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Star Clippers has announced that it will sail
in Indonesia for the first time in 2017.
In the wake of Celebrity Cruises' recent decision to cancel a port call in Benoa,
Indonesia, due to concerns over terrorism, Travel Agent reached out to Star
Clippers for their take on the destination's security situation.
"We at Star Clippers are aware of the recent security concerns in Bali. Over the
next year, leading up to these new itineraries, we will closely monitor the
situation in Indonesia, and be in close contact with local authorities to ensure
that all the destinations we will visit are safe for our passengers and crew
members," the line said in a statement provided to Travel Agent. "The safety of
our guests and crew is always our top concern."
The line will offer 19 departures between May 6 and October 14, 2017, with
sailings of seven, 10, 11 and 14 nights, from Bali and Singapore, including Bali
roundtrips and itineraries from Bali to Singapore and reverse on the Star
Clipper. Guests will have the chance to enjoy complimentary water sports,
including snorkeling, kayaking and canoeing off many of the beaches and islands.
The four-masted Star Clipper will drop anchor close to Indonesia's coves, as
well as towns and villages for a chance to explore the local culture. Other
highlights include the opportunity to view Komodo Dragons, the world’s largest
living species of lizard that live on Indonesia’s islands, growing to a maximum
length of 10 ft.
The ship will also take advantage of its small size to visit destinations
inaccessible to larger ships, such as Satonda, a natural volcanic island and
Marine National Park. Other highlights include a stop in Wera, where guests will
have the opportunity to see the "Pinisi" traditional Indonesian sailing ships,
as well as an excursion to Mount Bromo, an active volcano in East Java, 7.641
ft., set in the middle of a vast plain and protected nature reserve known as the
“Sea of Sand.”
In Java, travelers will visit the Borobudur
Temple Compound, a Buddhist monument dating from the 8th and 9th centuries, and
in Bali, the ship will stop at the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan water temple on the
shores of Lake Bratan, used for offering ceremonies to the Balinese water, lake
and river goddess, Dewi Danu. |
