I have been to Bali and had a wonderful time. Ubud is a most beautiful city. The Beach at Lovina has huge red ants. Sanur is the tourist area with all the chain hotels.

You are more likely to get rammed on a sidewalk of Sydney by a wayward car, or your wallet lifted in Bangkok than being blown up by a terrorist anywhere.

On that trip, I cut my Maylasian visit short due to state department warnings of protest that did not occur.

I would go and take all precautions you would in any tourist spot.

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Originally posted by 2Patsy:
Am booked on Funchal for January cruise to Indonesian Islands stopping at Bali and Lombok, What do you think? I am worried. PATSY

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quote:

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This Advice is current for Tuesday, 04 October 2005.
The Advice was issued on Monday, 03 October 2005, 22:38:35, AEST.

This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information on safety and security. The overall level of the advice has not changed.

Australians are advised to defer non-essential travel to Indonesia. Australians in Indonesia who are concerned for their safety should consider departing. Australians who consider their presence in Indonesia to be essential should exercise extreme caution. The recommendation that Australians defer non-essential travel applies to Indonesia as a whole, including Bali.

A number of bombs exploded in Bali in the evening of 1 October at several locations, including Kuta Square and Jimbaran Bay. Several deaths and injuries occurred. The possibility of further explosions cannot be ruled out. Media have reported further general and specific bomb and terrorist threats and anonymous tip-offs in the wake of the 1 October bombings. While this information cannot be corroborated, Australians should be aware that the Seminyak area in Bali has been mentioned as a potential target for terrorist attacks. Nightclubs popular with westerners in Seminyak are possible targets. We continue to assess that hotels, shopping centres, restaurants, bars and all other areas where westerners tend to gather could be targeted by terrorists without forewarning.

Australians in Bali should exercise extreme caution, remain in their hotels wherever possible and consider departing if concerned for their safety. Additional flights to Australia are being organised to meet demand; details can be obtained from Qantas on 00180361786 (from Bali), and 131313 (from Australia). Travellers should also advise their families in Australia regarding their welfare and safety.

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[ 10-03-2005: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

The advisories are only good if you can access them at the right time or if the media has information, and also if people want to listen (unfortunately).

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Originally posted by bulbousbow:
Ocean Liners, thanks for the advisory. Australians know about Bali, they have been warned for the last three years since the first terrorist bombing there, so they are well aware of the risks. We also have continuing ads on TV with the website address you have given: smartraveller.gov.au, so Aussies are well informed. However what has happened now does not mean it will happen again in January.

The advisories are only good if you can access them at the right time or if the media has information, and also if people want to listen (unfortunately).

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Cheers

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Ocean Liners wrote:
...I was posting for 2Patsy not for you.

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So?

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if there were ANY concerns with safety/security then the cruise line would change the itinerary. There are plenty of other ports close by including broome and Darwin which could easily be substitued for bali.

She originally scheduled to call Padang Bay on December 28th though Princess had pulled Bali as Sapphire Princess did in March.
They selected Kuantan for a substitute for Bali

Here is the Revised Itinerary.

M601 Asia/ Australia
20 DEC 2005, 19 nights aboard Diamond Princess

Date / Ports of Call / Arrival / Departure
Tue 20 Dec Singapore, Singapore - / 5PM
Thu 22 Dec Bangkok, Thailand 7AM 7PM
Sat 24 Dec Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 7AM 6PM
Mon 26 Dec Kuantan, Malaysia 8AM 5PM
Sat 31 Dec Darwin, Australia 8AM 6PM
Tue 3 Jan Cairns, Australia 8AM 6PM
Wed 4 Jan Cid Harbour, Australia 9AM 6PM
Fri 6 Jan Brisbane, Australia 8AM 6PM
Sun 8 Jan Sydney, Australia 5AM

[ 11-04-2005: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

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