Luxury cruise ship moors to Benoa Port in Bali

Denpasar (ANTARA News) - A 205-meter long luxury cruise ship Albatross moored to Benoa port in Indonesian island resort of Bali for the first time on Tuesday, local port official HB Harahap said overnight.

"Sailing under German flag with 596 tourists and 518 crews on board, Albatross is a huge, luxury cruise ship to moors to Benoa port for the first time," Harahap said, adding that the tourists were from Europe, Asia and the United States.

He said that during the stop-over in Benoa, the tourists enjoyed cultural attractions and visited several tourist resorts such as Besakih, Kintamani and Celuk Gianyar.

Harahap added that the presence of such a luxury cruise ship in Bali had a positive impact on tourism in Bali.

Security at Benoa port was tightened during Albatross presence. The passengers` waiting room at the port was sterilized and surrounded with iron bars to prevent ordinary people from entering in.

According to him, Albatross berthed at Benoa at about 10 a.m. on Tuesday and moored off the island resort at 9 p.m to continue her voyage to Timor Leste capital of Dili.

From Dili, the luxury cruise will then sail by Kisar Island in Southeast West Maluku to the Australian Northern Territorial city of Darwin.