What is included on a liveaboard is one of the first questions travellers ask, and for good reason: a Komodo boat trip is sold as a package, and its price covers far more than a bed for the night. On every boat on this site, it includes your cabin, all your meals, drinking water, snorkelling gear, a guide and your transfers, while the park fee, flights, alcohol and tips are paid on top.
To answer the question with facts rather than promises, we compared the lists of inclusions and exclusions that all 31 boats on this site publish for their sharing trips, and the separate lists that 27 of them publish for private charters. This guide explains what the price covers, what it does not, how the park fee and the deposit work, and which questions to ask before you book.
In short
- All 31 boats include a cabin, three meals a day, drinking water, coffee and tea, snacks, snorkelling gear, a guide and transfers.
- 28 boats add canoes or paddleboards, 20 list Wi-Fi, and every sharing trip includes photo or drone documentation.
- The national park fee is never in the cabin price: it is added to your invoice, from IDR 650.000 per foreign guest on most boats.
- Flights, hotels, insurance, alcohol and tips are always extra, and every boat asks for a 50% deposit.
What is included on a liveaboard in Komodo?
The short answer to what is included on a liveaboard: almost everything you need between boarding and leaving the boat. Every sharing trip on this site is full board, which means that your cabin, your meals and the activities on the itinerary are paid in one price per person. You pay once, step on board and rarely need your wallet again until you are back in Labuan Bajo.
The table counts how many of the 31 boats list each item among the inclusions of their sharing trips, as published on their boat pages at the time of writing. The lists are remarkably similar, because most boats follow the same local package, but the small differences are worth knowing before you choose.
| What the price covers | Boats that include it |
|---|---|
| Cabin, full board | 31 of 31 |
| Breakfast, lunch and dinner | 31 of 31 |
| Drinking water, coffee and tea | 31 of 31 |
| Snacks or afternoon tea | 31 of 31 |
| Snorkelling equipment | 31 of 31 |
| Guide or cruise director | 31 of 31 |
| Shore activities on the itinerary | 30 of 31 |
| Photo, drone or GoPro documentation | 31 of 31 |
| Transfers (hotel, airport or harbour) | 31 of 31 |
| Canoe, kayak or paddleboard | 28 of 31 |
| Wi-Fi | 20 of 31 |
| Soft drinks | 3 of 31 |
The shore activities and excursions of the itinerary are listed as included on 30 of the 31 boats, while the national park entrance fee that goes with them is charged separately on every boat, as explained further down. Our page on sharing trips lists every departure with its price per person, so you can compare boats with the same inclusions side by side.
Your cabin on board
Every boat includes accommodation in a cabin for the nights of the trip, usually a twin or double cabin shared by two guests. The price is per person, so two friends or a couple share one cabin, and a solo traveller either shares or books a cabin alone, depending on the rules of the boat. Our guide to choosing a Komodo liveaboard explains the cabin types and how they affect the price.
Beds, linen and pillows come with the cabin. Features such as a private bathroom, air conditioning or a window with a sea view vary from boat to boat and from one cabin type to another, so read the cabin details on the boat page before you choose. Le Costa is the only boat that also lists towels and amenities among its inclusions; on the others, ask whether towels are provided, or pack a light, quick-drying one.
Space is limited on any boat, so the cabin is for sleeping, changing and storing your bag, while the days are spent on deck, in the water and on the islands. A soft bag is easier to stow than a hard suitcase, and our Komodo packing list helps you bring only what you need.
Meals, snacks and drinks
All 31 boats serve three meals a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner, prepared on board for the guests. Most add an afternoon snack with juice, and every boat provides drinking water, coffee and tea throughout the trip, so you do not need to carry crates of bottled water on board. A refillable bottle is all you need, and it saves plastic.
If you follow a diet, such as vegetarian or halal food, or if you have an allergy, mention it when you book. The cook does the shopping before the boat leaves, and on a small island there is no shop to fix a missed request, so early notice makes all the difference.
Soft drinks are less common. Only 3 boats list them in the price: Le Costa, with free-flow mineral water and soft drinks, and the two Sukha Sail boats. On the others, ask the crew what is available on board and how extra drinks are paid for, as the arrangement differs from one boat to the next.
Snorkelling gear, water toys and the guide
Snorkelling is at the heart of a Komodo trip, and every boat includes the equipment: mask, snorkel and fins, with life jackets for the swims. If you own a mask that fits you well, bring it, as a good fit is the key to a comfortable swim, but you do not need to rent anything in Labuan Bajo.
