Accommodation on board is in double cabins either configured as twin-bed or as double-bed. Maximum capacity is for 12 adults + 2 children. Single passengers can be accommodated if they are willing to share a cabin with other single participants (same sex only if participants do not know each other). All cabins have a wash-basin and individually controlled air-conditioning. There are 3 showers and toilets located on the main deck. Aft there is a large saloon and a fully equipped galley. The vessel is fitted with all internationally required safety equipment such as SSB and VHF radios, life jackets, life rafts, and satellite telephone. The ship has an experienced Indonesian crew of nine, complemented by a Cruise Director and a Dive Master.

Meals served are of international standard with an emphasis on fresh seafood. Most meals are served as a buffet around the huge central skylight on the main deck. Otherwise the saloon doubles as the dining room. There is a well stocked bar on board offering beer, alcohol and wines at affordable rates while table wine for dinner is free. Soft drinks, juices, coffee, tea and mineral water are free 24 hours a day. Besides alcoholic beverages, guests can also purchase T-shirts, caps and charts of the area.

Limited laundry service is available. Towels and beach towels are available. All guests have the free use of snorkeling equipment, tenders, sea kayak, beach games and table games (excluding dive gear). Diving equipment is available for up to 10 divers. There is a television on board to immediately view and edit your videos or photos as well as a music centre. Also available is a collection of books about the fauna, flora, history and other facts on the area visited.

There is plenty of deck space for guests to relax, either on the main deck shaded by a large awning (teak deck chairs and hammock available) or on the upper sun-deck. We know from experience that during a cruise in the tropics many of our guests discover the pleasure of sleeping under the stars and there is plenty of room to sleep on the upper deck. Mattresses as well as light sleeping bags are available for that purpose.

Guests are ferried to shore and back in our spacious tenders with 25 hp outboard engine.

Voltage on board is 220 volts. There is a socket in each cabin suitable for European type plugs, but we do have a selection of adaptors for non European type plugs. Additional sockets are located in the saloon.

safety & health

Paramount for us is the safety of all aboard. The vessel is fitted with all internationally required safety equipment and all crew members have received comprehensive safety training. Shortly after the departure on the first day of the cruise the Cruise Director will do a safety drill with all the participants. The vessel is stocked with a well appointed first-aid box to treat all kinds of minor ailments. It is however always advisable for guests to bring their own first-aid box. We have an agreement with an air-charter company in Bali using a sea-plane in case of emergency evacuation. We recommend that all participants take out a personal travel insurance that would cover such evacuation.

We dare to say that our galley is the best kitchen in Indonesia east of Lombok, a reputation we have had since many years and that we are determined to keep. Our chefs were trained at the famous Warisan Restaurant in Bali and all meals are prepared with the freshest and best ingredients available: vegetables, fruits and poultry from the highlands of Flores; fish freshly caught by fishermen from the Komodo islands; bread specially baked by a master French baker in Bali and all kinds of special ingredients flown in from Bali before every departure. Menus are prepared in order to offer a good balance of Indonesian and international dishes with emphasis on fish and other sea food: for lunch there is always a choice of 2 or 3 dishes, such as Nasi Campur, Fresh Sashimi, Grilled Fish, Soto Ayam or Avocado and Shrimp Salad, while dinner is always a three course meal, including such dishes as Fricassee of Tenggiri fish, Braised Lamb Chops or King Prawns. For breakfast, guests always have a choice of eggs to the liking, beef bacon, cereals with milk, delicious bread with all kinds of jams and spreads, fresh fruits and fruit juice and a variety of coffees and teas. We can cater to special request such as a vegetarian menu, children’s fare, diet dishes etc. However we have to be notified in advance of any special dietary requests. Bottled water, coffee and tea are available on self service basis 24 hours per day; so are soft drinks and fruit juices. We serve a good Australian table wine (red or white depending on the menu) for dinner. There is a well-stocked bar on board where guests will be able to purchase a selection of alcohol and wines at reasonable rates.

Participants have to keep in mind the following:

The tropical sun in our cruising area is hard on white skins, all the more so because of the additional exposure due its reflection by the sea. Guests must make sure to protect themselves with a hat, sun lotion and we advise wearing a t-shirt when snorkeling.

Never let even the tiniest cut or coral bruise untreated as it can quickly get infected in this tropical climate. We have all that is needed on board to treat such cuts.

Guests should not be overly worried about seasickness. Waters around Komodo are generally calm. Even in case of swell, seasickness usually passes quickly once one gets used to the motion of the boat. We do not recommend the use of any prophylactic for malaria prevention. Malaria has very little incidence in the dry offshore islands of the Komodo National Park; besides, guests will spend the better part of the voyage on board, where mosquitoes do not venture at all. Insect repellent is sufficient when going ashore.

what to take

Temperature in Komodo varies little - 27° to 33° Celsius year round – with mostly blue skies and light wind. We suggest you take light cotton / linen clothes – including a pair of long trousers for visits in the villages - as well as the following items: water shoes (booties or plastic shoes), hiking shoes, a plastic bag for your camera when disembarking, high protection suntan lotion, a hat, insect repellent, dive / snorkeling equipment if you have your own (we have plenty on board, too), as well as a sweater for the cool evenings. For photographers it is important to take a sufficient number of batteries and films from Bali or overseas, as it may be difficult to find these items on location.

visa and travel documents

Guests have to make sure that their passport has a minimum of 6 months validity when entering Indonesia. Most foreign nationals can obtain 30 day tourist visa on arrival but the citizens of some countries such as the Netherlands and Sweden do not enjoy this privilege and have to apply for visa in the country of origin or elsewhere outside of Indonesia. We recommend that all our passengers double-check on the requirements as they are in force at the time of their arrival.

insurance and liability release

It is important that all passengers contract personal travel insurance in order to be covered in case of accident, sickness, flight cancellation, evacuation etc…
We do require ALL PARTICIPANTS to sign a strict and comprehensive liability release and scuba divers to sign an additional declaration of good physical condition.
Copies of these liability releases can be sent on request.

tipping

During the cruise you will enjoy the incomparable service of 10 well-trained, efficient Indonesian crew members. It is a time-honored tradition on all cruise vessels of the world to tip the crew at the end of the voyage, provided of course the guests have been satisfied with their services. On the last day of the cruise, a special box will be passed around out for that purpose and its contents will be distributed evenly among all members of the crew. We believe that about 40 to 50 USD is an appropriate amount; however, this remains entirely up to the judgment of the guests.