Most ships calling at Lombok now pull straight up to Gili Mas, a deep-water terminal next to Port Lembar on the island’s south-west coast, instead of anchoring offshore and tendering everyone in like they used to. Smaller or older ships still anchor and ferry passengers ashore at the Lembar tender dock. Either way you land, you’re looking at about 45 minutes to Mataram and an hour to Senggigi.
Lembar and Gili Mas: the two names for Lombok’s cruise port
Port Lembar, Lombok’s main harbour, sits about 21km south of Mataram, the capital of West Nusa Tenggara, and it’s run by PT Pelabuhan Indonesia III (Pelindo). Older guides lump it all together as the Lembar Lombok cruise terminal, but it’s really two separate places these days: the harbour itself, busy with ferries and fishing boats, and Gili Mas, the purpose-built cruise terminal next door. The map further down this page shows exactly how close the two sit to each other.
Despite the name, Gili Mas isn’t one of the famous Gili Islands. It’s a 440-metre deep-water pier and terminal building at Labuan Tereng. MV Sun Princess (Princess Cruises) was the first ship to berth there, and ships that have called since include Anthem of the Seas (Royal Caribbean), Celebrity Millennium (Celebrity Cruises), MV Regatta (Oceania Cruises) and Ovation of the Seas (Royal Caribbean).
The pier can take ships up to 400 metres long and 4,000 passengers, or two smaller ships side by side, and the terminal building itself holds around 1,500 passengers at a time, according to port data cited by CruiseAlert. Mega-ships like Ovation of the Seas have shifted over to Gili Mas in recent seasons, while the older Lembar tender dock sits in reserve for smaller vessels. Indonesia’s cruise trade overall is growing fast: Pelindo Regional 3 Cruise Time reports 144 cruise ship calls across the country’s ports in the most recent year on record, and Lombok is picking up a growing share of that. For the rest of the archipelago, our Indonesia cruise ship port guide covers the archipelago’s other call-in ports, including the Ujung Pandang (Makassar) cruise ship port and the Port of Semarang cruise ship port guide.
Finding the Lombok cruise port on a map
The map below shows Port Lembar and Gili Mas together, so you can see how close the two really sit and where the main road out heads.
The 10-minute walk from the gangway to the main gate
There’s nothing to see or buy right at the berth. No shops, cafes or sights sit within walking distance of the terminal, and mobile signal at Gili Mas is reported to be extremely weak. Don’t count on checking a map or confirming a pickup once you’re off the ship.
If you’re going it alone, you’re dropped at the Gili Mas terminal main gate, about 1,600 feet (a 10-minute walk) from where the ship ties up. Pre-book a driver to meet you there, use a port taxi, or just build that walk into your morning before you try flagging a Grab or Gojek.
The terminal building is reported to have an air-conditioned waiting area, currency exchange and local vendors selling handicrafts like songket weaving and pearls. None of this is confirmed directly by the port operator, so treat it as a bonus rather than something to plan around.
Getting to Mataram, Senggigi and the airport from the pier
From Gili Mas, Mataram is roughly a 45-minute drive, Senggigi beach is about an hour away, and so is the airport. From the older Lembar dock, Mataram is closer, at about 22km and 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic.
The famous Gili Islands, Trawangan, Meno and Air, are not within reach of a short port call. They’re around 90 minutes away by road, plus a boat crossing on top of that, so they only really work if your ship gives you a long day ashore.
Taxis, Blue Bird and ride-share apps at Gili Mas
Blue Bird is the taxi operator most people trust on Lombok, metered and reliable, and there’s usually a stand near the terminal exit. Call ahead on 0370 627000 or book through the My Blue Bird app if you’d rather have a car sorted before you’re even off the ship.
Grab and Gojek both operate on the island, but right at the port, availability can be patchy, which is another reason to factor that short walk to the main gate into your morning. Local minivans (bemos) run too, but they’re not much use if you’re working to a strict time to be back on board.
