The Labuan Bajo phinisi fleet spans three clear tiers: budget open-trip boats carrying 20+ guests from around $300 per person for 3D2N, deluxe ensuite boats in the $350–$800 per-person band, and luxury private charters from roughly $3,000 to $12,000+ per night. The table below compares 18 real, currently operating Komodo phinisi boats by cabins, capacity, indicative rate band and route fit — so you can shortlist by facts, not photos.
18 Komodo Phinisi Compared
Data reflects publicly listed specifications as of August 2026; operators refit vessels and adjust rates by season, so treat the bands as planning figures and confirm current numbers directly with the operator before paying a deposit. “Route fit” indicates where each tier typically sails: the central circuit (Padar, Komodo, Pink Beach, Rinca) suits every boat, while the northern sites and multi-day expedition routes favour larger or better-equipped vessels.
| # | Vessel | Cabins | Guests | Category | Indicative rate (USD) | Route fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamborajo I | 5 | ~20 | Budget–midrange | Open trip 3D2N from ~$220–$290 pp; 3D2N charter ~$2,500–$2,900 total | Central circuit |
| 2 | Lamborajo II | 6–7 | ~20 | Midrange | Open trip ~$250–$350 pp 3D2N | Central circuit |
| 3 | Lamborajo III | 7–8 | 20–24 | Midrange | Open trip ~$300–$400 pp 3D2N; group charters on request | Central + north |
| 4 | Aura Suci | 8 | 24 | Budget–midrange | Shared 3D2N from ~$300 pp | Central circuit |
| 5 | Magika | 9 | 22 | Midrange | Shared 3D2N ~$310–$520 pp | Central + north |
| 6 | Zada Nara | 6–8 | 14–18 | Deluxe | Per cabin 3D2N ~$650–$1,350; ~$300–$500 pp | Central + north |
| 7 | Leticia | 6–7 | 12–16 | Deluxe | Shared 3D2N ~$350–$550 pp | Central circuit |
| 8 | 3 Islands Liveaboard | 5 | 12–14 | Deluxe | 3D2N charter ~$2,600–$3,200 total | Central circuit |
| 9 | Naturalia | 8 | 24 | Premium | Shared 3D2N ~$400–$800 pp | Central + north |
| 10 | Neptune | 7 | 20 | Premium | Shared 3D2N ~$610–$850 pp | Central + north; popular with divers |
| 11 | Ayvara | 7 | 15 | Premium boutique | Charter ~$3,000–$3,200/night | Central + north |
| 12 | Pinta | 5 | 13 + 4 children | Premium | Charter ~$2,450–$2,775/night | Central circuit; family-friendly |
| 13 | Riley | boutique layout | small group | Luxury | Private charter, on inquiry | Central + north + custom routes — rileyphinisi.com |
| 14 | LASHA | boutique layout | small group | Luxury | Private charter, on inquiry | Central + north + custom routes — lashacruise.com |
| 15 | Vinca | 5–7 | 10–14 | Luxury | Charter ~$5,000–$6,500/night | Full park + expedition |
| 16 | Oracle | 5–7 | 10–14 | Luxury | Charter ~$5,300–$5,900/night | Full park + expedition |
| 17 | Zada Ulla | 5–7 | 10–14 | Deluxe–luxury boutique | Charter ~$4,000–$6,000/night | Central + north |
| 18 | Ayana Lako di’a | ~9 | 16–20 | Luxury | Charter ~$12,000/night | Full park; resort-linked departures |
Reading the Categories
Budget and midrange boats (rows 1–5) sell per-person berths on fixed shared departures. Cabins are simple, some bathrooms shared, and the schedule is standardised — the right choice when price per person is the deciding factor. Deluxe boats (rows 6–8) sell ensuite air-conditioned cabins on shared departures and take small-group charters. Premium and luxury vessels (rows 9–18) are primarily private-charter products: fewer guests, more crew, chefs, dive guides and custom routing. For how these tiers translate into cabin choice on your own booking, see choosing the right Komodo phinisi boat and cabins.
