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| Photo by Freeimages.com/Eder Arraibi |
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, Luxury Travel Advisor 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 Luxury Travel Advisor. "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 feet.
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 feet., 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.