Chartering a whole phinisi in Indonesia for seven nights runs roughly US$25,000 to US$210,000+ for the full boat as of 2026 (subject to change), depending on vessel tier. Boutique liveaboards start near US$25,000-$45,000 a week; established luxury yachts sit around US$77,000-$85,000; and superyacht-class phinisi such as Lamima reach about US$200,000 per week.
That is the whole answer in one breath, but the number that matters most is not the headline rate. It is what the rate includes. Indonesian phinisi charters are quoted almost entirely all-inclusive, which changes the maths completely against the Mediterranean or Caribbean. Yacht Style reports that Indonesian charter prices are generally all-inclusive, without the separate tax, fuel and provisioning charges that can add roughly 50% to a Med or Caribbean charter. So a US$85,000 phinisi week is closer to a like-for-like comparison with a US$125,000 European week than the sticker prices suggest.
What does a week-long phinisi charter actually cost by tier?
Prices scale with the boat, not the calendar. A seven-night private buyout of a small boutique phinisi and a seven-night buyout of a superyacht-class phinisi are the same trip length and wildly different invoices. The table below sets the 2026 bands for a full-boat charter (subject to change), grouped by the tier of vessel you are booking.
| Vessel tier | Typical week rate (2026, full boat) | Guests / cabins | What you are paying for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boutique liveaboard | ~US$25,000-$45,000 | 10-16 guests / 5-8 cabins | Wooden hull, solid crew, dive-focused itineraries, simpler finishes |
| Luxury phinisi | ~US$77,000-$85,000 | 10-14 guests / 5-7 cabins | Refined interiors, larger crew, ensuite staterooms, tenders and dive kit |
| Premium / large luxury | from ~US$84,000+ | 12-16 guests / 6-7 cabins | Bigger LOA, cruise director, nitrox, water maker, satellite comms |
| Superyacht-class (e.g. Lamima) | ~US$200,000 | up to 14 guests / 7 cabins | Asia’s largest phinisi-style yacht, top crew ratio, full expedition spec |
The luxury band is grounded in real listings: Boatbookings lists top phinisi charter yachts in Indonesia at weekly rates of roughly US$77,000-$85,000, and from about US$84,000 per week depending on the yacht. At the ceiling, Boat International describes Lamima as “Asia’s largest luxury Phinisi-style yacht,” built in Indonesia with seven cabins for up to 14 guests, and Yacht Style notes it charters through central agent EYOS Expeditions at around US$200,000 per week. If you want to see how these tiers map to specific cruising grounds and vessels, our indonesia phinisi charter overview breaks the fleet down region by region.
What is included in the weekly rate, and what costs extra?
This is where the all-inclusive framing earns its keep. On most Indonesian phinisi, one weekly figure already covers the crew, the cabins, three meals a day, soft drinks, and the itinerary itself. That is unusual by global standards, where fuel, food and taxes are billed on top. The split below reflects the typical structure as of 2026 (subject to change, and every operator’s contract differs, so confirm before you book).
| Usually included | Usually extra |
|---|---|
| Full crew: captain, cruise director, chef, deckhands, dive guides | Domestic flights to the gateway port (Labuan Bajo, Sorong, Ambon) |
| All cabins / staterooms for the private buyout | National park and marine conservation fees |
| Meals, soft drinks, water, tea and coffee | Alcohol and premium wine lists (often bring-your-own or bar tab) |
| Fuel and the planned cruising route | Scuba diving packages, nitrox fills, dive-master upgrades |
| Tenders, zodiacs, snorkelling gear, kayaks | Spa, massage and onboard therapist services |
| Standard water sports and shore excursions | Crew gratuities (commonly 5-10% of the charter fee) |
Three line items catch most first-time charterers off guard: flights, park fees, and diving. Getting your group to Labuan Bajo for Komodo, Sorong for Raja Ampat, or Ambon for the Banda Sea is on you, and park permits in Komodo and Raja Ampat are charged per person. If your trip is dive-led, a full nitrox-and-compressor package can add a meaningful sum across a week. Gratuities are customary rather than compulsory, but budget for them.
Which cruising ground you pick changes the price too
Phinisi cruise across a genuinely national playground. Indonesia is an archipelagic state of over 17,000 islands, and confirmed phinisi cruising regions include Komodo, Raja Ampat, and the Banda Sea, with Alor and Cenderawasih Bay as expert-level additions. Where you sail affects both the rate and the logistics, because remoteness drives fuel, positioning and provisioning.
- Komodo (gateway Labuan Bajo): the most accessible and competitively priced grounds, best May-September. Signature stops: Padar, Pink Beach, Rinca, Kanawa.
- Raja Ampat (gateway Sorong): more remote, so expect firmer rates, best October-April for visibility. Signature stops: Wayag, Piaynemo, Misool, Dampier Strait.
- Banda Sea (gateway Ambon): a seasonal crossing viable roughly September-November, threading the nutmeg-and-clove history of Banda Neira and Run island.
- Alor and Cenderawasih Bay: specialist routes. Alor’s Pantar Strait runs best July-November; Cenderawasih’s whale sharks gather at bagan fishing platforms year-round, strongest May-October.
Why is a phinisi worth the price?
You are not renting a fibreglass catamaran. A phinisi is a traditional hand-crafted wooden yacht, often ironwood or teak, fully renovated for crewed luxury charter. The word “phinisi” refers first to a two-masted rig carrying seven to eight sails rather than a hull type, a tradition centered in South Sulawesi’s villages of Ara and Tana Beru and historically sailed by Bugis and Makassarese seafarers. In 2017, UNESCO inscribed “The Art of Boatbuilding in South Sulawesi” on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, with “pinisi” as the tagline. That heritage is baked into every charter fee.
At the top of the market the specs justify the spend. A 45-metre custom phinisi with seven staterooms and a crew of 17 is a real superyacht-class reference point, carrying dive compressors, nitrox, water makers, satellite phones, EPIRBs and full fire suppression. Supply is growing, too: Yacht Style’s 2026 coverage notes Indonesia welcoming the next wave of phinisi, including future deliveries such as the 48-metre Bhavana, so the choice of hulls at every tier keeps widening.
How should you budget a realistic 2026 trip?
Work backwards from the boat and the group. Split across a full-boat buyout, the per-person cost falls fast: a US$85,000 luxury week divided among 12 guests is about US$7,000 each for seven nights, all crew and meals in. Add flights, park fees, diving and tips, and a well-planned Komodo or Raja Ampat week for a private group lands as a premium expedition, not an impulse buy. Every figure here is dated to 2026 and subject to change, and exact quotes move with the vessel, season and route.
Because rates, availability and inclusions shift by boat and by month, the honest next step is a live quote for your dates and cruising ground. Nusantara Schooners charters are operated by Komodo Luxury, the Labuan Bajo operator founded in 2015, with bookings handled directly by its reservations team. Share your group size, preferred region and travel window with the concierge on WhatsApp at 628113823875 or by email at sales@komodoluxury.com, and you will get a current, all-inclusive figure rather than a guess.