Liveaboard cabin types can be confusing the first time you book. Master, deluxe, superior, standard, family, twin, sharing: every boat uses its own names, and the same word can mean a different cabin on two boats. Yet the cabin is where you sleep, shower and rest for a few nights, and it is the biggest difference in price on any boat. This guide explains the cabin types you will find on the 31 boats on this site, what each one usually offers, how the decks compare and how to choose the right cabin for you.
In short
- Master cabins are the largest, usually with the best view; some have a balcony, a bathtub or a jacuzzi.
- Deluxe, superior and standard cabins step down in size and price, often from the upper deck to the lower deck.
- Family and sharing cabins sleep more people; sharing cabins are sold per bed, ideal for solo travellers.
- Every boat on this site has air conditioning and ensuite bathrooms, and almost every cabin has its own bathroom.
Liveaboard cabin types at a glance
The names differ from boat to boat, but the cabins on a Komodo liveaboard fall into a few clear groups. This table gives the typical picture on the boats on this site; always check the details of the cabin you book.
| Type | Usually on | Typical beds | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master | Upper or main deck | King, queen or double, often with an extra bed | Couples, honeymoons, comfort |
| Deluxe | Upper or main deck | Queen or double, sometimes an extra bed | Couples and friends |
| Superior | Lower deck, sometimes main deck | Queen, double or twin | Good value for two |
| Standard | Main or lower deck | Double | The lowest price for a private cabin |
| Family | Any deck | Two queens, or a queen with singles or extra beds | Families and small groups |
| Twin | Lower or main deck | Two single beds or bunks | Friends, or a shared cabin for solo guests |
| Sharing | Usually lower deck | Single beds or bunks, sold per bed | Solo travellers on a budget |
Master cabins
The master cabin is the best cabin on the boat, and most boats have only one or two. It is usually the largest, on the upper or main deck, with big windows and the best view of the sea. The bed is often a king or queen, and many master cabins have room for a third guest on an extra bed.
On many boats, the master cabin also has something extra. The Royal Cabin on Marea has a 270 degree sea view, a private balcony, a bathtub and a separate shower and toilet. The Master Room on Elrora has a private balcony and a private jacuzzi, and the Moon Cabin on Semesta Voyages and the Royal Suite on Yumana have a balcony and a jacuzzi too. Some boats call a large master cabin a family cabin, such as the Sengigi Room on Alfathran 3, which sleeps two to five guests.
Because there are so few master cabins, they are usually the first to sell out, especially for July, August and the December holidays. If you have your heart set on one, book as soon as you know your dates, and keep a deluxe cabin on the same boat as your second choice.
Deluxe and superior cabins
Deluxe cabins are the next step down, and on most boats they are the most common type. They are usually on the upper or main deck, often with a sea view, a queen or double bed and, on some boats, an extra bed for a third guest. On Sora, for example, the six Signature Cabins on the main deck each have a double bed, a 90 degree sea view and a balcony.
Superior cabins are usually smaller and often on the lower deck, with a queen, double or twin bed and a private bathroom. They are a good choice if you want your own cabin at a lower price, and you spend most of the day on deck anyway. On Lamborajo 2, the five Superior Cabins on the lower deck each have a queen bed and a single bed, air conditioning and a private bathroom with a hot shower.
Do not read too much into the names. A deluxe cabin on one boat can be larger than a master cabin on another, and some boats use their own words, such as Signature, Suite or Stateroom. Compare the bed, the deck, the view and what is in the bathroom, rather than the name on the door.
Standard cabins
A standard cabin is the simplest private cabin on the boat, with a double bed and little else, and it is usually the lowest price for a cabin of your own. Only some boats have one: the Private Cabin on Arham Jaya II, the Private Ocean cabin on Nusantara Karya and the Balinese Rooms on Vinca Voyages are examples.
Read the description carefully. The Standard Cabin on Segara has a queen bed and a shared bathroom, one of only two cabin types on this site without their own bathroom. For many travellers that is a fair trade for the price; for others, a superior cabin with an ensuite bathroom is worth the difference.
Family cabins
Family cabins sleep three to six people in one room, usually with two queen beds, or a queen bed with single or extra beds. They are the easiest choice for parents with children, because everyone stays together. On this site, Elrora, Kanha Loka, Lamborajo 2 and Le Costa have cabins marked as family cabins.
They differ a lot. The Family Ocean Cabin on Kanha Loka has two queen beds for four guests. The Family Ocean Cabin on Lamborajo 2 is on the upper deck, with a balcony, a queen bed and two extra beds. The Portofino Cabin on Le Costa has two queen beds and two extra beds for up to six guests, and it is booked by at least four. Family cabins are few, so book early for school holidays.
If the family cabin is taken, two cabins side by side can work just as well, with one parent in each, and older children often love having a cabin of their own. Children under 2 do not pay the park fee. Our guide to Komodo with kids has more tips for families.
Twin and sharing cabins
Twin cabins have two single beds or bunks. On Lady Grace, the Penyu Rooms on the lower deck are booked either as a private room or shared with a traveller of the same gender, and solo travellers are welcome. They suit friends who want separate beds, and solo guests who want a lower price.
Sharing cabins are sold per bed rather than per cabin, which makes them the most affordable way to sail, especially on your own. On this site, 14 boats have one. Most have their own bathroom, shared only by the people in that cabin, but the details differ: the Superior Sharing Cabin on Sora is a mixed dorm with four single beds and a curtain between the beds, the Quad Stateroom on Kai Voyage has four single beds and a bathroom with a hot shower, and the Share Cabin on Kanha Loka sleeps up to eight guests with a shared bathroom.
