Island Sky Call at Benoa Port Signals Start of Bali’s 2026–2027 Cruise Season

Bali — — The arrival of the Bahamas-flagged cruise ship Island Sky at Benoa Port on Monday, 24 August 2026, has been described by port management as the opening signal for Bali’s 2026–2027 cruise season, with the 90.6-metre vessel carrying up to 118 passengers and about 75 crew members, according to The Shipping Gazette and statements from Pelindo’s Benoa management.

Operated by Noble Caledonia, Island Sky is considered small by international cruise-industry standards, but its call comes as Benoa prepares for a seasonal increase in cruise traffic that generally runs from around September through April, when weather and regional itineraries favour calls to Bali.

Anak Agung Gede Agung Matara, general manager of Pelindo Regional III Benoa, said the ship’s arrival marked the beginning of the cruise season, noting that although Island Sky berthed on 24 August, the regular pattern of increased cruise calls is expected to build from September.

Benoa’s cruise season and traffic

Cruise activity at Benoa typically strengthens toward the end of the calendar year, with December and January regarded as the busiest months for arrivals, according to Matara’s comments reported by The Shipping Gazette.

During the peak months, Benoa’s upgraded cruise terminal and pier can accommodate roughly 20 cruise calls per month, reflecting the port’s expanded capacity under Pelindo’s cruise strategy and the Bali Maritime Tourism Hub development.

Benoa has emerged as one of Indonesia’s established cruise gateways. Pelindo cruise statistics for 2025 indicate that Benoa handled a leading share of regional cruise passengers and ship calls, underscoring the port’s role as a primary turnaround and transit port for large vessels in eastern Indonesia.

Ship sizes from Island Sky to Anthem of the Seas

Cruise ships calling at Benoa vary widely in scale. Island Sky, built in 1992, measures about 90.6 metres in length and around 4,200 gross tonnes, with capacity for up to 118 passengers and about 75 crew, according to The Shipping Gazette.

At the other end of the spectrum, Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas, a Quantum-class ship, is approximately 347 metres long and has been handled at Benoa as part of Pelindo’s push to welcome jumbo cruise liners.

Anthem of the Seas can carry several thousand passengers and more than a thousand crew members, highlighting the contrast between smaller expedition-style or boutique vessels such as Island Sky and the largest ships that Benoa’s upgraded facilities are designed to receive.

Key figures reported for the port and ships:

• Island Sky: up to 118 passengers and about 75 crew.
• Island Sky: 90.6 metres long and approximately 4,200 gross tonnes.
• Benoa: leading share of Regional III cruise passengers and calls in 2025.
• Peak handling capacity: around 20 cruise calls per month in high season.
• Anthem of the Seas: about 347 metres in length; handled at Benoa as a jumbo cruise liner.

Bali Maritime Tourism Hub development

Bali is seeking to strengthen its position in the regional cruise market through the development of the Bali Maritime Tourism Hub (BMTH) at Benoa Port, a strategic project led by Pelindo and backed by national transport authorities.

The hub includes an international-standard cruise pier capable of berthing multiple large ships simultaneously, expanded terminal facilities, and a marina district designed to accommodate luxury yachts, including superyachts and megayachts, with supporting lifestyle and tourism infrastructure.

Officials and local media report that BMTH is intended to make Benoa one of Southeast Asia’s leading maritime tourism hubs, with full operations targeted by the end of this decade.

The Island Sky call provides an early indicator of the approaching 2026–2027 cruise season at Benoa. While Pelindo and government partners have disclosed strong growth in cruise calls and passenger numbers in recent years, detailed projections for the number of visits and passengers expected over the full 2026–2027 period have not yet been publicly outlined in available reports.

Sources

• The Shipping Gazette
• The Bali Sun
• Pelindo Cruise Time blog
• Balithisweek
• AsiaToday.id
• Bali Discovery
• Tempo.co – Pelindo maritime tourism strategy article