Please bear in mind that most Indonesian airlines change their timetables and pricing quite frequently, so we recommend waiting until 2-3 months before the flight date to make final bookings.
This cruise starts in Sorong (SOQ) and ends in Bitung with the airport near Manado; Samratulangi International Airport (MDC). Your international flights can take you to either Bali or Jakarta. Be aware that connecting flights to/from Bali/Jakarta to/from Sorong/Manado will vary from each Indonesian hub.
Please use these details as a guide only, as most Indonesian airlines change their timetables and pricing quite frequently, so we recommend waiting until 4-5 months before the flight date to make final bookings.
Each flight ticket and/or Air Carrier will have its own Free Baggage Allowance (FBA) policy. This Free Baggage Allowance (FBA) entitlement is valid only on that specifc flight and may not necessarily apply to your connecting flights. Other carriers may require you to pay a Excess Baggage Charge (EBC) if your Free Baggage Allowance (FBA) entitlement is lower on your connecting flights. Be sure to check with your flight booking agent what rules apply to your ticket. Note as well there are different rules for international and domestic flights.
NB: Luggage allowance for most domestic airlines is 15 KG per person and excess luggage is usually around USD 1.5 per KG. Many guests choose to bring a lot of their own dive gear which can easily exceed the 15 KG limit, so it is advisable to expect to pay in additional fee for any domestic flights. For example, for a dive gear bag weighing 30 KG we would expect to pay around USD 25 per domestic flight taken.
Please see the Aurora’s hotel page for suggestions. Click here.
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Aurora will arrange transfers to and from the dock and airport only. Hotel transfers to the dock are not included but can be arranged for you. Let Tropical Adventures Travel know your hotel transfer needs and we will arrange it for you. The Aurora team will pick you up at 10:00am on April 20, 2025 if you are staying on island prior to boarding. If you are flying in directly on the day of boarding, we will pick you up at the airport and transfer you directly to the boat. We want all guests on board by 1:00pm at the latest. We ask that all guests disembark after breakfast on the last day (May 2, 2025). If you have a flight later in the day, you can remain on board, but clear your cabin out and linger on the deck or in the salon until your transfer time. If you have an early flight they will get you off in time to catch it.
There are so many interesting places to visit in Indonesia. Are you looking for a different dive destination for before or after your cruise? Or do you want to take in some land-based sights like local temples? What about exploring some of Indonesia’s rainforests and volcanic scenery? Or booking a unique cultural experience? Or how about a trip to meet some of the land-based wildlife? Here’s a website where you can get started by reading up on some popular tourism spots: www.indonesia.travel
This destination is not only famous for its diving (such as the incredibly vibrant and fish-packed wreck of the US Liberty at Tulamben) but it is also a popular island for pre/post-cruise relaxation and cultural activities. If you”re looking for adventure, then why not visit the world-class Bali surfing beaches or even try a bungee jump? Or take a tour into the picturesque rice fields and visit some villages near the volcano, or pop to the arty city of Ubud where you can also hang out with some friendly monkeys? Another highlight is a traditional ”Barong” show which tells the stories of Indonesian folklore and don”t miss the ”bat cave temple” (Goa Lawah) which is not only a peaceful temple site, but also a fascinating spot to photograph hundreds of bats (and a few snakes) nestled into a cave. If you want some time to chill out in paradise, then Bali is well known for its high quality spa retreats and luxurious villas, so just ask us for suggestions on where to go to continue your relaxing holiday in Indonesia.
This destination is another great option for more diving. It’s particularly famous for having the muck-diving mecca of Lembeh Straits as well as the stunning wall dives of Bunaken. There are also lots of other activities to enjoy here, such as white water rafting and forest walks, so if you have time pre/post-cruise then consider popping up to Manado and taking some time to explore North Sulawesi.
This destination offers some great opportunities to explore Indonesian culture and local village life, but you may also want to consider a visit to Yogyakarta where you can then access the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Borobudur – a stunning Buddhist temple complex, in the shadows of the volcano, thought to be built in the 8th or 9th century and “hailed as the largest and most complete ensemble of Buddhist reliefs in the world, unsurpassed in artistic merit, each scene an individual masterpiece”.
These destinations are also very easy to access from Indonesia, so definitely an option for a pre/post-cruise extension. There are great dive sites from Pulau Tioman and Pulau Redang on Malaysia’s east coast, to Ko Tao or Ko Phi Phi (on Thailand”s east/west coasts respectively), but there are also plenty of other exciting towns and cities to explore. Melaka (also spelt Malacca) is on Malaysia’s west coast, south of the capital Kuala Lumpur (KL), and is a really nice place to see what happens to a Malay town when you mix both Portuguese and Dutch influences with ”straits Chinese” culture. Or another nice urban visit is the town of Penang, up near the Thai border. Or you could counter all the underwater exploration with a few days inland at the quaint tea plantations of the Cameron Highlands, or visiting the Taman Negara national park (as tourist guides say; “… in the middle of the Malaysian peninsula lies a rainforest so old it makes the entire Amazon jungle seem like new growth”).
This destination is not only a useful hub for international flights but also a tourist stop in its own right, with plenty to offer different visitors whether you prefer eating, shopping or activities. The zoo here is a good example of how to combine tourism with an educational centre, making the enclosures as natural as possible (including free-ranging orangutans, lemurs and monkeys who thrive in the local rainforest environment). Or why not head to Sentosa island for the luge or wave centre, or even visit the Resorts World theme park? Plus remember Singapore is known as “a beginner’s guide to Asia” since it really does try to offer a taster of the whole region, so take time to visit Chinatown and Little India but also Kampong Glam (the Arab quarter) and tick of Christian churches, Islamic mosques, Chinese temples, Hindu temples and Buddhist shrines all in one day!
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