At twelve or more guests, a private Raja Ampat charter usually costs less per person than a comparable shared-cabin liveaboard. A mid-range phinisi at USD 4,500–9,000 per night works out to roughly USD 320–640 per person per night at fourteen guests — against USD 400–900 for a shared cabin.
Why does a full charter get cheaper per head?
Because the boat costs what it costs. Crew wages, fuel, provisioning and permits barely move between eight guests and fourteen, so every extra person dilutes the same fixed number. Shared-cabin liveaboards price per berth and build margin into each one; a private charter prices per hull and lets you do the division yourself. Somewhere between ten and twelve guests the two lines cross, and beyond that exclusive use wins on cost as well as on control.
Komodo Luxury — part of Juara Holding Group, chartering Indonesian vessels since 2015 — handles group, family-reunion, incentive and corporate charters throughout the October–April Raja Ampat season.
What does it cost per person as the group grows?
| Boat class | Per night (USD) | 8 guests | 10 guests | 12 guests | 14 guests | 16 guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value phinisi | 1,900–4,500 | 238–563 | 190–450 | 158–375 | — | — |
| Mid-range phinisi | 4,500–9,000 | 563–1,125 | 450–900 | 375–750 | 321–643 | — |
| Luxury phinisi | 8,000–14,000 | 1,000–1,750 | 800–1,400 | 667–1,167 | 571–1,000 | 500–875 |
| Shared cabin, standard liveaboard | USD 400–900 per person per night | |||||
| Shared cabin, luxury liveaboard | USD 700–1,500 per person per night | |||||
Figures are the nightly boat rate divided by guest count. Guest ceilings are set by cabin layout and Indonesian regulation, not by hull length: a value phinisi typically carries 6–10, a mid-range 8–14, a luxury phinisi 10–16, and a flagship of 45–51 metres up to about 20 in seven to nine suites. Wider price context sits on our charter cost page.
How do we allocate cabins in a mixed group?
A typical phinisi runs one master suite, two or three deluxe doubles and two or three twins, mostly ensuite and air-conditioned, across five to seven cabins. The allocation that keeps everyone happy:
- Master suite — the couple hosting, or whoever is paying the deposit. Settle this before the group chat does.
- Main-deck deluxe — couples who want light and space; lower-deck cabins are darker but steadier in a swell.
- Twins — singles sharing, teenagers, or colleagues who barely know each other.
- Children — a twin adjacent to the parents’ cabin works better than a rollaway in the master.
Send us the composition of your group — couples, singles, ages of children — and we will send back a cabin plan for the specific vessel before you commit. Families should also read the existing family and group expeditions guide.
What about groups of 20 to 30?
Two boats sailing together. A flotilla of two mid-range phinisi carries 20–28 guests, keeps the per-person cost in the same band, and gives you two dive decks and four tenders — which in practice means the group never queues. The vessels anchor in the same bay, dinner alternates between hulls, and one cruise director coordinates both. It is also the only realistic way to run a corporate incentive group of that size in Raja Ampat, where no single charter vessel is built for thirty.
What do corporate charters need that leisure charters do not?
| Requirement | How it is handled |
|---|---|
| Connectivity for a work block | Vessels with satellite links can support a half-day session; coverage is patchy north of the Fam Islands. Confirm the specific boat. |
| Meeting space | Shaded sundeck or saloon, typically 12–20 seated. No projector — bring what you need. |
| Invoicing | Corporate invoice from the operating entity, milestone payments, purchase-order references accommodated. |
| Insurance and indemnity | Travel insurance required for all guests; dive insurance for divers; vessel liability documentation supplied on request. |
| Dietary and medical | Collected in writing before provisioning in Sorong — there is no resupply once you sail. |
| Safety briefing | Formal muster and briefing on embarkation, documented for corporate risk files. |
What is included in the group rate?
Full crew (captain, engineer, deckhands, cruise director, chef, stewards, dive guides), three meals a day plus snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, tender use, basic snorkel gear, island and village excursions, and fuel for the agreed itinerary. Outside the rate: the marine park permit, alcohol, dive packages at roughly USD 100–150 per diver per day where not bundled, nitrox at USD 10–20 per day, equipment rental, port fees and local taxes, crew gratuities, insurance and flights to Sorong. Fuel surcharges can apply on unusually long routes such as combining Wayag and Misool in one charter.
How far ahead must a large group book?
For December to March, nine to twelve months. Boats that sleep fourteen or more are a small subset of the fleet, and they are booked by the groups who plan earliest. Shoulder months — October, November, April — can sometimes be secured four to six months out. Festive dates are a category of their own; see the Christmas and New Year charter page. Groups wanting the full circuit should look at the 10-night grand tour, which suits twelve to sixteen guests particularly well.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest per-person way to see Raja Ampat by boat?
Filling a value phinisi. At ten to twelve guests the boat rate divides to roughly USD 158–450 per person per night, below almost any shared-cabin alternative.
Can we split the payment across the group?
We invoice one lead booker by default, because charter contracts sit with one party. Groups who need split invoicing should raise it at quotation stage so we can structure it before the deposit.
How many crew for fourteen guests?
Typically ten to fifteen on a 30–45 metre phinisi, rising to eighteen or more on flagship vessels. That ratio is why service on a charter feels different from a resort.
Can divers and non-divers share the same group charter?
Yes, and most groups are mixed. Two tenders allow parallel programmes — see the snorkelling charter page for how the non-diving half of the day is run.
Is there wifi for a working week?
Only on satellite-equipped vessels, and even then not at broadband speed. Plan a half-day work block, not a full remote-work week, and set expectations with your team before departure.
Can you run team activities on board?
Within the constraints of a boat: kayaking, snorkelling, village visits, beach dinners, a briefing session on the sundeck. Anything requiring shore infrastructure is not realistic in Raja Ampat.
What is the minimum charter length for a group?
Four nights on most vessels, with longer minimums over peak dates. Five to seven is where a group itinerary stops feeling rushed.
Do children count towards the guest limit?
Yes, for regulatory capacity. Some vessels apply a reduced rate for children sharing with parents — we ask on your behalf when we quote.
Request a group charter quote
Send your dates, headcount, group composition and whether anyone dives. We will return a cabin plan, a written whole-boat rate and the per-person maths for your exact numbers. Operated by Komodo Luxury, part of Juara Holding Group, sailing Indonesian waters since 2015.
WhatsApp +62 811 3823 875 · [email protected]
