As the fourth most populous country in the world, Indonesia represents immense growth potential for cruise tourism. With the Indonesians' growing appetite for travel, the market is ripe for development across leisure, fly-cruise and MICE segments.
That potential took the spotlight at CruiseWorld Indonesia 2025 on 15 July, where leaders from StarDream Cruises and Royal Caribbean shared bold visions for turning the archipelago into Asia’s next major cruise market.
StarDream Cruises: Anchoring opportunities in Indonesia
“Indonesia, with its breathtaking natural wonders, rich cultural tapestry and world-renowned cuisine, holds tremendous potential to become a premier cruise hub in Asia,” stated Michael Goh, president of StarDream Cruises.
Since returning in 2022, StarDream has seen Indonesia rank third in Southeast Asia as a source market. In the first half of 2025 alone, the cruise line made ten seasonal calls to cities including Jakarta and Medan.
“We have proudly welcomed nearly 80,000 passengers aboard our ships over the last three years,” Goh noted. “This growth has been driven by strong local demand and the expanding fly-cruise segment.”
StarDream Cruises' commitment to inclusive cruising also stood out, being the first cruise line globally certified under the OIC SMIIC Halal-Friendly Standard. “Fully certified Halal menus, alongside Vegetarian and Jain cuisine, deliver comfort, inclusivity and peace of mind to all our guests.”
Goh emphasised that each visit supports local economies via sectors like provisioning, hospitality and employment. “Through these deployments, we are unlocking a sea of opportunities – and we are deeply honoured to play a leading role in advancing Indonesia’s position as a premier cruise hub.”
Royal Caribbean: Experience-driven growth ahead
For Chad Grospe, vice president and managing director for Asia Pacific at Royal Caribbean, the future of cruising in Indonesia is anchored in experiential travel and strategic partnerships.
Injecting humour and marketing savvy, Grospe pointed to the Royal Caribbean’s jersey collaboration with football icon Lionel Messi: “That Messi jersey between Inter Miami FC and Royal Caribbean will be the number one selling jersey on the globe, in 2024 and 2025. It shows the power of partnerships.”
Royal Caribbean currently deploys two Quantum-class ships in Asia and sees strong interest from Indonesian travellers. Grospe recounted joining a recent sailing on board Ovation of the Seas from Singapore to Hong Kong with 1,000 Indonesians on board.
“The energy was electric – the laughs, the smiles. It was phenomenal to see them enjoying these milestones together.”
He pointed to the return of large group and MICE bookings, aided by logistical ease and multilingual onboard support: “We made announcements on the ship in Bahasa to ensure it was a seamless effort.”
The cruise line is now shifting towards seasonal deployment and enhancing its fly-cruise offerings. Grospe believes the Asian consumer increasingly values relaxing, cultural and adventure-rich experiences: “You want both those Instagrammable and bonding moments.”