Charter the whole phinisi, not a cabin on it

Rate note. Every rupiah figure on this page is the operator’s published rate read on 31 July 2026. Komodo National Park fees are set by government regulation, are not included, and change without notice. Ask the booking desk to confirm the current total in writing before you pay a deposit.

Whole-boat rates, all three durations

Note how the boat price behaves. The 1-10 guest column is a flat figure – a group of four pays the same as a group of ten – so the per-head cost falls sharply as you fill cabins. Crossing into the 11-20 band adds IDR 6,000,000 for 2D1N or 3D2N and IDR 8,000,000 for 4D3N, which is a small step for up to ten more people. Above 20 guests the additional-guest rate applies to the vessel ceiling of 22-24.

What “private” actually changes

Four things move from the operator’s control to yours:

• The clock. On an open trip the Padar trek starts at 06:00 because that is when it starts for everyone. On a charter you can push a departure back, linger at Taka Makassar, or swap an afternoon snorkel for a longer lunch.
• The passenger list. Ten cabins and one group. No strangers at the dining table, no negotiating the sundeck.
• Cabin allocation. A group of eight can spread across all ten cabins – use a Deluxe as a luggage and gear room if you want. Nobody is selling the empty berths.
• The route, within limits. The crew will reorder stops and add near-harbour sites. What cannot flex is ranger scheduling on Komodo and Rinca, tide windows at Taka Makassar and Rangko Cave, and the captain’s judgement on sea state.

The vessel, specification by specification

Phinisi is a Bugis and Konjo shipbuilding tradition from South Sulawesi, centred on Tana Beru and Bira, and the craft is recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. Modern charter phinisi keep the hull form and hardwood construction and add engines, generators and marine electronics. Lady Grace is built in ironwood and teak.

Two figures on that table matter more than they look. Twelve tonnes of freshwater is what allows fresh-water rinses after every snorkel stop across a multi-day itinerary. Five tonnes of fuel is the endurance that lets the captain reroute around weather instead of cutting the trip short.

Cabins on board

The ten cabins split into five grades. On a charter you are not buying them individually, but the layout determines how a group sleeps.

One honest caveat. The operator’s published specification lists a single bunk-bed Superior cabin while the cabin section lists two. If Superior berths matter to your group, ask the booking desk to confirm the exact count for your departure before you commit.

The two Suite Ocean View cabins are the only ones with a private balcony and jacuzzi – detail on the Suite Cabin private-trip page, and grade-by-grade comparison on the cabin options overview.

Crew, safety and what a commercial phinisi carries

Safety equipment on Lady Grace is published rather than implied: AIS so other vessels see her and she sees them, GPS and Radar SART for position and search-and-rescue transponding, and an EPIRB to transmit a distress position by satellite. Life vests are provided for every guest and are part of the standard inclusion list, not an extra.

Two generators (Mitsubishi PS120 x 2) carry the electrical load, which is what keeps cabin air conditioning running overnight at anchor. A guide travels with the boat and ranger-led treks on Komodo and Rinca are conducted by national park staff under their own rules on group size and distance.

If certification documents matter to your organisation – a corporate charter or an insurer asking questions – request them from the operator in writing before you book. Do not accept a verbal assurance from any Labuan Bajo operator, including this one.

What is included in a charter

What the rate includes

• Accommodation on board for the full itinerary
• All meals prepared on board
• Mineral water, coffee and tea
• English-speaking guide
• Snorkelling gear and life vests
• Premium photo and video coverage with drone, GoPro and mirrorless camera (raw footage handed over)
• Hotel or airport pickup and drop-off within the Labuan Bajo mainland area near the harbour

What it does not include

• Komodo National Park entrance and conservation fees (government-regulated, subject to change)
• Flights to and from Komodo Airport, Labuan Bajo
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages beyond water, coffee and tea
• Personal snacks
• Drone ticket, quoted by the operator at approximately IDR 2,100,000, with the permit requested seven days ahead
• Crew gratuities

Custom itineraries: what flexes and what does not

The Lombok question comes up often enough to have its own page – see the Lombok to Komodo crossing explained before you plan around it.

Which duration to charter

Per night, longer is cheaper: roughly IDR 94,000,000 a night for 2D1N, IDR 61,500,000 for 3D2N and IDR 52,300,000 for 4D3N. The full four-day route with Rangko Cave is on the 4D3N itinerary and price page, and if your charter is really a group cost exercise, the per-head tables on the group and family charter page will answer it faster. A broader look at how charters and open trips are sold here sits on Komodo boat tours and private charters. For a motor-yacht comparison instead, read the Komodo yacht charter page. Multi-boat requests go through the operator’s Komodo trip desk.