Docking at Benoa Port Bali

[Jim_Iain]

15 minutes ago, zitsky said:

Do you remember the name of the app?  I searched the iPhone App Store and found nothing.

 

Thanks for the help.

I'm wrong.   I was thinking of having to use an App for Australia.    Indonesia is web only.

[Bobal]

14 hours ago, zitsky said:

Yes correct.

 

I am asking about getting on the ship at a cruise terminal at the beginning of a cruise when you have never been on the ship before.

 

 

I can answer this as we cruised from Benoa on Millie this year.

 

It was a nightmare for many people getting on at this port. Totally disorganised and very little signage or people to help. There were hundreds of people squashed under an open air canopy or standing outside in blazing heat.

 

My advice would be to do as we did. Make sure you get yourself on the earliest embarkation time, which was 11am for us and then join the people on the extreme left under the canopy They line up in time order so just explain that you are 11am boarding if people think you are cutting in line. Once boarding starts you enter a terminal building. It may be that you get priority once inside but outside it's a free for all. 

 

We were part of a large group doing a package with a UK travel company and stayed in Bali for a few days before the cruise.  We paid for a taxi rather than travelling on the coaches and were so glad we did. Many of the people who came by coach transfer didn't make it onboard until 2pm

[zitsky]

3 hours ago, Bobal said:

I can answer this as we cruised from Benoa on Millie this year.

 

It was a nightmare for many people getting on at this port. Totally disorganised and very little signage or people to help. There were hundreds of people squashed under an open air canopy or standing outside in blazing heat.

 

My advice would be to do as we did. Make sure you get yourself on the earliest embarkation time, which was 11am for us and then join the people on the extreme left under the canopy They line up in time order so just explain that you are 11am boarding if people think you are cutting in line. Once boarding starts you enter a terminal building. It may be that you get priority once inside but outside it's a free for all. 

 

We were part of a large group doing a package with a UK travel company and stayed in Bali for a few days before the cruise.  We paid for a taxi rather than travelling on the coaches and were so glad we did. Many of the people who came by coach transfer didn't make it onboard until 2pm

Thanks.  Is your luggage still with you in THAT line or have you already dropped it off?

[Bobal]

8 hours ago, zitsky said:

Thanks.  Is your luggage still with you in THAT line or have you already dropped it off?

You've dropped it off

[zitsky]

4 hours ago, Bobal said:

You've dropped it off

With the new port I wonder if the boarding line has gotten better?

 

In Civitavecchia it was well organized.  In Valparaiso it was not quite chaos but it was not well organized.

 

I hope in Benoa there is a Retreat line or do I have to start waving my Gold Amex to move to the front of the line?  No they don’t give that to anyone who breathes.  Where did you hear that?

[NMTraveller]

47 minutes ago, zitsky said:

With the new port I wonder if the boarding line has gotten better?

 

In Civitavecchia it was well organized.  In Valparaiso it was not quite chaos but it was not well organized.

 

I hope in Benoa there is a Retreat line or do I have to start waving my Gold Amex to move to the front of the line?  No they don’t give that to anyone who breathes.  Where did you hear that?

How will you transport to the port? Rickshaw or moped?  🤣😂😁😃

[zitsky]

25 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

How will you transport to the port? Rickshaw or moped?  🤣😂😁😃

Rickshaw?  You’ve seen too many movies.  I travel by bus to show I’m one of the people.

[Bobal]

9 hours ago, zitsky said:

With the new port I wonder if the boarding line has gotten better?

 

In Civitavecchia it was well organized.  In Valparaiso it was not quite chaos but it was not well organized.

 

I hope in Benoa there is a Retreat line or do I have to start waving my Gold Amex to move to the front of the line?  No they don’t give that to anyone who breathes.  Where did you hear that?

 

That was the new port! This is a picture of the line waiting to get on at around 1.30pm. Celebrity staff were dashing around with umbrellas to provide shade to those in the line. This is after going through the terminal and waiting to go up the ramp onto the ship. The original waiting area - where it's a free-for-all -  is outside that terminal building in the picture below and in the pictures posted elsewhere on this thread. It may be OK as a cruise stop but, unless things have changed, it's not a great place to embark on a cruise unless you aim to get there early.

