A luxury Komodo cruise on Neptune Cruise means a 40-metre phinisi with seven en-suite, air-conditioned cabins, private balconies on the upper decks, satellite Wi-Fi and a dive deck, sailing from Labuan Bajo with a maximum of 20 guests. Shared 3D2N cabins run USD 610–850 per person; the whole boat starts at USD 8,900.
What actually makes a Komodo cruise a luxury one
In Labuan Bajo the word luxury gets attached to almost anything with a bed on it, so it helps to be specific. On Neptune Cruise the claim rests on four things you can verify before you pay: every one of the seven cabins is en-suite and air-conditioned, the three upper cabins have their own private balcony, the vessel carries satellite Wi-Fi rather than hoping for a phone signal, and the guest ceiling is 20 people on a 40-metre hull with three decks. That last number is the one most travellers underestimate. Space per guest is what separates a comfortable week at sea from a crowded one.
Neptune Cruise is a modern phinisi: the Buginese schooner shape that has been built in South Sulawesi for generations, fitted out as a motor-sailing liveaboard. It is operated by Komodo Luxury, which has run boats out of Labuan Bajo since 2015. If you want to see how this vessel sits alongside the wider Labuan Bajo fleet we sail with, the comparison is worth ten minutes before you commit.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel type | Phinisi – Buginese two-masted schooner form, modern build |
| Class | VIP |
| Dimensions | 40 m length × 8 m beam |
| Decks | 3 |
| Cabins | 7 (2 Premium Mansard, 1 Junior Suite, 4 Deluxe) |
| Maximum guests | 20 |
| Engine | W Marine 8D16 |
| Cruising speed | 6–10 knots |
| Fresh water capacity | 10,000 litres |
| Home port | Labuan Bajo, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara |
| Operator | Komodo Luxury |
What the money buys you on the water
Luxury in Komodo is mostly about timing. A liveaboard sleeps at anchor inside the park, so you climb Padar for sunrise while the day boats are still an hour out of Labuan Bajo, and you reach Manta Point when the current is right rather than when a schedule says so. On a charter you also choose the departure date and the order of the route, within the limits that ranger hours, tides and weather impose on everyone.
On board, the practical differences are unglamorous but they are the ones guests remember. Air conditioning that runs through the night matters in September. A warm shower in your own bathroom matters after a day of salt water. Satellite Wi-Fi is messaging-grade, not streaming-grade, and we would rather say that plainly than let you board expecting Netflix – but on a fleet where most wooden boats have no internet at all, being able to tell the office you landed safely is a real advantage.
The onboard list is short and honest: indoor and outdoor dining, a sundeck, a bar and karaoke lounge, a lounge, snorkel gear and life vests, crew-shot drone and GoPro documentation, and a professional crew with an English-speaking guide.
Rates: per person or per boat
There are two ways to book. A shared 3D2N trip prices each cabin per person and you sail with other guests. A private charter prices the whole vessel, and nobody else comes aboard.
| Cabin | Deck | Rate per person | Additional person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Mansard I & II | Top deck | USD 850 | USD 410 |
| Junior Suite | Main deck | USD 730 | USD 410 |
| Deluxe Cabin | Lower deck | USD 610 | USD 310 |
| Duration | Whole-boat rate | Additional person |
|---|---|---|
| 2D1N | USD 8,900 | USD 500 |
| 3D2N | USD 11,450 | USD 500 |
| 4D3N | USD 14,000 | USD 500 |
| 5D4N | USD 16,550 | USD 550 |
| 6D5N | USD 19,050 | USD 550 |
| 7D6N | USD 20,950 | USD 550 |
Charter capacity is up to 20 guests across all six durations, with flexible departure dates. Full detail, including what a deposit holds and how additional-person pricing works, sits on the Neptune Cruise rate list page.
