around the world dock, exchange passengers, and begin their adventures across the archipelago.

This transformation is supported by service integration and upgraded dock infrastructure, enabling Benoa to serve jumbo-sized cruise ships, both as a destination port and as an embarkation and disembarkation port for passengers.

“We ensure all cruise ship services, including those docking in close succession, operate safely, smoothly, and according to standard procedures,” stated Benoa Port General Manager Anak Agung Gde Agung Mataram in Denpasar, Bali, on Tuesday.

One key to this change is the expansion of the eastern dock from 350 meters to 500 meters, allowing two giant cruise ships to dock simultaneously. 

This opens a new chapter for Benoa as a port with parallel operational capability—a crucial standard in the global cruise industry.

Within less than two weeks, from January 1–13, 2026, six international cruise ships have docked at Benoa, bringing the first wave of tourists and crew from various countries.

These six ships carried a total of 5,500 passengers and 2,802 crew, starting with the docking of Ovation of the Seas on January 1, 2026, followed by Le Jacques Cartier on January 7, 2026, Seven Seas Navigator on January 9, 2026, Regatta on January 10, 2026, Viking Orion on January 12, 2026, and Paspaley Pearl on January 13, 2026.

On January 11–12, 2026, Benoa even served two large cruise ships simultaneously—Regatta and Viking Orion—a moment marking the port's readiness as a cruise operational center.

This parallel service, he added, demonstrates the port's preparedness to manage cruise operations in an integrated manner through dock arrangements, port services, and cross-agency coordination.

The impact extends beyond the docks. While in Bali, passengers joined tours to various premier destinations—from cultural sites, natural attractions, to culinary spots—directly boosting the transportation sector, tour guides, hospitality, and local businesses.

Long-term growth is evident in Cruise Ship Visits data. Throughout 2025, 65 global cruise ships docked at Benoa, carrying around 140 thousand Foreign Tourists. This figure shows an increase compared to 2024 with 56 visits and 107,717 tourists, and 2023 with 48 visits and 78,241 passengers.(ANTARA)