A sharing cabin works best with a little preparation. Bring earplugs and an eye mask, keep your things tidy in one bag, and take a small dry bag for your valuables. Most guests in a sharing cabin are travellers like you, out on deck from sunrise to sunset, so the cabin is mainly a place to sleep and shower, and many solo travellers find their best friends of the trip there.
Upper, main or lower deck?
Where a cabin sits on the boat matters almost as much as its type. Cabins on the upper and main decks usually have larger windows, more light and a better view, and they are close to the decks where you spend the day. Cabins on the lower deck are usually smaller and cost less, often with smaller windows.
There is one advantage to staying low: on any boat, you feel the least movement low down and near the middle of the hull. If you are prone to seasickness, a lower cabin can be the more comfortable choice. On many boat pages, a deck plan shows where each cabin is, so you can see how close it is to the stairs, the dining area and the engine room.
Noise is the other thing to think about. The engine runs during the crossings, and a generator powers the air conditioning and the lights, so cabins close to the engine room can be a little louder. Cabins next to the dining area or the galley hear the morning coffee being made. If you sleep lightly, bring earplugs, whatever cabin you choose.
Beds, extra beds and how many guests
Each cabin on this site shows how many guests it sleeps, with extra beds included, and how many of those guests use an extra bed. For example, a cabin listed as sleeping three may have a queen bed for two and an extra bed for a third guest. Where a boat offers extra beds, they always cost less than the regular beds, which makes them a good choice for a child or a friend on a budget.
Bed sizes vary from double and queen to king and super king, and some cabins have a sofa bed or single beds beside the main bed. If you are travelling with a friend and want separate beds, look for a twin cabin, or a cabin with a queen and a single bed, rather than a double.
Bathrooms, air conditioning and hot water
Every boat on this site has air conditioning and ensuite bathrooms, and almost every cabin type has its own bathroom. Only two cabin types share a bathroom: the Standard Cabin on Segara and the Share Cabin on Kanha Loka. Twenty-one boats list hot water, and some master cabins add a bathtub or a jacuzzi.
Remember that fresh water is carried or made on board, so showers are a little different from a hotel: keep them short, and follow the crew’s advice on how to use the toilet. Our guide on what a liveaboard is explains life on board in more detail.
How to read the cabin labels
On the boat pages, each cabin type in the sharing trip list shows a price “from, per person” in Indonesian rupiah, with an approximate amount in US dollars beside it, and a short label that tells you who can book it:
- Solo OK: one guest can book the cabin alone, for the price of one person.
- Min. 2 guests: the cabin is booked by at least two guests.
- Shared cabin: you book a bed in a cabin that you share with other travellers.
These labels save a lot of guesswork, especially for solo travellers. Our guide to choosing a Komodo liveaboard covers the other things to compare, from the route to the decks.
How cabin prices compare on one boat
On a sharing trip, you pay per person, and the price depends on the cabin type. On the same boat and the same departure, the master cabin costs the most, then the deluxe and superior cabins, and a bed in a sharing cabin costs the least. The price shown for a boat as a whole is the starting price, which is the price of its least expensive cabin.
Across the 31 boats on this site, the lowest price per person on a sharing trip ranges from about IDR 3 million on the simplest boats to about IDR 13.5 million on the most comfortable, and half of the boats start at IDR 6.5 million or less. Everything else on board is the same for every guest: the meals, the stops, the guide and the snorkelling. The Komodo National Park fee is added to the invoice per person, whatever cabin you choose. Our Komodo trip budget guide shows how the cabin fits into the total cost.
Which cabin is right for you?
- Couples and honeymooners: a master or deluxe cabin on the upper or main deck, ideally with a sea view or a balcony.
- Friends: a twin cabin, or a cabin with a queen and a single bed.
- Families: a family cabin, or two cabins side by side; check the extra beds.
- Solo travellers: a cabin marked “Solo OK”, or a bed in a sharing cabin.
- Light sleepers or anyone prone to seasickness: a cabin low down and near the middle of the boat.
- Budget travellers: a superior, standard or sharing cabin, and more time on deck.
Whatever you choose, remember that you will spend most of the day outside: on the deck, on the beaches and in the water. The cabin is where you sleep and recharge, so choose the one that lets you sleep well at a price that leaves room for the rest of the trip.
Our view
Understanding liveaboard cabin types takes the stress out of booking. Start with who is travelling and how you sleep, look at the deck and the bathroom, and read the label beside the price. Then pick the cabin that fits, and save your excitement for the islands outside your window: Komodo National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991, and the view is the same from every deck.
The best cabin is the one that lets you sleep well and leaves you excited to step outside in the morning.
Ready to compare? Every boat on our sharing trips page shows its cabin types with photos, live prices and the cabins still free.
Questions
What is the difference between a master and a deluxe cabin?
The master cabin is usually the largest cabin with the best view, and on some boats it has a balcony, a bathtub or a jacuzzi. Deluxe cabins are the next size down.
Do all cabins have a private bathroom?
Almost all. On this site, only the Standard Cabin on Segara and the Share Cabin on Kanha Loka share a bathroom.
Do the cabins have air conditioning?
Yes. Every boat on this site has air conditioning.
Can I book a cabin on my own?
Yes, if it is marked “Solo OK”, or by booking a bed in a sharing cabin. Some cabins need at least two guests.
Which deck moves the least?
The lower deck, near the middle of the boat. It is a good choice if you are prone to seasickness.
Is an extra bed cheaper?
Yes. On every boat on this site that offers extra beds, they cost less than the regular beds.
What is a sharing cabin?
A cabin where you book one bed and share the room with other travellers. On this site, 14 boats have one, and most have their own bathroom.
Can I see the cabin before I book?
Each boat page shows every cabin type with photos, the beds, the deck and a short description, and many boats also have a deck plan.
Elbark Cruise
Papiton Allo
Semesta Voyages
Sukha Sail 1