Edited June 17 by Bobal

[zitsky]

2 hours ago, Bobal said:

 

That was the new port! This is a picture of the line waiting to get on at around 1.30pm. Celebrity staff were dashing around with umbrellas to provide shade to those in the line. This is after going through the terminal and waiting to go up the ramp onto the ship. The original waiting area - where it's a free-for-all -  is outside that terminal building in the picture below and in the pictures posted elsewhere on this thread. It may be OK as a cruise stop but, unless things have changed, it's not a great place to embark on a cruise unless you aim to get there early.

That looks like there is no priority boarding for the Retreat passengers.

[Bobal]

5 minutes ago, zitsky said:

That looks like there is no priority boarding for the Retreat passengers.

Well the only priority would be once inside the terminal building at the check in desks, but pretty certain there was no priority in the line before you made it in to the terminal building, just lines according to check in time, and once checked in you joined the line in my picture. Didn't see anyone being escorted to the front of that line or waving cards saying 'Do you know who I am'

[zitsky]

1 minute ago, Bobal said:

Well the only priority would be once inside the terminal building at the check in desks, but pretty certain there was no priority in the line before you made it in to the terminal building, just lines according to check in time, and once checked in you joined the line in my picture. Didn't see anyone being escorted to the front of that line or waving cards saying 'Do you know who I am'

I’m not worried.  I’ll still have my gold Amex in December.  That will get me in!  😂

 

I don’t want special treatment.  I just want to follow the rules that Celebrity sets up.

 

Is the earliest boarding time 10am or is it 11am?  Or is it different in every port?

[Bobal]

1 minute ago, zitsky said:

 

Is the earliest boarding time 10am or is it 11am?  Or is it different in every port?

It was 11am in January. We arrived at about 11 and there were hundreds there already so I would jump on 11check in time (or whatever is the earliest) as soon as the times open up and get there before then. 

[zitsky]

10 minutes ago, Bobal said:

It was 11am in January. We arrived at about 11 and there were hundreds there already so I would jump on 11check in time (or whatever is the earliest) as soon as the times open up and get there before then. 

 

I will definitely show up as early as I can.  We plan to just have breakfast and check out of our hotel in Bali.  Then head straight for the port.

[billc23]

3 hours ago, Bobal said:

Well the only priority would be once inside the terminal building at the check in desks, but pretty certain there was no priority in the line before you made it in to the terminal building, just lines according to check in time, and once checked in you joined the line in my picture. Didn't see anyone being escorted to the front of that line or waving cards saying 'Do you know who I am'

This is one of the many ports where the Celebrity hierarchy of privilege is not allowed until after the port authority security process. Celebrity should have separate lines once in the terminal depending on your cabin status/captains club level they usually do. The port authority treats everyone the same.

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, zitsky said:

I’m not worried.  I’ll still have my gold Amex in December.  That will get me in!  😂

 

I don’t want special treatment.  I just want to follow the rules that Celebrity sets up.

 

Is the earliest boarding time 10am or is it 11am?  Or is it different in every port?

Usually the 10AM or 11AM is only Checkin times ---- Usually boarding doesn't begin until about 11:15.   That is pretty much world wide but can be later in some ports.

[zitsky]

28 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Usually the 10AM or 11AM is only Checkin times ---- Usually boarding doesn't begin until about 11:15.   That is pretty much world wide but can be later in some ports.

I don’t mind waiting for an hour.  I’m just not sure if there is a bathroom I can run to.  Considering I may be standing in the sun and drinking water, that could be an issue.  Every terminal is different.

 

[Jim_Iain]

Just now, zitsky said:

I don’t mind waiting for an hour.  I’m just not sure if there is a bathroom I can run to.  Considering I may be standing in the sun and drinking water, that could be an issue.  Every terminal is different.

 

 

Just be cautious of hydration.    I went mountain climbing and a combination of a new BP Med that I became allergic to and the high temperatures I became really dehydrated and took me about 10 day to recover. 

[zitsky]

16 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Just be cautious of hydration.    I went mountain climbing and a combination of a new BP Med that I became allergic to and the high temperatures I became really dehydrated and took me about 10 day to recover. 

Yes that’s what I’m “worried” about.  I’m fine if I can run out of line and get back in.