Ferries and Fast Boats in Indonesia: Ferizy, PELNI and Private Speedboats
Short answer
Indonesia has three kinds of boat. Public car ferries (ASDP), such as Bali–Java or Bali–Lombok, are cheap but sold only online through Ferizy — never at the port. PELNI ships cover long distances and are also sold online only. Fast boats to Nusa Penida, the Gilis and other islands are private, faster and dearer, and booked with the operator or a reseller.
- ASDP ferries
- Ferizy only, up to 60 days ahead
- Bali–Lombok ferry
- Rp65,300, 4–5 h
- PELNI ships
- Online only
- Fast boats
- Private, book with operator
Three systems, three ways to book
| ASDP public ferries | PELNI passenger ships | Private fast boats | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What | Roll-on car ferries on short straits | Large ships on multi-day routes between island groups | Speedboats to tourist islands |
| Examples | Gilimanuk–Ketapang (Bali–Java), Padang Bai–Lembar (Bali–Lombok), Merak–Bakauheni (Java–Sumatra) | Routes through Sulawesi, Maluku, Papua, Nusa Tenggara | Sanur–Nusa Penida, Bali–Gili, Labuan Bajo day boats |
| Book | Ferizy app or website only | PELNI Mobile app or website | Operator, harbour desk or resellers |
| Price | Low, set by government | Low for the distance | Market price |
| Speed | Slow | Slow, scheduled weekly or fortnightly | Fast |
Ferizy: the rule that trips people up
ASDP ferry tickets are now sold only online through Ferizy (ferizy.com, trip.ferizy.com or the app), and through some partners such as minimarkets and banking apps. Ports have no ticket counters. Three details matter:
- Sales open 60 days before departure.
- You cannot buy at the port. Ferizy uses geofencing and blocks purchases from inside or near the harbour. Buy the evening before, or at the latest before you set off for the port.
- ID must match. At check-in you show ID matching the ticket; a passport works. Miss the check-in window and the ticket expires.
Payment runs through Indonesian channels — bank transfer, virtual account and e-wallets such as DANA, OVO or ShopeePay. Whether a foreign credit card is accepted is not confirmed. If payment fails, ask your accommodation to book, or use a travel app that resells Ferizy tickets.
Example: Padang Bai–Lembar (Bali–Lombok). Rp65,300 for an adult foot passenger, about 4–5 hours, sailings around the clock (daytime examples 06:30, 09:00, 11:30, 13:30, 15:00, 16:30, 18:00). ASDP runs temporary discounts in holiday periods.
PELNI
PELNI’s ships are a slow, cheap way across the archipelago, used mostly by Indonesians. Tickets have been sold online only since November 2023. Routes change with each schedule, so check the app for your dates. Expect delays and bring your own food for long legs.
Fast boats
Fast boats are private businesses. Popular routes:
- Sanur–Nusa Penida: 40–45 minutes, about Rp170,000–250,000 one-way — full guide.
- Bali–Gili Islands: 1.5–2.5 hours from Padang Bai or Serangan, about US$21–45 — full guide.
Buy from the operator, a harbour desk or a reseller with clear cancellation terms. Tickets bought through resellers often include hotel pickup.
Safety on any boat
- Look for life jackets before departure and know where they are kept.
- Do not board a boat that is obviously overloaded, and ask about the weather in the rainy season (roughly November to March), when crossings are more often cancelled.
- Keep passport, phone and money in a dry bag.
- Leave a buffer day before international flights when your route includes a boat.
- In an emergency at sea, the search-and-rescue number is 115 — see emergency numbers.
Sources
- Ferizy — ASDP online ticketing — online only, ID check at port
- Kontan — no ticket counters at ports — sales from 60 days ahead, payment methods
- Gridoto — buying ferry tickets officially (geofencing)
- detikBali — Lembar–Padangbai fares
- Okezone — ASDP temporary fare cuts June–July 2026
- Bisnis — PELNI tickets fully online
- detikBali — Sanur harbour operations