The crew
Captain, chef and deck crew as a minimum. Larger vessels carry eight to fifteen, including divemasters and a steward.
What the Rate Actually Covers
Almost everything aboard is in the price. The surprises are ashore, at the bank, and in the cancellation clause.
A charter rate buys the vessel, its crew, all meals, fuel for a normal cruising day, and water sports gear. Park fees, alcohol, diving and gratuities are billed on top.
- The Komodo National Park entry cost is $40–50 per person, all-in.
- Crew gratuities sit outside the rate and are left to your discretion.
- The balance usually falls due 60 to 90 days before you sail.
What you are paying for
Six things every reputable Komodo charter covers without asking.
Full board
Three meals a day cooked aboard, plus water, juices and soft drinks. Dietary requirements handled if flagged in advance.
Fuel, within reason
Covered for a normal cruising day — commonly six to eight hours of engine time. Long detours are charged.
Snorkelling gear
Masks, fins and snorkels for every guest. Paddleboards and kayaks on many vessels.
Excursions
Ranger-guided dragon treks on Rinca or Komodo and the Padar hike are part of the itinerary, not extras.
The whole vessel
Every cabin and every deck. Nobody else is aboard, which is what separates a charter from a cabin booking.
- IDR 150–500k
- Park fees, per person per day
- IDR 700,000
- Park entry ticket, per person
- 60–90 days
- Before departure, balance due
- 30–50%
- Deposit to hold the dates
The line worth reading twice
Komodo National Park charges an entry cost of $40–50 per person, all-in. Komodo Luxury itemises it separately on every quote rather than folding it into the nightly rate, so read any inclusion list for it by name before you compare two prices.
Get it in writing before the deposit. It is the single most common source of an unexpected invoice at the end of a Komodo charter.
How the money actually moves
Nothing is paid in full up front, and nothing is held without a deposit.
Cancellation terms tighten sharply as you approach the date: partial refunds or a credit are common beyond 120 days, while inside 60 days the full fee is normally forfeit. Travel insurance that explicitly covers charter cancellation is worth more here than on any hotel booking.
The extras people actually buy
Diving is the big one: a two-tank day typically adds USD 150 to 250 per person on top of the charter. A therapist aboard for spa treatments, a stocked wine list, or a helicopter transfer instead of the fixed-wing leg all exist and all price accordingly. None of it is necessary, and all of it is easier to agree before departure than to negotiate at anchor.
Inclusions, answered
Are meals included?
Yes, on essentially every Komodo charter — three meals a day cooked aboard, with water, juice and soft drinks. Alcohol is the exception and is billed separately or brought aboard by arrangement.
Are park fees included?
Sometimes. Usually not. Komodo Luxury itemises the park entry cost separately at $40–50 per person, all-in. Ask for it in writing — this is where unexpected invoices come from.
How much is diving on top?
A two-tank day typically adds USD 150 to 250 per person. Some dive-oriented vessels bundle a set number of dives into the rate instead.
What deposit is required?
Commonly 30 to 50 percent against a signed agreement, with the balance 60 to 90 days out. Some operators treat the deposit as non-refundable, so confirm that before transferring.
Should I tip the crew?
It is customary rather than compulsory. Komodo Luxury lists crew gratuities as excluded from the rate and publishes no set amount, so the figure is yours to decide, settled at the end and shared among the crew.
Ask for it itemised
A good operator will send inclusions, exclusions and payment terms in one document before you commit anything.