A 10-guest phinisi out of Labuan Bajo
What the boat is, who is aboard, and the one measurement worth confirming.
Wooden hulls crowd the water off Labuan Bajo, and one of them takes ten people out into Komodo National Park for four nights. Situju7 is a phinisi, the Indonesian two-masted build, put together from black ironwood with teak inside. The operator calls it a boutique hotel on water. Built in 2016, refitted in 2025. 1, 2
Ten guests, five cabins, five bathrooms. Four cabins hold a double bed with its own bathroom, and the fifth is a larger room with bunks, which makes this a boat that suits a pair, a family or a group of friends who book the whole deck. The operator's Master Suite adds a private terrace. 2, 1
- Crew sit at nearly one to one with guests, local and international, working in English and Indonesian. 2, 1
- Open Water certification is the minimum the operator asks of anyone who wants to dive. 1
- The booking listing puts the hull at 32.7 meters; the operator's own page skips a measurement, so that figure rests on one source. 2
Both pages describe the crew by ratio and stop short of a headcount, so the number aboard your sailing is a question for the operator. Everything else about the boat reads the same way on both pages, and that corroboration is what this review rests on. 2, 1
What does a Situju7 berth cost in 2026?
Five cabins, two prices, and the fee that lands on top of both.
Four of the five cabins sell at one price: USD 1,809 per person for the five-day, four-night Komodo cruise. The Bali Grand Suite sits USD 135 above them at USD 1,944. Both figures already carry the operator's 10 percent discount, worth USD 201 on a standard berth and USD 216 on the suite. 1
| Cabin | List price (USD) | Price after 10% discount (USD) | Gap to the cheapest berth (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bali Grand Suite | 2,160 | 1,944 | +135 |
| Flores Junior Suite | 2,010 | 1,809 | 0 |
| Sumba Cozy Deluxe | 2,010 | 1,809 | 0 |
| Sumbawa Cozy Deluxe | 2,010 | 1,809 | 0 |
| Lombok Cozy Cabinette | 2,010 | 1,809 | 0 |
Prices from the operator's own 2026 rate card, per person on a shared cabin. The booking platform shows the same USD 1,809 headline against USD 2,010 for the standard cabins. A solo traveler pays a 75 percent surcharge on the cabin. 1, 2
Then the fee. Komodo port and park charges of USD 300 per person are prepaid at confirmation, which takes a standard berth to USD 2,109 and the suite to USD 2,244. Two people sharing a standard cabin commit USD 4,218 before anyone books a flight. Per person that is about USD 452 a night for the boat, the food, the drinks and the diving, or USD 527 with the park fee carried alongside it. 1
Table view: What one person pays for a Situju7 berth, all in
| Item | Value (USD) |
|---|---|
| Standard cabin, sharing | $2,109 |
| Bali Grand Suite, sharing | $2,244 |
| Standard cabin, solo | $3,466 |
| Bali Grand Suite, solo | $3,702 |
The solo bars add the operator's 75 percent single surcharge to the fare before the fee. Flights, gratuities, extra dives, massage and the on-site dragon trekking ticket sit outside every bar here. Sharing a cabin saves about USD 1,357 per person. Source: 1
Where does the five-day route go?
The operator's 2026 summer itinerary, day by day, from the harbor and back to it.
The boat works out through the park's islands and comes back to Labuan Bajo on the fifth day. Twelve named dive and snorkel sites, four land stops, and a round trip that starts and finishes at the same pier. 1
- 01Day 1: Kelor, Manjarite and Kalong1 night
A short hike on Kelor, the first snorkel or dive at Manjarite, and flying foxes lifting off Kalong at sunset. 1
→ Board at Labuan Bajo after the airport or hotel transfer the fare covers. - 02Day 2: Padar, Pink Beach, Komodo, Manta Point, Taka Makassar1 night
The Padar ridge walk, then the pink sand, the dragon trek on Komodo, Manta Point and Taka Makassar. The biggest day on the route. 1
→ Tender rides inside the park, with the boat repositioning between stops. - 03Day 3: Siaba Besar, Mawan, Crystal Bay, The Cauldron, Gili Lawa Darat1 night
Four water stops in a row, Siaba Besar through The Cauldron, and the hike up Gili Lawa Darat to close the day. 1
→ Short hops between anchorages, with the boat moving while you dry off. - 04Day 4: Tatawa Besar, Siana Kecil, Police Corner, Pengah1 night
Four reef stops and the heaviest diving of the week. This is the day the trip is really built around. 1
→ Short repositions between sites, so surface intervals happen underway. - 05Day 5: Sebayur, Kanawa, back to port0 nights
Beach time and a last snorkel over blue starfish before the run home to Labuan Bajo. 1
→ Alongside in time for afternoon flights, transfer included.