Water toys are almost as common: 28 of the 31 boats list canoes or kayaks, paddleboards, or both. They are perfect for a calm bay in the late afternoon, when the light softens and the water is flat. The three boats that do not mention them are the ones that sail the longer route between Lombok and Labuan Bajo.
Every boat also includes a guide, listed as a tour guide, a local guide or, on Le Costa, a cruise director. The guide usually briefs you before each stop, explains the rules of the park and keeps an eye on the group in the water. Diving is a different matter: none of the 31 sharing-trip packages on this site includes dives, so ask before you book if you would like to dive during your trip.
Transfers, Wi-Fi and photos
Transfers are included on every boat, but check the details. Most boats collect you from your hotel or from Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo and bring you back at the end of the trip. Le Costa lists transfers to and from the harbour, and the three boats that sail between Lombok and Labuan Bajo also pick guests up in Lombok, in Senggigi and, for Sukha Sail 1, in Kuta or Bangsal as well.
Wi-Fi appears on 20 of the 31 lists, and Sukha Sail 2 names Starlink, a satellite service. Treat it as a bonus rather than a promise, as connections at sea can be slower than on land. Download maps, music and boarding passes before you leave town, and enjoy a few days with your phone in your bag.
Every sharing trip also includes documentation: the boats list photos taken by the crew, often with a drone or a GoPro. It is a lovely souvenir, especially of the moments when you are in the water. On private charters, the same service is usually an extra cost, as explained below.
What is not included
Knowing what is included on a liveaboard is only half of the picture, and the exclusions are just as consistent as the inclusions. Every boat lists the same few costs outside the price, so you can budget for them before you book rather than discover them on board.
| Paid separately | Boats that exclude it |
|---|---|
| Komodo National Park fee | 31 of 31 |
| Flights | 31 of 31 |
| Hotel in Labuan Bajo | 31 of 31 |
| Tips for the crew and guide | 31 of 31 |
| Personal expenses | 31 of 31 |
| Alcoholic drinks | 30 of 31 |
| Travel or dive accident insurance | 30 of 31 |
Meals in Labuan Bajo before and after the trip are also on you, as is anything you buy on shore. None of these costs is unusual for a boat trip, but together they can add a fair amount to the price of the cabin, so it pays to add them up early.
The Komodo National Park fee
The park fee is the one extra that every guest pays. Komodo National Park charges an entrance fee per person, and every boat on this site leaves it out of the cabin price and adds it to your invoice instead, per person and per trip rather than per day. Cash is not accepted for it, and children under 2 pay nothing.
The amount depends on the boat and the route. 25 of the 31 boats list IDR 650.000 for foreign guests and IDR 400.000 for Indonesian citizens. The other six list between IDR 700.000 and 1.200.000 for foreign guests, and Alfathran 3 already shows separate 2027 fees for its route between Labuan Bajo and Lombok, which depend on the direction of travel.
The park authority sets the fee and can change it, so your invoice uses the amount in force when it is issued. Our guide to Komodo park fees shows the current amount for every boat on this site.
Alcohol, tips and personal costs
Alcoholic drinks are named among the exclusions on 30 of the 31 boats, and none of the 31 includes them, so a glass of wine at sunset is never part of the price. Ask the boat before you sail what drinks are available on board and how you pay for them.
Tips for the crew and the guide are never included. They are not compulsory, but if you were happy with the trip, a tip at the end, in rupiah, is a common way to say thank you to the people who cooked, cleaned, steered and guided for you. There are no cash machines at sea, so bring some cash in small notes from Labuan Bajo.
Personal expenses cover everything else outside the package, from extra drinks to souvenirs. On a sharing trip, they are usually small, because nearly everything you need is already on board.
Insurance, flights and hotels
Flights to Labuan Bajo and hotel nights before and after the trip are always booked separately. Plan at least one night in town before departure, as a delayed flight could otherwise make you miss the boat, and book a flexible ticket for the way home. Our guide on how to get from Bali to Komodo covers the flights and the timing.
Travel insurance is not included either, and 30 of the 31 boats name it among the exclusions. Choose a policy that covers medical care and evacuation, as the CDC advises for travellers, and if you plan to dive anywhere on your journey, add dive accident cover, such as the plans offered by Divers Alert Network.
