Eka Jaya fast boat - overbooking

Perth, Australia
1 post
Eka Jaya fast boat - overbooking
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I want to alert other travellers to the problem of fast boats overbooking & the fact that you might not even get onto the boat even though you have confirmed tickets booked months before,

Here's our experience with Eka Jaya.....

I booked & paid online direct with Eka Jaya fast boat nearly 2 months before my husband & I were travelling. I sent confirmation emails & received replies from EJ the week before both rides from/to Bali. In fact their online service was excellent.

The boat trip from Bali to Gili was fine. We were due to return from Lombok to Bali 2w later. There is no signage at Teluk Kodek where Eka Jaya tells you to go to get the boat, Fortunately we had a helpful taxi driver, so we found the place eventually.

When the boat arrived an hour late it was obvious we were not all going to fit on esp as there was a lot of luggage - there were about 12 of us on the beach waiting since around 10am. It was also obvious the EJ staff didn't know what to do about it - they kept checking our tickets. It seemed like 2 latecomer's had dodgey tickets (last minute?) - but they had a local (& vocal) guy with them & eventually were allowed on before any of us - they got the last 2 seats - nice one! I got the impression the EJ guys knew it wasn't the right thing to do, but just gave up. Eventually, amost 1.5hrs after the boat was supposed to leave, they told us to get on. One family had to stay behind (I don't know what they were going to do). The luggage was loaded in the aisle between the seats - noone could get out of their seats unless they walked on top of the luggage. 4 of us had to sit on the back steps, at the entrance to the aisle, It was extremely uncomfortable never mind unsafe. We had to sit like this for over 1.5hrs. I wasn't very happy about getting on the boat as I was concerned it was overloaded - but no other option was given to us (ie another boat will come later) & we didn't know how else we'd get back to Bali. Fortunately, we did make it back to Bali safely (with sore backs, behinds & ankles). It was a really unpleasant experience - fortunately we sat (if you can call it that) with a really nice English couple (on honeymoon) & kept ourselves distracted by getting to know each other, It was their first visit to Asia - not a good experience for novice Asia travellers.

I was very angry & emailed EJ to complain & said I would post a comment on Trip Advisor to warn other people. I think overbooking & overcrowding might be a problem with other fast boats to Gili, esp in high season. Can anyone recommend a reliable fast boat to Gili?? We won't use Eka Jaya again, My advice is - don't bother booking in advance, it doesn't guarantee anything. And non-swimmers - don't go by boat!

Sydney Australia
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1,809 posts
30 reviews
89 helpful votes
1. Re: Eka Jaya fast boat - overbooking
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Thanks for the warning, just last night I made the decision to go to the Gillis by boat rather than fly with my two kids in tow. So I'll be interested in any replies you get and will most definitely comment on this post when I book our tickets with someone other than Eka Jaya.

I have to say I wouldn't get into a boat that over crowded going across the Lombok strait!

Portsmouth, UK
3 posts
2. Re: Eka Jaya fast boat - overbooking
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Be grateful you had a lucky escape. See the post I have put up today - our EkaJaya boat sank!!

Ubud, Indonesia
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2,476 posts
43 reviews
53 helpful votes
3. Re: Eka Jaya fast boat - overbooking
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Eka Jaya is so notoriously bad that a travel agent in Ubud, Bali told me a few months ago that he was concerned about their safety due to the age of their boats. When I travelled on them (never again) I got drenched from waves coming in the leaky tarpaulin type 'roof' and the harbour master at Padang Bai was furious at the overcrowding when he met the boat at the port. There are other better fast boats.. Sea Marlin, Wahana.

I hope the recent sinking puts this company out of business, but I doubt it will as the account in the Bali Times dated (Aug 27, bottom of p5) headlines 'Fast-Boat scare for Gili Tourists' that gives a completely different account of the incident to the one Kellynorgate gives and seems to be a complete whitewash.

It says that after the boat was 'swamped' by a wave, the captain 'decided' to 'beach the boat' on a near Bug Bug, where the passengers waited for some hours till they were rescued by boats sent from Padang Bai.. and they got wet wading through surf to reach 'ashore'.

Whereas Kellynorgate describes a completely different set of events.

Salt Lake City, Utah
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30 posts
50 reviews
37 helpful votes
4. Re: Eka Jaya fast boat - overbooking
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I used both Eka Jaya and Gili Cat in '08. I actually thought that Eka Jaya was much better service, much less crowded, much more comfortable than Gili Cat.

The driver seemed more safe as well. I guess things were better/different in '08.

Lombok / Australia
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175 posts
5. Re: Eka Jaya fast boat - overbooking
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In 2008 tourist numbers to the Gilis were not what they are now. It was the beginning of the current surge in interest.

Also, history has now shown the difference is the maintenance. Some companies invest in maintenance, crew training and qualified crew, the other...

Lombok, Indonesia
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8,312 posts
4 reviews
11 helpful votes
6. Re: Eka Jaya fast boat - overbooking
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One operator pulled out as the investment in training, equipment, and crewing numbers could not be supported when up against other operators working to significantly lower thresholds. It could be a long lonely swim if things go wrong, and they do. The air services between Bali and Lombok are very popular in the times when the seas get a bit high. There is a reason for this.

Edited: 10 years ago
Lombok, Indonesia
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8,312 posts
4 reviews
11 helpful votes
7. Re: Eka Jaya fast boat - overbooking
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I guess anyone reading this thread should indulge themselves in a read of Bali Forum: Fast boat to GIli Trewangan sinks 21st August. (cut and paste to do a search as the spelling of 'Gili' is not correct). This is the thread referred to by [Kellynorgate] on Aug 22, 2010. It makes for an interesting read.

Here are some hopefully dryer options:

Indonesia Air Transport http://www.iat.co.id/IAT

Garuda Indonesia http://www.garuda-indonesia.com

Wings Abadi Air (Lion Air) http://www2.lionair.co.id/

Merpati Airlines http://www.merpati.co.id/

TransNusa http://www.transnusa.co.id/

Trigana http://www.trigana-air.com/html/module.php

The Airport taxi is by fixed price docket

Airport to Bangsal/Pemenang: Rp 115,000 (Zone-10)-Public ferry to Gili Is.

Airport to Teluk Nara/Teluk Kodek: Rp 125,000 (Zone 10a)-Speedboat to Gili Is.

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