How do I get to where the boat leaves from?*
Our cruises leave from either the Gili Islands off the north west tip of Lombok (Lombok Moyo Cruise, Lombok West Coast Cruise, Sunda Island Cruise), or from Labuan Bajo, on the western end of the island of Flores. Our Take Bone Rate cruise departs from Bira in south Sulawesi. Most of our passengers transit Bali. To get to the Gili Islands from Bali (1) you can take a fast boat direct to Gili, (2) take the public ferry to the port of Lembar in Lombok and then get a van or taxi to Bangsal where you can get a water taxi to the Gilis, (3) fly to Mataram and then take a taxi to Bangsal where you can get a water taxi to the Gilis. The fastest choice is the direct fast boat. The fast boat, and the plane plus taxi cost about the same. The public ferry option is the cheapest but it can take a long time. We can help with fast boat bookings. We will also book flights for you but require you to pay in full upon booking.
To get to or from Labuan Bajo (Sunda Island Cruise, Komodo Cruise) most passengers fly. There are two or three airlines that service this route, and there are daily flights in both directions. Prices vary according to airline and how long before departure you pay for your ticket. We can book flights for you but require you to pay in full at time of booking. If you are adventurous and have lots of time, you can buy a combination of ferry and bus travel back to Lombok and on to Bali. These tickets are sold by the travel agencies in Labuan Bajo. They can take up to three days of non-stop travel (or you can decide to break your journey along the way) and are quite inexpensive.
For our Take Bone Rate Cruise, you fly to Makassar in Sulawesi and then get a taxi or a series of public buses to Bira. We can book flights for you but require you to pay in full at time of booking.
Whichever cruise you decide to take with us, we give you full instructions on where, when and how to join the boat before your cruise begins.
What do I need to bring on the boat with me?
Just the usual things you travel with. We provide bedding and towels. There are little shops in the Gili Islands and at Labuan Haji in Moyo. Labuan Bajo in Flores is a small town and has many shops. However in all these places, you cannot expect to find western products, medicines, etc. For example, women should not expect to find tampons at any of the places we stop. Likewise, special batteries for digital cameras are not easy to find. Items such as this are only available at shops, pharmacies or supermarkets in Bali which cater to tourists.
Do I need to take malaria medication for any of the cruises?
Malaria is not endemic currently in any of the places we call at and we ourselves do not take malaria medication. However there is a slight risk of catching malaria no matter where you travel in Indonesia. You must make up your own mind.
I have a medical condition. Will emergency help be available if I need it?
Indonesia does not have a well-developed medical-evacuation infrastructure, and provincial hospitals on the islands we visit do not have sophisticated facilities. Helicopter or air-ambulance evacuation is based in Bali and is expensive, if and when it is available at all. On some of our routes, the nearest medical help of any kind can be three days away. If you are currently taking medication, make sure you have enough for the time you are in Indonesia. Note that the pharmacies in most country towns such as Labuan Bajo, etc have a very limited range or medicines. Indeed, your medicine may not be available in Indonesia at all. If you have a medical condition you should take advice before deciding to take any cruise in Indonesia and ensure you have adequate medical insurance, including coverage for air evacuation. Bluewater Cruises is not responsible for injury or illness suffered by guests while on our boats.
Is there power supply on the boats to charge cameras, cellphones or laptops?
Yes, but you charge your equipment at your own risk. We are not responsible for any damage to electrical equipment caused while you are on the boat, including damage caused by sea or rain water.
What are the sea conditions and weather like in Indonesia?
There are two basic seasons: the East season when the wind blows predominantly from the East (roughly June to October), and the West when it comes from the opposite direction. Generally speaking the sea conditions are calm. Because the sea is enclosed by islands, there are seldom big waves. Sometimes if the wind is blowing hard, the sea can be choppy.
Please be aware that our boats are made of wood and ALL wooden boats can leak if it rains hard. Sometimes the cabin roof and the deck can drip a little. You may get wet, but this is normal for any boat. Experienced sailors will tell you that if you don't want to get wet, don't go on the sea.
Will I get sea sick?
Some people feel a little uncomfortable the first day or so, but taking motion sickness (Antimo) tablets which we always have onboard, and which are commonly available throughout the islands, will quickly help you feel better.
How are the boats powered?
All our boats use marine diesel engines and these are used as a matter of course. It is not practical to use the sails since these boats are not designed for speed. In the old days before engines, it was accepted that a relatively short voyage might take several weeks. Nowadays, people want to get to their destinations quickly and as far as we know, there are no boats in these waters that still use their sails as their primary means of propulsion. In addition, in areas where there are many reefs, shoats and islands, it is just not safe to rely on sails. Usually, weather and sea conditions permitting, we will put the sails up for an hour or so to give you a taste of old-style sailing and give you the opportunity to take photographs.
What is included in the basic price?
Three hearty meals a day, snacks, fruit, plus continuous water, tea and coffee are included in the basic price.
What is not included?
Soft drinks and beer are not included.
Airfares or land transport costs to bring you to or from the place you join or leave the boat are not included. We are happy to make airline reservations for you provided you pay for the flights in advance since in Indonesia, flights are not confirmed unless they are paid for in full.
Entry charges and guiding fees. In certain places we visit, the local people such as at Labuan Haji in Moyo, and at Satonda Island, the local people ask a small charge (a dollar or two per person). This depends on the activities you do and are not included in the basic price. The Komodo Marine National Park charges all visitors who enter the environs of the park. This fee is also not included in the basic price.
What is the cost of diving?
Because our cruises offer diving as an addition rather than as the primary focus of the voyage, diving is charged extra to the basic price. The actual cost of diving depends on how many guests on the cruise want to dive and how often. The cost is similar to what you would pay if you dived with a shore-based company. Because diving in these waters is challenging, it is essential that a dive guide or dive master is aboard. Because the dive guide or dive master works freelance, his or her fee is calculated on the number of divers and how often they dive. These fees are passed on to our passengers at cost. There is no additional charge for dive tanks or fills over and above the per dive cost or the dive package cost. Please tell us what your plans are and we will develop the most economical package for you.
Do you have dive equipment for hire on the boats?
No. Divers come in so many different sizes and shapes that it is not practical for us, as a cruising company, to provide a full range of equipment. What we usually do is take you to one of the land-based dive operators at your point of embarkation where you can hire the gear that suits you best. Where the place you hire the gear is different from where you leave the boat, we will return this hire equipment to the dive centre that rented it to you.
What is your payment/refund policy?
To confirm your booking, we require you to pay a 50% deposit at the time you book. The balance must be paid prior to getting on the boat. If you have paid a deposit and you cancel your trip more than 42 days prior to departure, we reserve the right to retain up to 20% of your deposit to offset any expenses we may have incurred. Between 42 days and 15 days before travel we reserve the right to retain up to 50% of your deposit, and for less than 15 days before departure, up to 100%.
Please note that itineraries may change, or be curtailed without notice due to sea conditions, acts of God, natural disasters, strikes, changes in Indonesian government regulations, civil disorder, failures or negligence on the part of third parties, or other causes beyond our control. Bluewater Cruises is not bound to refund any monies in these circumstances but will always do its best to consider each case according to its merits. Refund claims will not be entertained in the case of the passenger changing his or her mind about their cruise and its destination or published activities once the cruise has commenced.
If there is a problem that cannot be resolved, any legal action against Bluewater Cruises must be initiated in the Bali High Court, according to Indonesian legal code.
info@bluewatercruises.com