With less time: The operator sells a three-day, two-night version of the same cruise with 6 dives in place of 13. 1
Day two puts you ashore on Komodo island for the dragon trek. The island's main settlement, Komodo village, is a working fishing town of roughly 800 families and about 2,000 people at a 2019 count, and some residents work as rangers in the national park itself. Your guide on board is the person to ask about what the village asks of visitors. 3
One honest line from the operator's own page: the itinerary is subject to variation with weather, flight schedules and other variables. A captain who moves a stop is reading the water correctly. Treat the day list above as the plan and the sea as the editor. 1
How much diving is included?
Thirteen dives, the full inclusion list, and the lines that arrive as extras.
Thirteen dives come with the five-day fare: 12 in the package plus one night dive free. Against the USD 1,809 berth that is about USD 139 a dive, and the operator sells an extra dive at USD 150. Measured against the all-in USD 2,109, each dive costs about USD 162. 1, 2
The rest of the fare is generous in a way that is easy to undervalue at the booking screen. Full board, snacks, drinking water, soft drinks, tea, coffee, welcome cocktails and alcoholic drinks are listed as included, along with rental gear, snorkel gear, a snorkeling guide, a naturalist guide, land excursions, a paddleboard, towels, toiletries and WiFi. VAT and the environment tax sit inside the price too. 2
| Line | Status | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Full-board meals, snacks, water, soft drinks, tea and coffee | Included | 0 |
| Alcoholic drinks and welcome cocktails | Included | 0 |
| Airport and hotel transfers | Included | 0 |
| Diving package: 12 dives plus 1 night dive | Included | 0 |
| Rental gear, snorkel gear, guides, paddleboard, towels, WiFi | Included | 0 |
| VAT and environment tax | Included | 0 |
| Komodo port and park fees, operator's terms | Required, prepaid | 300 per person |
| National park fees, booking platform's figure | Required | 250 to 350 per trip |
| Extra dive | Optional | 150 |
| Night dive beyond the free one | Optional | 150 |
| Camera or video fee at the park, dragon trekking ticket | Required on site | quoted at the park |
| Gratuities and massage | Optional | quoted on board |
The two pages differ on the park line: the operator bills a flat USD 300 per person prepaid, while the booking platform lists USD 250 to 350 per trip as a required extra. The platform labels that line per trip and then adds, in the same block, that its extra fees are shown per person, so the range could mean one traveler or the whole booking. Budget the higher figure and ask which one applies to your date. 2, 1
Open Water is the minimum card the operator asks for, so a first-timer needs the course before the boat. If you are pricing that first, MMT's scuba certification cost worksheet splits tuition from pool and open-water fees. To weigh this package against others, the dive package comparison method puts them on the same footing. 1
What 39 verified guests scored, category by category
A 9.1 overall, and a pattern in the categories worth reading.
Situju7 holds 9.1 out of 10, rated Superb, from 39 verified reviews on the booking platform. The platform limits reviews to people who booked and sailed through it, which keeps the sample small and keeps every score attached to a real trip. 2
| Category | Score out of 10 |
|---|---|
| Food | 9.6 |
| Diving | 9.6 |
| Value | 9.0 |
| Crew | 8.9 |
| Vessel | 8.6 |
| Overall | 9.1 |
Scores as displayed on the listing on the research date. The count and the averages move as new guests review. 2
Read the shape of it. Food and diving sit a full point above the vessel, and value lands at 9.0 on a boat asking USD 2,109 all in. That reads like a galley and a dive deck running well, on a hull built in 2016 and refitted in 2025. 2, 1
Thirty-nine reviews is a thin sample by hotel standards and a reasonable one for a boat that carries ten guests at a time. Weigh it as a signal with a wide margin, and read the cabin comments closely if the vessel score matters to you. 2
Komodo park fees: the one number to confirm
Why the government tariff stays unsettled, and what to budget while it is.
