Cruise Ship the Legend of the Seas visits Port of Benoa Bali

This afternoon I watched a news on MNC TV which says that the Legend of the Seas had just arrived at Port Benoa of Bali island. Bali as one of the destinations in Indonesia is usually served by cruise ship Rhapsody of the Seas. It is interesting to see that another cruise vessel, i.e. the Legend of the Seas operated by the Royal Caribbean International (RCI) visits Bali - famously called the island of the gods. The RCI has got 22 ships in its fleet - categorized in 6 classes including Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas - two largest cruise ships in the world sailing the Caribbean seas.

Bali is the most popular tourist hub in Indonesia. In 2010, around 2.5 million international tourists from around the world came to Bali. The number of travelers going to Bali is increasing significantly after the launch of Eat, Pray, Love (EPL) - a novel written by Elizabeth Gilbert in 2006 and later in the form of film in 2010 with the same title starred by Julia Roberts. The novel and the film depict Gilbert's spiritual or personal journey for self discovery in Ubud - a small town in Bali which has been the center of art and culture.
The recent cruise ship accident in Italy where cruise ship Costa Concordia ran aground a reef near the island of Giglio, nearly 100 years after the sinking of Titanic, has not discouraged holiday makers from traveling by marine vessels. Titanic hit an iceberg in the Atlantic ocean whereas the Costa Concordia hit a rock in the Mediterranean sea. These marine accidents have raised questions to how safe cruise vessels should be designed and constructed and whether the current IMO or SOLAS regulations need more improvements to avoid similar accidents in the future.
With improved security condition in Bali and other tour destinations in Indonesia, the government have optimistically increase their target to 8.5 million foreign tourists in 2012. The arrival of the Legend of the Seas in Bali has been regarded as a positive development to marine tourism industry in Indonesia.
Raja Ampat and Manokwari - two other potential destinations for cruise ships
All of the cruise liners that sail the Indonesian waters have not put Raja Ampat islands, the most popular tourist destination in Indonesia in 2011, in their itinerary because the regency has not developed adequate infrastructure for them.  Raja Ampat has been claimed by international marine biologists as the global epicenter for marine biodiversity.  Raja Ampat islands are home to more than 1600 fish species and three-fourths of the world's known corals. The nearby mountain range of Arfak in Manokwari regency is a world class hiking destination for travelers who want to watch birds of paradise, cuscus and blyth's hornbills. The Doreri bay of Manokwari is the best destination for shipwreck diving in Indonesia. by Charles Roring
Related articles:

• Where is Bali?
• Cruise ships Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas