MSV Seahorse - Raja Ampat

[Hintermann]

I have booked a 11-day liveaboard cruise in Raja Ampat on the MSV Seahorse this November and am about to book flights. I have a few flight connection options on the table, all with positive and negative aspects to them. I won't bore everyone with the details but suffice to say that my decision will be helped if I had the following information:

• The earliest and the latest times they will allow a guest to actually board the boat on the day of the cruise.

I sent an e-mail to the booking agents but they have not responded yet. Maybe they don't know the answer. I have no direct contact information with whoever operates that boat.

 

[Darnold9999]

Can't answer your question directly but my experience with Indonesian local flights is that you do not ever want to cut things close on the latest time they will allow a guest to board the boat. Personally flying in the day before and staying the night in Sorong, is the only way I would do it. My experience is that a flight that leaves within half an hour of its scheduled time is "on time", and more than 25% of the flights I have taken were delayed more than that. Two by more than 8 hours.

Typically the boats pick everyone up from the hotel and take them to the "pier" then ship them out to the boat in a couple of runs. You do not want to be the person that arrives 4 hours after the scheduled departure time because your plane was 6 hours late - while everyone else sits on the boat waiting for you.

If you are significantly early most people just hang out at the hotel across the road from the airport. The Sorong Meridian. Not a bad place to get a meal and hang out.

 

[dirtfarmer]

Typically the boats pick everyone up from the hotel and take them to the "pier" then ship them out to the boat in a couple of runs. You do not want to be the person that arrives 4 hours after the scheduled departure time because your plane was 6 hours late - while everyone else sits on the boat waiting for you.

I totally agree Darnold. I was on a Komodo trip and someone's flight was late and we sat waiting for them. With some boats you might not be so lucky. yes I got to know some of the others and had a few beers, but we missed a dive the next day due to our late departure. Being late is not a good way to make friends with people your going to be with for the next week or more.

 

[Hintermann]

Thanks people. Since my first post I got a reply from MSY Seahorse who told me that they would like all their guests on board by 17:30 for the briefing around 19:00.

If I use Garuda all the way, the flight lands in Sorong at 06:15 hours, 11 hours and 15 minutes before the advised latest boarding time. They also told me that since Garuda started direct daily flights from Makassar to Sorong, most Raja Ampat visitirs arrive on that. Is is safe to take that flight?

PS: Seahorse also said that they can allow me to board the boat soon after arrival (ie early) and advised me NOT to book an unnecessary hotel room.

 

[Darnold9999]

11 hours will probably be fine. If it isn't you won't be the only one late

 

[Shasta_man]

It's easy to get from Makassar to Sorong because it was already a direct flight. The problem is getting to Makassar. I came through Jakarta and the flight was straight from Jakarta so once you were on there, you were good. If you meet the flight in Makassar then you still run the possibility of not making the Makassar flight. That's not to say that you won't but delays are normal for Indonesia domestic flights. My flights were on time on the way in and delayed 4 hours on the way out of Sorong. I stayed at the Meridien in Sorong for one night. Funniest part was when a single guy put the entire 737 worth of luggage through a little door in the back of the terminal at Sorong, one piece at a time, while we baked in the heat. Be prepared for serious heat on the way out because the process may not allow quick egress and you may not get access to water quickly. A couple people nearly passed out from heat exhaustion, all while the locals stood around in full coats and sweaters.

 

[Hintermann]

It's easy to get from Makassar to Sorong because it was already a direct flight. The problem is getting to Makassar.

I am using Garuda all the way. My London flight lands at 06:55 hours but the Makassar connection is not till 19:15 hours. I have deliberately planned it that way so that I can get some sleep in-between and get over some of the jet lag. I have booked a Day Room at a discounted rate agreed between 08:00 and 17:00 approx at the Amaris Bandara Soekarno-Hatta Hotel very close to the airport.

 

[chillyinCanada]

I'm confused. Your first post with times has you arriving at Sorong at 6:15 hours but a later post says your flight out of Macassar leaves at 19:15. This does not compute for me. What did I miss? Other than that I rsther be on a Garuda flight than any other Indonesian domestic flight.

 

[charlier]

Hi - You will have a fantastic trip. Since you arrive early, its always nice to get on the the LOB early and set stuff up. Make sure that the Seahorse cruise director has your flight schedule, but more important, Garuda has the cruise director as your secondary contact for arrival updates. Commonly, flight times are changed or canceled for no apparent reason. This goes with the territory. Since most folks are thrashed from the trip to Sorong, there is not much happening the first day - so get some sleep.

As much as I dislike night flights, I usually take the direct flight from Jakarta to Sorong. No chance of missed bags, etc. Although I prefer to fly Garuda, I have probably had more problems with Garuda than most FYI, I live in Singapore, so its easy to get to Jakarta, Manado, or Makassar. I never use travel agents, except for domestic Indonesian air travel. A good Indonesian travel agent really helps and is worth the cost (less stress).

 

[Hintermann]

I'm confused. Your first post with times has you arriving at Sorong at 6:15 hours but a later post says your flight out of Macassar leaves at 19:15. This does not compute for me. What did I miss? Other than that I rsther be on a Garuda flight than any other Indonesian domestic flight.

No, let me make it clear what I have planned. I hope that it works.

- My long Garuda flight from London lands in Jakarta at 06:55. I would be shattered and jet lagged.
- Accordingly, I will clear formalities, collect luggage and go straight to that hotel very near the airport to get some sleep. Check-in & checkout times agreed with discounted rate.
- I will check out of that hotel ay 17:00 and catch the 19:15 Garuda flight from Jakarta to Makassar. That lands in Makassar at 22:45.
- I will wait in Makassar airport till boarding time for the 03:00 Garuda flight to Sorong and this lands at 06:15. That is 11+ hours before the indicated deadline for boarding the boat.
- After I pick-up my luggage from Sorong Airport, Seahorse have just confirmed that they will allow me to board the boat early.

charlier:

I usually take the direct flight from Jakarta to Sorong

What direct flight charlier? I was under the impression that to get from Jakarta to Sorong, one has to take a 1-stop flight as I am doing? Is there a non-stop service between CGK and SOQ that I have missed?