Where the price stops
Included in every booking:
- Accommodation on board in your chosen cabin
- All meals throughout the cruise
- Mineral water, coffee and tea
- English-speaking guide
- Snorkelling equipment and life vests
- Pick-up and drop-off on the Labuan Bajo mainland
- Premium documentation – drone, GoPro and mirrorless coverage
Not included, and worth budgeting for separately:
- Flights to and from Labuan Bajo
- Komodo National Park entrance and activity fees
- Alcoholic drinks and soft drinks
- Personal expenses and snacks
- Drone permit, approximately IDR 2.1 million per unit per day
- Crew gratuities, which are optional
On park fees, we would rather be accurate than convenient.
Komodo National Park charges are billed as separate components – an entrance ticket that differs for
foreign and domestic visitors and rises on Sundays and public holidays, a ranger or trekking fee usually
charged per ranger per group, a snorkelling fee per person per day, a higher diving fee per diver per day,
a conservation and insurance levy, a harbour fee, and camera or drone permits. Traveller and operator
reports through 2025 cluster around IDR 250,000–350,000 per person per day for the combined park
charges on a liveaboard, plus a port fee of roughly IDR 25,000–50,000; one documented 2025 liveaboard
account came to about IDR 275,000 per day plus a IDR 25,000 port fee. Those are reported figures,
not an official published tariff, they are paid in cash in rupiah on site, and the park authority can change
them at any time. Ask our reservations team for the current amounts before you travel.
Who this suits – and who it does not
Neptune Cruise fits couples who want a balcony cabin, families and friend groups of eight to twenty who would rather have the whole boat than share it, and travellers who care about cabin comfort as much as the itinerary. It suits snorkellers completely and certified divers well: the boat is dive-friendly with a proper dive deck, but it is not a dive centre and we do not employ our own instructors, so dive services are arranged with partners at booking.
It is the wrong boat if your budget is built around a bunk-and-fan open trip, if you want a technical dive programme with four tanks a day, or if you have only one night to spare and want to sail as far south as Manta Alley. In those cases an open trip or a longer charter is a better fit – see how a phinisi compares with other Komodo boats and the private charter page.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in a luxury Komodo cruise on Neptune Cruise?
Accommodation, all meals, mineral water, coffee and tea, an English-speaking guide, snorkelling equipment and life vests, Labuan Bajo mainland transfers, and premium drone, GoPro and mirrorless documentation of your trip.
How much does a luxury Komodo cruise cost?
Shared 3D2N cabins are USD 610 for a Deluxe, USD 730 for the Junior Suite and USD 850 for a Premium Mansard, per person. Private charter of the whole boat runs from USD 8,900 for 2D1N to USD 20,950 for 7D6N.
How many guests does Neptune Cruise carry?
Up to 20 guests across seven cabins on a 40-metre, three-deck hull. Every cabin has a queen bed, an en-suite bathroom and air conditioning.
Do the cabins have private balconies?
The two Premium Mansard cabins on the top deck and the Junior Suite on the main deck have private balconies. The four Deluxe cabins on the lower deck have sea-view windows instead, and are the steadiest berths in swell.
Is there Wi-Fi on board?
Yes, satellite Wi-Fi, which is unusual in the Komodo fleet. Treat it as messaging-grade rather than streaming-grade; bandwidth at sea is limited and coverage varies by location.
Are Komodo National Park fees included in the price?
No. Park entrance, ranger, snorkelling, diving, conservation and harbour charges are paid separately in cash in rupiah, and the park authority can revise them. Ask reservations for the current amounts.
When is the best time to sail?
June to September is the dry peak with visibility often in the 20–30 m band, strong winds and the busiest schedule. April to May and October to November are quieter shoulder months with green islands. December to March brings rain, rougher seas and occasional cancellations.
Can we choose our own departure date?
On a private charter, yes – charter departures are flexible. Shared 3D2N trips run on set departure dates, so message us with your travel window and we will send what is open.
Book Neptune Cruise
Ask for live availability, a cabin hold, or a written charter quote.
WhatsApp: +62 811 3823 875
Email: [email protected]
Neptune Cruise is operated by Komodo Luxury, based in Labuan Bajo, Flores. Tell us your dates, guest count, dietary needs and whether anyone in the party dives, and we will confirm availability and a written quote.