Older forum reports describe independent taxis at Lembar being made to wait about a kilometre from the port entrance, reportedly because local operators controlled access to the gate. These accounts are several years old and may not reflect how Gili Mas runs things now, but if a driver asks you to meet slightly further out, this is probably why.
If your ship uses the older Lembar dock rather than Gili Mas, the Perama company runs scheduled shuttle buses from the harbour to Mataram, Kuta and Tetebatu, and taxis there run around the clock.
Shore excursions reachable in a few hours ashore
A shore excursion, booked through the ship or sorted yourself, is just an organised trip ashore in the hours before you need to be back on board. Lombok has a decent spread of options within easy reach of the pier.
- Sade and Sukarare, traditional Sasak weaving villages where you can watch songket fabric being made
- Merese Hill, a short scenic stop popular for photos over the southern coastline
- The “Secret Gilis” (Nanggu, Sudak and Kedis), reached by a 15 to 20-minute taxi to Tawun Harbour followed by a local outrigger boat (jukung) crossing for snorkelling
- A Lombok city tour taking in Banyumulek pottery village, Bertais Market, Narmada Park, Meru Temple and Mataram Mall
- An “Islands of Lombok” tour covering Senggigi beach, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan with snorkelling or diving, for those with a long day ashore
- A Sasak tour combining a traditional village visit, pottery and weaving demonstrations, Tanjung An beach and Kuta Beach
Snorkelling off the Secret Gilis is the standout for most people, so pack reef safe sunscreen before you leave the ship. Nothing of the sort is sold near the pier.
A waterproof phone pouch is handy for the jukung crossing too, if you want photos without risking your phone over open water.
Entry paperwork, currency and the tourist tax question
Indonesia requires an All Indonesia Arrival Declaration, which combines customs and health information, completed within 72 hours of arrival. Do this before you’re queuing at the terminal rather than trying to fill it in on the pier.
Unlike Benoa in Bali, there’s no local tourist tax charged to cruise passengers arriving at Lembar or Gili Mas. One less thing to budget for on a Lombok call.
Common Questions
Do cruise ships dock in Lombok or anchor offshore?
Most dock directly at Gili Mas’s 440-metre pier these days. Older or smaller ships still anchor and tender passengers ashore at the Lembar dock.
What’s the difference between Lembar and Gili Mas?
Lembar is the original harbour. Gili Mas is the newer deep-water cruise terminal built next door, and despite the name, it isn’t one of the Gili Islands.
How far is the port from Mataram?
About 45 minutes by road from Gili Mas, or roughly 22km and 30 to 45 minutes from the older Lembar dock.
Can I walk anywhere from the terminal?
No. There are no shops, cafes or sights within walking distance, just a 10-minute walk to the main gate where taxis and ride-shares wait.
Is there a tourist tax to pay in Lombok?
No. Unlike Benoa in Bali, there’s no local tourist tax for cruise passengers arriving at Lembar or Gili Mas.
Will my phone work at the terminal?
Mobile signal is reported to be very weak at Gili Mas, so confirm pickup details or download maps before you leave the ship.
Are the famous Gili Islands near the cruise port?
No. Trawangan, Meno and Air are about 90 minutes away by road plus a boat crossing, not realistic within a short port call.
Can I use Grab or Gojek from the port?
Availability right at the terminal is limited. Most passengers walk to the main gate or pre-book a driver instead.
Do I need paperwork before arriving?
Yes. Indonesia’s All Indonesia Arrival Declaration, covering customs and health, needs completing within 72 hours of arrival.
Why Trust About2Cruise
This guide draws on Indonesian port authority details, published terminal specifications and cruise line port call records, cross-checked against passenger reports where the official information runs thin, and flagged as such throughout. We haven’t sailed into Gili Mas ourselves, so anything based on older forum accounts or secondary blogs is noted as that, not stated as settled fact. You can read more on our page explaining how About2Cruise researches its guides.
Last Updated: 19 October 2026