What is a liveaboard bathroom really like? It is one of the first questions people ask before they book a cabin on a boat, and one of the least talked about. Will you share it with strangers? Is there hot water? Can you use the toilet like at home? On the Komodo boats on this site, the answers are better than many people expect: almost every cabin has its own bathroom. This guide explains the difference between private and shared bathrooms on a phinisi, what to expect from the showers, the toilets and the water, and how to choose the right cabin for you.
In short
- Every boat on this site has ensuite bathrooms, and almost every cabin type has its own.
- Only two cabin types share a bathroom: the Standard Cabin on Segara and the Share Cabin on Kanha Loka.
- 21 boats list hot water, and some master cabins add a bathtub or a jacuzzi.
- Fresh water is carried or made on board, so keep showers short and follow the crew’s advice on the toilet.
Liveaboard bathroom basics
A bathroom on a phinisi is smaller than in most hotels, but on the boats on this site it is a real bathroom: a toilet, a washbasin and a shower, usually in a separate space inside your cabin. On the larger boats, the master cabins have bigger bathrooms, sometimes with a bathtub, a jacuzzi bath or a window to the sea. On the simpler boats, the bathroom is compact and practical, with a shower and a toilet in one small room.
Two things make a boat bathroom different from one on land. Fresh water is carried or made on board, so it is limited, and the toilets are marine toilets, which work differently from those at home. Neither is a problem once you know how they work, and the crew will explain both on the first day.
The tropical air plays a part too. Bathrooms on a boat are humid, and towels and swimwear dry slowly inside, so hang wet things on deck in the breeze when the crew allows it, and keep the bathroom door open when you leave the cabin for a few hours, so the air can move. It is a small habit that keeps the cabin fresh for the whole trip.
Private bathrooms: the norm on this site
On many liveaboards around the world, cheaper cabins share a bathroom in the corridor. On the Komodo boats on this site, that is the exception. All 31 boats list ensuite bathrooms among their facilities, and of all the cabin types on the site, only two share a bathroom. In practice, that means that if you book a private cabin, you can almost always expect a bathroom of your own, just a few steps from your bed.
For couples, families and anyone who values privacy, this makes a big difference, especially at night and on the early mornings of the Padar climb. It also means you can keep your things in the bathroom, shower after every swim without waiting and take your time getting ready for dinner.
There is a practical side as well. A bathroom inside your cabin means no walk along a dark corridor or across a deck at night, which is easier and safer on a boat that moves gently at anchor. If you are prone to seasickness, having your own bathroom a few steps from your bed is a comfort you will appreciate on the first evening.
Shared bathrooms: where you find them
On this site, two cabin types use a shared bathroom. The Standard Cabin on Segara is a private cabin with a queen bed and a shared bathroom, and it is the lowest price for a cabin of your own on that boat. The Share Cabin on Kanha Loka sleeps up to eight guests, booked per person, with air conditioning and a shared bathroom.
A shared bathroom is not a hardship on a short trip, and many travellers happily trade it for a lower price. Bring a small wash bag you can carry, flip-flops and a light robe or sarong, and agree on a rhythm with the other guests, especially before the early morning climb. If a private bathroom matters to you, choose another cabin type: on both of these boats, the other cabins have their own.
A little courtesy makes a shared bathroom easy for everyone. Keep your showers short, leave the floor as dry as you can, take your things back to your bed after you use it and keep the door closed when the boat is moving. On a three-day trip with friendly people, most guests find it simply becomes part of the routine.
Sharing cabins are not the same as shared bathrooms
It is easy to confuse the two. A sharing cabin is a cabin you share with other travellers, booked per bed, and 14 boats on this site have one. A shared bathroom is a bathroom used by more than one cabin. On this site, most sharing cabins have their own bathroom, used only by the guests in that cabin.
