A cruise ship named MV Legend of the Seas, the biggest yacht, to berth in Benoa Harbour here, Antara news agency quoted Deputy Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sapta Nirwandar said.

"Previously, cruise ships of the same size as the Legend could not berth at any Indonesia port. They could only throw anchor some distance from the coast and transport passengers to the shore by small boats," he said.

Sapta Nirwandar also said the 264.3-meter-long Legend of the Seas was the biggest cruise ship to berth at an Indonesian port, in this case Benoa, Bali.

Meanwhile, the harbour and dredging director of Bali`s Transportation Office, Kemal Heryandri, said Benoa harbour was ready to receive big ships from overseas.

Kemal Heryandri said coral reefs in the harbour waters had been removed in 2011 to ensure the navigation safety of big ships, even of ships bigger than the MV Legend.

BERNAMA - First Big Cruise Ship Berths At Bali's Benoa Harbour