Mutiara Laut

Mutiara Laut works Komodo National Park out of Labuan Bajo, sold as five days and four nights or longer. The raised pilot house and accessible bridge wings matter here more than anywhere else in her range, because the park is a run of tight anchorages taken in sequence: Padar and Pink Beach at first light, the manta channel at Karang Makassar timed to slack water, Batu Bolong and Tatawa Besar for the reef, and the ranger trek on Komodo or Rinca. Park entrance and ranger fees sit outside the charter rate.

In season the vessel moves east and operates from Sorong, where the itinerary loosens considerably. Passages between anchorages are longer, the schedule is set by tide and light rather than a stop list, and the emphasis shifts to snorkelling, the karst landscapes and time on the water. A transfer fee may apply depending on where you join her. With three tenders, three kayaks, two paddleboards and towed water toys on board, the longer days at anchor are easier to fill here than on most charters.

Banda Sea passages run on request rather than to a published calendar, usually as part of a repositioning leg. These are genuine open-water crossings with long stretches between anchorages, and the reward is the Spice Islands with almost no other traffic. Dates are set by the operator and by weather, so treat this as an enquiry rather than something you can pick off a schedule.

Lombok functions as an alternative embarkation point rather than a cruising ground in its own right, most often when the vessel is repositioning between Komodo and points west. Joining or leaving here can shorten a delivery leg, and a transfer fee may apply. Confirm with the operator which direction she is travelling before planning around it.