For example, the Share Cabin on Arham Jaya II, the sharing cabins on Marea and the Share Cabin on Nusantara Karya all have a private bathroom, and the Quad Stateroom on Kai Voyage and the Maleo Cabin on Sukha Sail 2 have a private bathroom with a hot shower. The Superior Sharing Cabin on Sora is a mixed dorm with four single beds and a curtain between the beds. Read the description of each cabin, which always says what kind of bathroom it has.
Some boats also offer a middle way. On Lady Grace, the Penyu Rooms on the lower deck have a private bathroom and can be booked as a private room or shared with a traveller of the same gender, which suits solo travellers who want a lower price without a dorm. Look for the label “Shared cabin” beside the price on the boat page to see which cabins are booked per bed.
Showers and hot water
Every bathroom has a shower, and on this site, 21 boats list hot water among their facilities. On the boats without it, the water is not cold in the way it would be in a cooler country: in the warm air of Komodo, a fresh shower after a hot day is often exactly what you want. If hot water matters to you, check the facilities on the boat page before you book.
Showers on a boat are short by necessity. Fresh water is carried or made on board, and every guest shares the same supply. Wet yourself, turn off the water while you soap, then rinse. Rinse your snorkelling gear in the shared tub on deck if the boat has one, rather than under your cabin shower. These small habits keep the water flowing for everyone until the end of the trip.
The pressure may also be lower than you are used to, and at busy times, such as just before dinner when every guest comes back from the last swim, it can drop for a few minutes. If you can, shower a little earlier or later than the rest, and you will have the water to yourself.
Bathtubs and jacuzzis
For something more special, some master and deluxe cabins have a bathtub or a jacuzzi. The Royal Cabin on Marea has a bathtub and a separate shower and toilet, and the Laut Cabin on Akassa Cruise, the Padar Cabin on Derya and the Adonara Cabin on Mosalaki have a bathtub too. The Master Room on Elrora, the Moon and Earth Cabins on Semesta Voyages, the Royal Suite on Yumana and the Santorini Cabin on Le Costa have a jacuzzi.
These cabins are few, often one or two per boat, and they are the first to go on popular dates. They are a lovely choice for a honeymoon or a special occasion, and a bath at anchor at the end of a day of swimming and hiking is a luxury few hotels can match.
There are more. The Ikan Room on Lady Grace has a private jacuzzi and an ocean view, the Malacca I cabin on Raffles Cruise has a jacuzzi and a private balcony, the Malacca II cabin a bathtub, and the Royal Master and Master Ocean cabins on Lamborajo 3 have a jacuzzi too. On Sukha Sail 2, the Merak Cabin on the upper deck has a private balcony and a bathtub.
Toilets on a boat
Marine toilets use less water than the toilets at home and have narrower pipes, so they block more easily. The rule is simple: follow the crew’s instructions. On some boats, toilet paper can be flushed; on others, it goes in the bin beside the toilet. Nothing else, such as wet wipes, cotton pads or sanitary products, should ever go down a boat toilet.
If a toilet does not flush properly, tell the crew rather than trying to fix it yourself; they deal with it every week and will sort it out quickly. It may feel awkward to ask, but the crew would much rather know straight away.
Plan ahead for the stops ashore, too. Many beaches and small islands in the park have no toilets at all, so use the bathroom on board before you climb into the tender, and carry a few tissues and a small bag in your day pack to take any rubbish back to the boat.
Bathrooms for families with children
For families, a bathroom in the cabin is almost essential, and on this site the family cabins, on Elrora, Kanha Loka, Lamborajo 2 and Le Costa, all have their own. If the family cabin is taken, two cabins side by side, each with its own bathroom, work just as well, with one parent in each.
Show children how the toilet works on the first day, and explain what can and cannot go in it. A small torch or night light helps with the trips to the bathroom at night, and a pair of non-slip sandals makes a wet floor safer. Our guide to Komodo with kids has more tips for families on board.
Water on board: what to drink and what not to
The water from the bathroom taps is for washing, not for drinking. Drinking water is included on most boats, so bring a reusable bottle and refill it from the drinking water the crew provides. Use the drinking water to brush your teeth too, if you have a sensitive stomach.
