Chartering Neptune Cruise means the whole 40-metre phinisi: all seven en-suite cabins, up to 20 guests, a departure date you choose and a route ordered around your group. Rates run from USD 8,900 for 2D1N to USD 20,950 for 7D6N, with additional guests at USD 500–550 each.
What a private charter actually gives you
On a shared trip you buy a cabin. On a charter you buy the boat, and the difference is mostly about control. The departure date is yours rather than a published schedule. Breakfast happens when your group wakes up. If everyone wants a second hour at Taka Makassar and to skip the last snorkel, the captain can do that. Nobody else’s itinerary is competing with yours.
The vessel is the same in both cases: 40 m by 8 m, three decks, VIP class, seven cabins with queen beds, en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning, satellite Wi-Fi, a dive deck, indoor and outdoor dining, a sundeck, and a bar and karaoke lounge. Crew, English-speaking guide, all meals, snorkel gear and Labuan Bajo mainland transfers are included on charters exactly as they are on shared departures.
Charter rates
| 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 |
Every duration is priced for the whole boat with up to 20 guests. The additional-person rate applies when your group exceeds the base allocation for the vessel; it is USD 500 on 2D1N through 4D3N and USD 550 on the longer 5D4N, 6D5N and 7D6N routes. For the per-person arithmetic at different group sizes, see the group charter page.
What is flexible, and what is not
Genuinely flexible on a charter: departure date and hour, the order in which you visit the central sites, how long you stay at each stop, meal timing, and whether the evening is a quiet one on the sundeck or a loud one in the karaoke lounge.
Not flexible, for anyone: ranger station hours at Komodo and Rinca, which govern when dragon treks can run; tide and current windows at Manta Point and Taka Makassar, where the sandbar itself appears and disappears with the tide; sunrise at Padar, which is the reason the boat moves before dawn; and the weather. Between December and March the crew will change a route or skip a southern site rather than push into a bad sea state, and that call belongs to the captain.
Route length also sets what is reachable. A 2D1N covers the central circuit. A 3D2N adds Manta Point, Taka Makassar and a final snorkel. From 4D3N you unlock northern Komodo – Gili Lawa, Crystal Rock, Castle Rock and the Cauldron. Five days and up bring the southern sites such as Manta Alley into range, weather permitting.
Groups this works well for
| Group | Typical size | Suggested duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multigenerational family | 8–16 | 3D2N or 4D3N | Junior Suite on the main deck for grandparents – no stairs, direct deck access |
| Dive group | 6–14 | 4D3N minimum | Northern pinnacles need the extra day; certification and logged dives confirmed at booking |
| Corporate or incentive | 12–20 | 3D2N | Dining room for sessions, sundeck for briefings, satellite Wi-Fi for messaging only |
| Celebration or wedding party | 10–20 | 3D2N or 4D3N | Crew can arrange decoration and a cake with notice; alcohol is not included and is handled separately |
| Friends splitting cost | 14–20 | 2D1N or 3D2N | Highest guest count gives the lowest per-person figure |
How booking a charter works
The sequence is simple. You send dates, guest numbers and any dive or dietary requirements. We check the calendar and place a provisional hold on your dates. A deposit converts the hold into a confirmed charter, with the balance due before departure. Closer to the trip we collect the passenger list, cabin allocation, flight times for the Labuan Bajo transfers and any special requests. Our charter desk in Labuan Bajo handles the paperwork end and will confirm current terms in writing before you pay anything.
Pick-up and drop-off on the Labuan Bajo mainland are included. Flights to and from Komodo Airport are not, and neither are national park fees, alcohol, personal expenses, the drone permit at approximately IDR 2.1 million per unit per day, or optional crew gratuities. Full inclusions are itemised on the rates page.
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.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a private phinisi charter in Komodo National Park?
Neptune Cruise charters for USD 8,900 (2D1N), USD 11,450 (3D2N), USD 14,000 (4D3N), USD 16,550 (5D4N), USD 19,050 (6D5N) and USD 20,950 (7D6N), for the whole boat.
How many people can join a charter?
Up to 20 guests across seven cabins. Additional guests beyond the base allocation are charged at USD 500 per person on 2D1N to 4D3N, and USD 550 on 5D4N and longer.
Can we design our own itinerary?
Largely, yes. You choose the departure date and how long to spend at each site. Ranger hours, tides, sunrise timing at Padar and weather remain fixed for everyone, and the captain has the final call on safety.
Is a charter better value than booking cabins?
It depends on group size. With 14 to 20 people the whole-boat rate usually lands close to shared per-person pricing while giving you exclusivity. With four or six people, shared cabins are cheaper.
Do you take deposits, and what is the cancellation policy?
Yes, a deposit confirms the date hold and the balance is due before departure. Cancellation terms depend on the season and how far ahead you book, so we issue them in writing with your quote.
Can we bring our own alcohol?
Alcoholic and soft drinks are not included in the rate. Groups commonly bring their own; tell us in advance so the crew can arrange chilling and glassware.
Are dive services available on a charter?
Neptune Cruise is a dive-friendly phinisi with a dive deck, but it is not a dive centre and does not employ its own instructors. Dive arrangements are made with partners and confirmed at booking, with certification checked beforehand.
How far ahead should we book?
For June to September, one to two months ahead is sensible, and popular dates go earlier. Shoulder months are easier, and operators commonly discount shared trips in April, May, October and November.
Book Neptune Cruise
Tell us your dates and group size and we will hold the boat while you decide.
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.