Hotels and meals in Labuan Bajo are on you as well. As most boats include a transfer from your hotel, choose one in town rather than far outside it, so the pick-up on departure day is quick and easy.
Private charters: what changes
If you book a whole boat for your group, what is included on a liveaboard charter stays almost the same as on a sharing trip. 27 of the 31 boats publish a separate list for private charters, and all of them include the cabins, three meals a day, drinking water, snacks, snorkelling gear, water toys, the guide, the shore excursions and transfers.
The main difference is documentation: 26 of the 27 charter lists show photos and drone footage as an additional cost, while it is included on every sharing trip. Wi-Fi appears on 22 charter lists, four of them with Starlink. The park fee, flights, hotels, insurance, alcohol and tips are excluded on a charter, just as on a sharing trip.
A charter is priced for the boat rather than per person, which can make it good value for a family or a group of friends who fill the cabins. Our page on private charters compares the boats, their routes and their rates.
Deposit, payment and cancellation
Every boat on this site asks for a 50% deposit, calculated on the total including the park fee. According to our payment policy, the deposit is due within 72 hours of receiving the invoice and confirms your booking, and the balance is due at least 60 days before departure. If you book less than 60 days ahead, you pay the full amount at once.
Our cancellation policy sets out what happens if your plans change. If you cancel 60 days or more before departure, you receive 40% of the total you paid; from 59 days to the day of departure, there is no refund. Sharing trips can be rescheduled up to 65 days before the trip.
If bad weather, a government regulation or another emergency stops the boat from sailing, you can choose between a new date and a 70% refund. The harbour authority in Labuan Bajo closes the sea when the forecast warns of strong winds and high waves, which can happen in any season, so travel insurance with cancellation cover is worth having.
Questions to ask before you book
- The park fee: how much is it on this boat, and is it already on the invoice?
- The cabin: which cabin type do I get, and does it have a private bathroom?
- Food: can the cook prepare vegetarian, halal or allergy-free meals?
- Drinks: what is on board beyond water, coffee and tea, and how do I pay for it?
- Transfers: where and at what time will you pick me up?
- Water toys and Wi-Fi: are canoes, paddleboards or Wi-Fi on board?
- Diving: can I dive on this trip, and what would it cost?
- Weather: what happens if the harbour closes on my dates?
Our guide on how to book a Komodo liveaboard explains each step, and every boat page shows its own complete list of inclusions and exclusions. If anything matters to you, ask before you pay the deposit: it is much easier to change boats before booking than after.
Our view
A Komodo liveaboard is one of the most complete packages in Indonesian travel: once you are on board, you rarely need your wallet. When it comes to what is included on a liveaboard, the boats on this site agree on the essentials. The cabin, meals, water, snorkelling gear, the guide, photos and transfers are included, while the park fee, flights, hotels, insurance, alcohol and tips are not. Budget for those extras from the start, read the cabin details on the boat page and ask about anything that matters to you, and there will be no surprises on board.
Pay once for the boat, then budget for the park fee, the flights and a thank-you for the crew.
Ready to compare? Every departure on the sharing trips page shows the price per person and the cabins still free, and our guide to the phinisi boat explains the boats themselves.
Questions
What is included on a liveaboard in Komodo?
On every boat on this site, a cabin, three meals a day, drinking water, coffee and tea, snacks, snorkelling gear, a guide, photo documentation and transfers are included.
Is the park fee included in the price?
No. It is added to your invoice per person and per trip, from IDR 650.000 for foreign guests on most boats.
Are drinks included?
Water, coffee and tea are included on every boat, soft drinks on three, and alcohol on none.
Is snorkelling gear included?
Yes, on all 31 boats: mask, snorkel and fins, with life jackets for the swims.
Is diving included?
No. None of the sharing-trip packages on this site includes diving, so ask before you book if you want to dive.
Do I need to tip the crew?
Tips are not included and not compulsory, but a tip at the end of the trip is a common way to thank the crew and the guide.
Is there Wi-Fi on the boat?
On 20 of the 31 boats. Connections at sea can be slow, so download what you need before you sail.
Are airport transfers included?
Yes. Most boats collect you from your hotel or Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo; one lists harbour transfers, and three also pick up in Lombok.
How much is the deposit?
50% of the total, including the park fee. The balance is due at least 60 days before departure.
What if bad weather stops the trip?
Under our cancellation policy, you can move the trip to a new date or take a 70% refund.
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