What “Route Fit” Really Means
The central circuit — Padar, Komodo, Pink Beach, Rinca, Kelor — sits in relatively sheltered water and is within reach of every boat on the list. The northern sites (Gili Lawa, the Castle Rock and Crystal Rock snorkel-dive area) involve stronger currents and longer runs, so they favour boats with more engine power, experienced crews and flexible schedules — in practice, the premium and luxury tiers, plus midrange boats on 4D3N or longer formats. Expedition routes such as the Lombok–Moyo–Satonda crossing or extended Flores itineraries are charter territory: they need range, provisioning capacity and a crew comfortable with open-water passages. Matching boat to route matters more than matching boat to photo gallery; a beautiful vessel on the wrong route still misses the sites you booked for.
Booking timing follows tier. Budget open trips can often be secured days ahead outside peak season. Deluxe cabins on the popular boats go four to eight weeks out. Luxury charters for June–August book three to six months ahead, and the marquee vessels take the earliest commitments of all.
How to Verify an Operator Before You Pay
Aggregator catalogues list hundreds of boats they have never boarded. Five checks separate a real operator from a reseller:
- Legal identity. Ask for the operating company name and registration. A legitimate operator states it openly (for example, Komodo Luxury operates as PT Komodo Bahari Nusantara, established 2015 in Labuan Bajo).
- Direct vessel knowledge. Ask a specific question — engine hours, cabin AC type, tender count. Operators answer immediately; resellers must “check with the boat”.
- Original photography. A real fleet publishes consistent, current photos and can send today’s photo of the boat on request.
- Named crew and safety detail. Licensing, life-raft capacity and briefing procedures should be stated in writing without prompting.
- Traceable reviews. Cross-check review volume and dates on independent platforms rather than on-site testimonials alone.
Which Boat for Which Trip?
- Solo traveller, essential circuit: Lamborajo-class or Aura Suci open trip.
- Couple wanting comfort on a shared boat: Zada Nara or Leticia deluxe cabin.
- Divers: Neptune or Naturalia for northern sites.
- Family or private group: Pinta, 3 Islands, or a boutique luxury charter such as Riley or LASHA.
- Celebration or flagship trip: Vinca, Oracle or Ayana Lako di’a tier — book months ahead for June–August.
Package formats and per-person maths for every tier are in the Komodo phinisi tour packages hub; rig and construction background is in the phinisi boat guide.
Treat this table as your shortlisting tool, not your final answer: pick the two or three vessels that fit your group size and budget band, then request current cabin plans, this-week photos and a written quote from each. The operator that answers fastest and most specifically is usually the one that runs its boats best.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best phinisi boat in Komodo?
There is no single best boat — there is a best boat per trip type. Shared-departure travellers get the most from deluxe boats like Zada Nara; private groups get the most from boutique luxury charters; divers should prioritise vessels that run northern-site schedules.
How many phinisi operate in Komodo?
Well over a hundred licensed liveaboards work out of Labuan Bajo across budget, deluxe and luxury tiers. The 18 above are a representative, verifiable cross-section of the active fleet.
Why do rates for the same boat vary so much?
Season, occupancy, route length and charter versus shared format all move the price. June–August peak departures command the top of each band; low-season charters sit near the bottom.
Are cabin counts fixed?
No. Owners refit regularly — cabins are merged into suites or added during dry dock. Confirm the current layout and a cabin plan before booking, especially on older listings.
Is a luxury charter worth it over a deluxe shared cabin?
For groups of six or more, often yes on pure maths: a $6,000-per-night luxury charter split ten ways is $600 per person per night with private-yacht service, against $300–$500 per person on a shared deluxe boat with a fixed schedule.
The flagship charter fleet for Komodo is curated at Komodo Luxury’s boat collection — operating from Labuan Bajo since 2015, rated 4.9/5 from 1,500+ reviews. Enquiries: WhatsApp +62 811-3823-875 or [email protected].
Komodophinisitour.com is operated under Komodo Luxury (PT Komodo Bahari Nusantara), part of Juara Holding Group — company facts.