Pack a soft bag rather than a hard case, two kinds of footwear, a rash guard and reef-safe sunscreen, motion-sickness tablets, a power bank and cash in rupiah for national park charges. Snorkelling gear, life vests, towels and drinking water are already on board.
Why does the bag itself matter?
Cabins on a wooden boat are efficient rather than large, and storage is built around bags that fold flat once emptied. A soft duffel or holdall slides under a bed or into a locker; a large hard shell case does neither, and usually ends up stored away from your cabin for the trip.
You also need less than you think. Three nights on a boat in the tropics is swimwear, two or three light outfits, and one warm layer. Nobody dresses up. Leave the rest at your hotel in Labuan Bajo – most will hold a bag, which is one of several reasons we suggest arriving a day early, as set out in our guide to getting to Labuan Bajo.
What footwear do you actually need?
Two systems, and people who bring one always regret it:
| What | Used for | Why one pair is not enough |
|---|---|---|
| Reef shoes or sturdy sandals | Wet landings from the tender, beaches, on-deck use, shallow coral entries | Protects against sharp coral and hot sand; dries fast; deck-safe |
| Trainers or trail shoes | The Padar ridge, the Kelor climb, the dragon trail at Loh Liang or Loh Buaya | The Padar upper ridge is loose gravel on a steep slope. Sandals fail there |
The Padar climb is where this decision is tested; how steep it really is and where the loose sections are is described in the Padar sunrise hike guide.
What sun protection actually works out here?
You will be on open water near the equator, on decks and sandbars with no shade, with sunlight reflecting off white sand and water at you from below. This is the leading cause of a ruined second day.
- Reef-safe high-SPF sunscreen – and enough of it for several days, reapplied after every swim
- A long-sleeve rash guard, which is more reliable than reapplying cream on wet skin and is the single best purchase for this trip
- Wide-brim hat with a strap. Unstrapped hats end up in the sea
- Polarised sunglasses, which also let you see into the water
- Light long sleeves and trousers for the middle of the day
- Lip balm with SPF, routinely forgotten
Taka Makassar – a shadeless sandbar with water on both sides – is where this list earns itself, as explained in our Taka Makassar tide guide.
What is the one thing most guests forget?
Cash in rupiah. National park charges are paid on the day, in cash, and are not included in the cruise fare. There is no ATM on Kelor Island and no card machine at a ranger post. Draw enough in Bali or in Labuan Bajo town before you board, in a mix of denominations, because change is not always available.
How much is a fair question, and the honest answer is a range rather than a table – we explain the components, the reported figures and why we will not publish an invented tariff in our Komodo National Park fees explainer.
What electronics are worth bringing?
- Power bank. Cabin outlets exist, but a power bank means you are never waiting for a socket before a sunrise hike
- Dry bag for tender transfers. Everything gets splashed at some point
- Camera housing or waterproof case if you are shooting in the water
- Spare memory cards and batteries – nowhere to buy them out here
- Head torch for the pre-dawn Padar walk
Neptune Cruise carries satellite Wi-Fi, which is unusual in the Komodo wooden fleet, but treat it as messaging-grade rather than streaming-grade – the details on signal, charging and the generator schedule are in our connectivity and power guide. Crew also shoot drone, GoPro and mirrorless documentation as part of the package, so you do not need to bring a camera crew’s worth of equipment to come home with images.
What can you leave at home?
| Provided | Detail |
|---|---|
| Snorkelling equipment | Mask, snorkel and fins – bring your own only if you are fussy about fit |
| Life vests | On board and briefed on day one |
| Drinking water, coffee and tea | Refill on board; bring a reusable bottle rather than plastic |
| All meals | Full board throughout; tell us dietary requirements in advance |
| Towels and cabin linen | In your en-suite cabin |
| Photo and video documentation | Drone, GoPro and mirrorless coverage by the crew |
| Beach towels | Provided – no need to pack one |
The full inclusions and exclusions are on our rates page, and the cabin layout that dictates how much you can realistically stow is on the cabins and deck plan.
What about seasickness medication?
Bring it even if you never get seasick. Sea state in Komodo is generally manageable but the channels can be lumpy, particularly in the wet season and on longer legs, and tablets work best taken before you feel unwell rather than after. Pack them somewhere you can reach without unpacking – a cabin drawer, not the bottom of the bag.
Which cabin you are in also matters more than most people realise, and we go through that in our piece on seasickness and cabin choice. If you want to compare what other operators tell guests to bring, the pre-departure guest notes published across the wider fleet make an interesting cross-check.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pack for a Komodo liveaboard?
A soft bag, swimwear, two or three light outfits, a rash guard, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, reef shoes plus trainers, a light jacket for windy evenings, motion-sickness tablets, a power bank, a dry bag and cash in rupiah for park fees.
Do I need to bring my own snorkel gear to Komodo?
No. Masks, snorkels, fins and life vests are provided on board. Bring your own only if you are particular about mask fit or prefer your own fins.
How much cash should I bring to Komodo National Park?
Enough rupiah to cover several days of park charges plus a margin. Reports through 2025 cluster around IDR 250,000 to 350,000 per person per day for combined park charges on a liveaboard, plus a small port fee, but that is a reported range and not an official tariff. Confirm the current amount with our reservations team before you fly.
Is there a dress code on a phinisi cruise?
No. It is swimwear, shorts and t-shirts by day and something light for dinner. Bring one warm layer for windy evenings on deck and one modest outfit for the ranger trails.
Can I bring a hard suitcase on board?
You can, but you will not enjoy it. Cabin storage is built for soft bags. Most guests leave a case at their Labuan Bajo hotel and take a duffel to sea.
Talk to the people who sail this route
We send this list to every guest before departure along with a schedule for your specific dates. Message us and we will send yours.
WhatsApp: +62 811 3823 875
Email: [email protected]
Neptune Cruise is a 40-metre, seven-cabin phinisi operated by Komodo Luxury out of Labuan Bajo, Flores. Send us your dates, how many people are travelling, any dietary requirements and whether anyone in the party dives, and you will get availability and a written quote back – not a brochure.
