Julia Roberts, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Mick Jagger, Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez are among the many celebrities who have come to Bali. They typically praise this lovely Indonesian island for its ambiance, privacy, beach resorts, sunsets and spirituality.
A charming port welcome with dancers and musicians playing traditional Balinese instruments greeted my husband Humberto and me when the Regent Seven Seas Mariner arrived in Bali during our 2026 world cruise. Often called “the island of the gods,” “the island of love,” or “the island of 1,000 temples,” Bali is located to the east of Java, and is one of the most beautiful and popular ports of call in Indonesia. It offers celebrities and cruise passengers like us many opportunities for a day of bliss: beaches, picturesque villages, volcano scenery, rice terraces, artistic crafts, and Hindu temples (more than 80 percent of the population is Hindu, and some say there are as many as 20,000 temples and shrines on the island).
We have delved into Bali’s spirituality in past visits to temples – this is a highlight and most visitors do not leave Bali without doing so. Among many highly regarded ones are Pura Lempuyang Luhur, an impressive temple within the highlands of Mount Lempuyang in east Bali and one of the island’s oldest; Tanah Lot, one of our favorites that is famous for its offshore setting and stunning sunsets; and Uluwatu Temple (Ulu means “lands’ end” and watu means “rock”). This seaside temple, often featured on shipboard shore excursions, is dedicated to honor sea gods. It is perched on a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean on the southwestern end of the Bukit Peninsula with panoramic ocean views. It boasts a population of macaque monkeys from the nearby Monkey Jungle that are adorable but cunning and if you give them a chance (or even if you don’t) can abscond with your phone, hat or sunglasses.
Since on previous visits we had taken in temples and other sights, on this our latest visit we wanted to pursue relaxation and cultural enrichment. We had an overnight at Benoa Port (a wonderful perk of world cruises that offer extended stays at a variety of marquee ports in each itinerary – we have had overnights so far in Honolulu, Kauai, Auckland, Sydney and now Bali). These extended stays offer opportunities to catch sunsets, enjoy local cuisine and nightlife. At this latest overnight, we found both the serene relaxation and cultural insights we were looking for at the Four Seasons Bali Jimbaran Bay Resort.
About seven miles from the port city, this luxurious resort and spa perches on a hill in a forest at Jimbaran Bay and overlooks a three-mile crescent of lovely sandy beach. Designed as a Balinese village with traditional courtyard houses, it is perfect for a celebration: honeymoons, anniversaries, birthdays and in our case, reaching nearly the half-way point of our 154-day world cruise adventures – and having so much more time still to enjoy in this epic voyage. We had what the resort calls a “One-bedroom Premier Ocean View Villa” – all accommodations at the Four Seasons Bali Jimbaran Bay have private pools. Ours had wonderful views of the beach.
The resort’s 147 accommodations (there are also two-, three- and four-bedroom villas) have thatched roofs, stone courtyards and authentic Balinese décor featuring wood carvings, antique-style doors, sculpture, ikat textiles and use of traditional materials including bamboo, teak and coconut woods. Our villa had an amazing bathroom with a freestanding soaking tub with views of lush greenery and an outdoor/indoor shower. The walled outdoor shower has lush vegetation, giving the impression that one is showering in a forest.
We also had a “bale” (Balinese pergola) by our pool, and a sitting area in the bedroom where we munched on local tropical fruits like papaya, pineapple, passion fruit, melons, dragon fruit and even exotic delights we had never heard of like longan (similar to lychee) and Balinese oranges (with greenish peel even when ripe and a tart taste). And we drank water right out of huge coconuts. We relaxed in our pergola enjoying the sound of the surf below and the music of crickets, grasshoppers and birds, and we lingered over food at the resort’s seaside Sundara Restaurant.
Jimbaran Bay is a fishing village with a Fish Market to check out, and of course, it is a very popular place to sample some fresh seafood at a café or restaurant by the sea, with views of sacred Mount Agung in the background. Humberto, a seafood lover, loved the big grilled prawns he enjoyed at the Sundara Restaurant. We were also delighted to find that Balinese food is not only delicious but also very colorful – our chicken dish and salads burst with colors of red and yellow peppers, various kinds of tomatoes and vegetables. The presentation of each dish at Sundara made it look like that richly colored Indonesian craft: batik.
Like a typical Balinese village, the resort has a temple, beautifully decorated including colorful umbrellas that we learned are a symbol of protection and the dome of the sky. Other resort facilities include a spa offering a variety of Balinese treatments and therapies, and the resort hosts a workshop for local artists and craftsmen and holds hands-on arts and crafts activities for guests as well as art exhibitions.
Watersports’ enthusiasts find many opportunities in the resort and west-facing Jimbaran Bay, the centerpiece of the resort, is famous for its sunsets. We left the resort feeling completely content and with new insights about Balinese culture – we would have loved to spend more time there.
Another enriching activity we enjoyed during our three-day visit to Bali was an included ship’s tour to villages where traditional Balinese ways are still strictly followed. In the village of Kesiman, we dropped by a batik workshop, and watched artisans using the ancient technique of dying fabrics.
At Gulingan, we saw an expanse of verdant rice terraces – which have become synonymous with this part of Bali – and we learned how the farmers maintain them via an irrigation system known as Subak that relies on a network of canals, tunnels and weirs to channel the water to the paddies.
In the village of Baha, we visited a Balinese house compound that features separate pavilions for different activities: sleeping, cooking and praying – the house’s temple – “every house in Bali has a temple,” our guide Astawa, told us, “and sometimes the temple is bigger than the house.” This one was particularly impressive, not just in size but with elaborate ornamentation in yellow and white (colors signifying holiness) and checkered black, and banners (symbolizing protection).
Finally, the Regent Seven Seas Mariner presented a beautiful show by a local folkloric group of dancers and musicians. The “Buzzing Bee” and “Bird of Paradise” dances were particularly lovely. With regret we said goodbye to Bali and now look forward to our world cruise’s upcoming overnight in exciting Singapore.
Some quick superlatives:
- Most interesting: watching artisans at work creating batiks during our tour.
- Most refreshing: taking sips of fresh coconut water and enjoying exotic tropical fruits at the Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay.
- Most delicious: the grilled prawns at Sundara restaurant at the Four Seasons Bali Jimbaran Bay.
- Most relaxing: sitting in our resort’s poolside pergola listening to the songs of birds and the sound of surf.
- Most enthralling: the “Bird of Paradise” dance by a local folkloric troupe presented in the ship’s Constellation Theater.
Follow along with Georgina and Humberto:
Preparing for a World Cruise | The Adventure Begins | Amazing Americas | Crossing the Pacific | Hawaiian Islands | French Polynesia | Venturing to New Zealand | Australia | Bali
By Cruise Specialists client, Georgina Cruz
Georgina Cruz is a freelance travel writer specializing in cruises. Her work has appeared in national magazines and regional publications as well as on travel websites. She has been on more than 200 voyages including seven circumnavigations, all booked through Cruise Specialists.
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