The park fee is the line on this trip that moves. Indonesia's Government Regulation 36 of 2024 sets the tariffs for national park entry and was enacted in Jakarta on 30 September 2024. The regulation's own fee table is not readable in the copy published online, so the figures below come from reporting on the day the tariff took effect. 4
Reporting on the day the tariff took effect, 31 October 2024, put the foreign visitor fee at Rp 200,000 per person per day, with Indonesian visitors at Rp 50,000 on weekdays and Rp 75,000 on holidays, diving at Rp 25,000 per person per day and sport fishing at Rp 5,000,000 per activity. Other 2026 summaries describe a higher base with separate conservation and harbour charges. 5
Then July 2026 changed the ground again. A Komodo operator page last reviewed on 24 September 2026 reports the park moved to PPK-BLU financial status that month, with service tariff rules still to follow, and tells travelers to trust the figure quoted for their own dates over anything published earlier. 6
Who is this liveaboard for?
The travelers the price, the route and the scores suit best.
Situju7 suits a certified diver with four nights and about USD 2,100 to commit. Thirteen dives in four days is a real diving trip, and the route names twelve dive and snorkel sites across it. 1
- Pairs and couples. Sharing a cabin holds the all-in near USD 2,109 each, where a solo berth runs about USD 3,466. The single surcharge is the largest swing on the whole rate card. 1
- Snorkelers traveling with divers. Snorkel gear, a snorkeling guide and the land excursions come with the fare, so the person who stays on the surface still gets a full day. 2
- Groups of up to ten. Five cabins is the whole boat, and a group that fills it sets the atmosphere for four nights. 2, 1
- Travelers who eat well on the water. Food scores 9.6, tied for the highest category on the boat. 2
- Anyone weighing a boat against a shore base should price both ways first; MMT's liveaboard and shore diving comparison runs that arithmetic line by line.
A first-time diver needs the Open Water course before boarding, and anyone booking mainly for beach days should price a shore base alongside this. The operator's shorter three-day, two-night cruise carries 6 dives in place of 13, which is the version to look at with a tighter week. For where the trip sits in a wider Indonesia plan, start with MMT's Indonesia travel guide and build the flights around the sailing date. 1
How to book, and what the deposit locks in
The sequence from a date with berths to the tickets you buy on site.
The sailing this review is built on has already gone. On 26 September 2026 the 28 September departure showed USD 1,809 against a list price of USD 2,010, a 10 percent discount, and a FULL banner. The discount is attached to a departure, so a different date can carry a different price. Check the one you want before you plan around USD 1,809. 2
Pick a date with berths open
Open the listing on the month you want and read the status beside each departure. Availability and the discount both change by date. 2
Choose the cabin, then the occupancy
Four cabins share one price at USD 1,809; the Bali Grand Suite is USD 1,944. Occupancy moves the bill far more than the cabin does, at 75 percent extra for a single. 1
Pay 30 percent to confirm
About USD 543 on a standard berth, held by the operator against your place on the boat. 1
Prepay the park and port fee
USD 300 per person, due at confirmation under the operator's own terms. Ask in writing whether that figure covers every park charge for your dates. 1
Settle the balance 60 days out
The remaining 100 percent of the fare falls due 60 days before departure, which is the date to hold in your travel budget. 1
Carry cash for the on-site tickets
The operator lists a camera or video fee at the park and a dragon sanctuary trekking ticket priced by the length of the trek, both payable on site. 1
Book the flights to Labuan Bajo with a buffer night before the boat. With a 30 percent non-refundable deposit and the balance settled 60 days out, a missed connection on the morning of departure puts the whole fare at risk. That buffer night is the cheapest insurance on this trip. 1
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Situju7 5-day Komodo trip cost in total?
