Making the most of Semarang
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
The port of Tanjung Emas is close to the town of Semarang in the province of Central Java. There is modern cruise terminal with free wi-fi, souvenir shops, currency exchange, tourist information and a taxi information desk. Tanjung Emas is the ideal port to visit Central Java and the temple of Borobudur (100 km / two-hour drive), in the province of Yogyakarta.
As many crew members come from this area, be considerate and give them "a day off"
Distance/drive time from port/ terminal to town center: 6 km Availability of taxis at port/terminal: Yes
Shuttle buses generally provided to downtown.
Printable map to take along.
Semarang, a former Dutch colony, is the gateway to the other cities in Central Java. Under the Dutch it became a busy trading and administrative center and great number of Chinese traders joined the Muslimcommunity. Export of sugar and other agricultural products brought great wealth to the city. The strong Chinese influence can be seen in the many temples and city houses with history dating back to the middle of the 15th century Sam Po Kong temple, also known as Gedong Batu which symbolizes Chinese as well as Muslimbeliefs. The 18th century Blenduk Church also showcases Dutch heritage through its unique and beautiful architecture. This city…
Getting around
A cruise organized tour to The Borobudur is about the only and good option. By taxi about $200 round trip.
Semarang has a population of 2 million and traffic jams are more than likely. Tour buses are accompanied by police escorts to clear the way ahead!
Nearby places
The vicinity of Semarang is also home to both heritage and cultural sites of the Royal cities of Solo and Yogyakarta, the 9th century Hindu temple Prambanan, and the 9th century Buddha temple of The Borobudur.
Food and shopping
The largest shopping complex in Semarang is the Mal Ciputra, located at Jl. Simpang Lima in downtown Semarang. It is a 21st century shopping mall with clothing stores, jewelry boutiques, and delicious cafes. Semarang has a number of stores specializing in local artwork and crafts.
Semarang is also home to Luwak coffee, the most expensive in the world.
Money
ATMs are common in any major cities in Indonesia.
Be careful when using credit cards, as cloning and fraud are a major problem in Indonesia. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, but American Express can be problematic. At smaller operations, surcharges of 2-5% over cash are common.
Staying connected
The sole official language is Indonesian, known as Bahasa Indonesia.
Internet: Prices vary considerably, and as usual you tend to get what you pay for, but you'll usually be looking at around Rp 5,000 per hour. In large cities, there are free hotspots in certain shopping malls, McDonald restaurants and Starbucks cafes. Some hotels provide free hotspots in the lobby.
mobile phones emergency number: 112