Because fresh water is limited, think of the bathroom as you would on a camping trip with comfort: short showers, the tap off while you brush and no washing of clothes in the basin. Our article on responsible travel in Komodo has more easy ways to save water and reduce waste on board.
How to check the bathroom before you book
Each boat page lists its cabin types with photos, the beds, the deck and a short description, and the description always says what kind of bathroom the cabin has. The facilities of the boat, such as hot water, are listed on the same page. If you are unsure, ask us before you book: we know the boats and can tell you exactly what to expect.
Look at the photos too. Many boats show the bathroom of each cabin type, so you can see the size, the shower and whether there is a window. Our guide to liveaboard cabin types explains the rest of the cabin.
Bathroom tips for a comfortable trip
- Bring a hanging wash bag; shelf space is small in a boat bathroom.
- Pack flip-flops for the shower and the deck.
- Use reef-friendly products, because what you wash off goes into the sea.
- Bring a quick-drying towel for the beach stops.
- Keep the bathroom door closed when the boat is moving, so nothing slides off the shelf.
- Ask the crew about the toilet on the first day, and follow their advice.
Which option is right for you?
| You are | Choose |
|---|---|
| A couple or on a honeymoon | A private cabin with its own bathroom, ideally a master cabin with a bathtub or jacuzzi |
| A family | A family cabin or two cabins, each with its own bathroom |
| A solo traveller on a budget | A bed in a sharing cabin that has its own bathroom |
| Happy to share for a lower price | A cabin with a shared bathroom, such as the Standard Cabin on Segara |
| Someone who needs hot water | One of the 21 boats that list hot water |
In the end, the bathroom is rarely what decides a trip. Most guests spend their days on deck, on the beaches and in the water, and use the bathroom for a quick shower and a good night’s sleep. Choose the cabin that fits your budget and your need for privacy, and save the rest of your attention for the islands.
Our view
A liveaboard bathroom is smaller and simpler than a hotel’s, but on the Komodo boats on this site it is almost always your own. Choose a cabin with the bathroom you need, keep your showers short, follow the crew’s advice on the toilet and you will hardly think about it again. Komodo National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991, and the view from the deck is what you will remember.
On a good boat, the bathroom is the one thing you never need to think about, so you can think about everything else.
Ready to choose your cabin? Every boat on our sharing trips page shows its cabin types, their bathrooms and their live prices.
Questions
Do liveaboard cabins have private bathrooms?
On this site, almost all do. Every boat lists ensuite bathrooms, and only two cabin types share a bathroom.
Is there hot water on the boat?
On 21 of the 31 boats on this site. Check the facilities on the boat page if it matters to you.
Can I flush toilet paper?
It depends on the boat. Follow the crew’s instructions; on some boats it goes in the bin beside the toilet.
Can I drink the tap water?
No. The tap water is for washing. Drinking water is included on most boats; refill your bottle from it.
Do sharing cabins have their own bathroom?
Most do, used only by the guests in that cabin. The Share Cabin on Kanha Loka uses a shared bathroom.
Which cabins have a bathtub or a jacuzzi?
Some master and deluxe cabins, such as the Royal Cabin on Marea and the Master Room on Elrora. The cabin description on each boat page says so.
Can I shower after every swim?
Yes, but keep it short. Fresh water is carried or made on board and shared by everyone, so a quick rinse is enough between swims.
What should I pack for the bathroom?
A hanging wash bag, reef-friendly products, flip-flops, a quick-drying towel for the beach and any medicines you need.
Are there toilets on the islands?
Many beaches and small islands have none. Use the bathroom on board before each stop ashore.
Is a shared bathroom cheaper?
Usually, yes. On Segara, the Standard Cabin with a shared bathroom is the lowest price for a cabin of your own on the boat.
Elbark Cruise
Papiton Allo
Semesta Voyages
Sukha Sail 1
