Komodo cruise is arguably one of travelers’ favourite to experience the Komodo National Park. Hidden from modern civilisation in remote frontier, the national park is comprised by chains of small islands in which traveler absolutely need a boat to roam around. However, Komodo has a lot of boat options and it’s not limited to cruisers. From fisherman boats, budget liveaboard, to luxurious phinisi, you have it all. Of course, cruisers sits on top choice, and here are pros and cons of renting a cruise in Komodo.
But before we get in-depth to the two sides of the coins, it’s better to know that cruisers in Komodo are nothing like 2,000 passengers mega-cruisers just like the Caribbean ocean liners with built in gym, five dining restaurant, a mall, casino bar, and tennis court. Cruise ships here refers to luxurious phinisi (Indonesian traditional schooner) boat and tend to carry smaller number of passengers than budget liveaboard boats. Most of them are entirely built on wood, adding a novel charm to the sailing experience.
The Good of Sailing in Komodo Cruise
Stability
Most of cruisers in Komodo are built in 20 to 40 m long and that gives them stability to navigate in Komodo’s waters. Their bodies are made to withstand even the roughest sea tides. In normal condition, you won’t feel the sea as much as it would be in smaller boats.
Intimate Onboard Experience
Most Komodo cruise takes no more than 12 – 16 passengers onboard, which means you will have plenty of chance to get to know them better over the course of your cruise. Plus, small number of passengers means that you will get more attention from the crews and the captains. This will make your cruising experience feel much friendlier.
Bigger and Comfortable Cabins
Space are a luxurious thing when it comes to a vehicle, and cruisers are a good example of it. The more luxurious a ship is, the more spacious it would be. Cabins on a Komodo cruise are mostly roomy and well equipped with hotel-standard facilities.
Spacious Social Areas and Complete Amenities
Despite of not having indoor gym and tennis court, a lot of cruises in Komodo still have upscale lounge, an ample dining room, sun decks, and even a sky restaurant.
The Bad Side of Sailing in Komodo Cruise
Giving Up Phone Signals
Not all ships provides wifi and when it does, the connection won’t be as stable as you would be on the land. This drawback is not exclusive to Komodo cruise, however. The lost of signals should be a common logic when you are sailing in the middle of the sea.
Pricey Tags
With the facility, come the price tags. Of course, these cruisers fall on the pricier side than other selection of boats in Komodo. The standard rate to cruise range from 1500 to 7500 USD per day with usually minimum booking of three days. In peak season like Christmas and New Year, price could surge up—so better avoid these dates.
Fewer Selection of Cruisers
If you don’t want to spend a lot of time browsing through two dozens of boat options, this could be an advantage. The majority of boats in Komodo are budget and medium-priced liveaboard boats—there’s only several big phinisi in Komodo.