USD 2,109 per person for a standard cabin shared: the USD 1,809 discounted fare plus USD 300 in Komodo port and park fees prepaid at confirmation. The Bali Grand Suite comes to USD 2,244. Flights to Labuan Bajo, gratuities, extra dives and the on-site dragon trekking ticket sit on top. 1, 2
Is the Bali Grand Suite worth the extra USD 135?
That is the whole gap between the suite at USD 1,944 and the four cabins at USD 1,809, or about USD 34 a night. The operator describes a Master Suite with a private terrace, and four of the five cabins have a double bed and an en-suite bathroom. Guests score the vessel 8.6, the lowest category on the boat, so read the cabin comments before you choose. 1, 2
Can a solo traveler avoid the 75 percent single surcharge on Situju7?
Not through any published discount; the operator's page states the surcharge flat, with no solo rate on the four double cabins. The one avenue worth asking about is the fifth cabin, the bunk-bed room sold for a pair, a family or a group: ask the operator directly whether it will pair solo travelers into that room or offer a shared-bunk rate, since neither page says either way. Short of that, pairing up with a travel companion is what actually cuts the bill. 1, 2
How many dives do you get on the 5-day package?
Thirteen: 12 dives in the package plus one night dive free on the five-day, four-night itinerary. The three-day, two-night package carries 6. Extra dives and additional night dives are USD 150 each. Open Water certification is the minimum the operator asks for. 1, 2
What do Komodo National Park fees cost in 2026?
Budget USD 300 per person, which is what Situju7 bills and prepays. The booking platform quotes USD 250 to 350 per trip for the same line, on a page that also says its extra fees are shown per person, so ask the operator whether that range is one traveler's share or the whole party's. The Indonesian government tariff itself is not confirmable from a government page today: Government Regulation 36 of 2024 governs it, reporting from 31 October 2024 put foreign visitors at Rp 200,000 a day, and a September 2026 operator page reports a July 2026 change in the park's financial status. Ask for the figure that applies to your dates. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
Can a non-diver join a Situju7 cruise?
Yes. Snorkel gear, a snorkeling guide, land excursions and a naturalist guide come with the fare, and the route's land stops include Padar, Pink Beach, the Komodo dragon trek and Kalong at sunset. Diving needs an Open Water card; the rest of the week is open to everyone aboard. 2, 1
How do I find a Situju7 departure at the discounted price?
The 10 percent discount is attached to a departure, not to the boat, so it moves by date. Open the listing on the month you want and read the price and the status beside each sailing. On 26 September 2026 the 28 September departure carried the discount at USD 1,809 from USD 2,010 and showed FULL. 2
How big is Situju7 and how many crew are aboard?
Ask the operator for the crew number on your sailing and for a hull length in writing; the booking listing's 32.7 meters is the only measurement either page publishes, and the operator's own site gives none. Ten guests in five cabins is the figure both pages agree on. 2, 1
Sources & review date
Researched 2026-09-26. Prepared from primary sources, with a separate independent source review. Numbered notes in the text point to the sources below. Prices, entry rules and schedules change; use the linked authority for your dates.
- 1Situju7 Cruise: the boat, the 2026 itineraries and the rates Situju7 Cruise · Accessed 2026-09-26 · Primary source
- 2Situju7 liveaboard: itinerary, prices and reviews, September 2026 LiveAboard.com · Accessed 2026-09-26 · Primary source
- 3Komodo people Wikipedia, citing a Wageningen University and Research thesis · Accessed 2026-09-26
- 4Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 36 Tahun 2024 on non-tax state revenue tariffs JDIH Kementerian Kehutanan, Indonesia · Accessed 2026-09-26 · Primary source
- 5Daftar tarif baru TN Komodo 2024: tiket masuk dan wisata di dalamnya Kompas.com · Accessed 2026-09-26
- 6Komodo National Park entry permit 2026 Komodo Luxury · Accessed 2026-09-26