Vinca
Vinca Deluxe Phinisi
Komodo graduation trip: how ten friends split a boat
Updated 10 October 2026
A graduation group of ten pays IDR 105,000,000 (≈ USD 6,442) for the whole boat on 3D2N, about IDR 10,500,000 (≈ USD 644) each. Smaller groups can book cabins on the open trip from IDR 6,950,000 (≈ USD 426) per person. Park fees, flights and hotels are separate. Pick your month by sea state, not by exam timetable.
Start with the date, and the sea behind it
Graduation dates usually fix themselves around exams and ceremonies, and the sea does not care. Many cohorts finish in June or July. June is calm and clear; July and August are windier, crowded and rough at the Padar anchorage. If you can wait until October or November, seas are calm, the water is clear and sites are quieter.
The wet months run December to March. They bring showers and lower visibility, although mantas return. January and February are the roughest. If your group is prone to seasickness, a December to March trip needs a plan.
The open trip runs on fixed dates, with 122 listed starts and the next on Monday, 12 October 2026. A private charter lets the group pick its own dates, subject to the boat being free.
| Month | Sea | Visibility | Mantas | Crowds | Rain | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | rough | low | peak | low | wet | Wet and rough, with the lowest visibility of the year, and mantas at their best. Take the lower deck if your stomach is shaky. |
| February | rough | low | peak | low | wet | The roughest, wettest month, and a peak for mantas. The supplier calendar has listed no February sailings. |
| March | moderate | medium | good | low | wet | The last wet month. Showers ease, seas settle and mantas are still good. |
| April | calm | high | fair | medium | dry | The dry season starts, the sea calms and visibility is among the best of the year. |
| May | calm | high | fair | medium | dry | Dry, calm and clear: the dependable month for snorkelling and the Padar climb. |
| June | calm | high | fair | medium | dry | Calm and clear, with the south-east wind beginning to build toward July. |
| July | rough | medium | peak | high | dry | Windier and busier, with mantas picking up. Expect company at Padar and Pink Beach. |
| August | rough | medium | peak | high | dry | The windiest dry month and the busiest anchorages. Book early, and take the lower deck if you are motion-sensitive. |
| September | moderate | high | peak | medium | dry | The wind eases, visibility returns and mantas are still around: a strong shoulder month. |
| October | calm | high | fair | medium | dry | Calm, clear and hot, with fewer boats than July and August. |
| November | calm | high | fair | low | dry | The end of the dry season: calm water, clear visibility and the quietest sites of the year. |
| December | moderate | medium | peak | medium | wet | The wet season returns and so do the mantas. Late December fills with holiday travellers. |
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The money, split four ways
Whole-boat charters price by guest band. On 3D2N, up to five guests pay IDR 100,000,000 (≈ USD 6,135), six to ten pay IDR 105,000,000 (≈ USD 6,442), and eleven to fourteen pay IDR 110,000,000 (≈ USD 6,748). Per person, that comes to IDR 17,500,000 (≈ USD 1,074) for six, IDR 10,500,000 (≈ USD 644) for ten and IDR 7,860,000 (≈ USD 482) for fourteen.
Three friends or four do better on the open trip, where a cabin is IDR 6,950,000 (≈ USD 426) to IDR 8,500,000 (≈ USD 521) per person. The open trip is a shared boat with strangers; the charter is yours.
Budget beyond the fare. Park fees are IDR 250,000 per international guest per day. Flights, hotel nights in Labuan Bajo, tips and alcohol are separate; you may bring your own drinks aboard. Domestic guests pay IDR 50,000 on weekdays and IDR 75,000 at weekends, which helps if your group is local.
- Deposit: 50 percent to secure the dates.
- Balance: 30 days before sailing.
- Cheapest transfer: Wise, Revolut or bank transfer.
| Group size | 1D | 2D1N | 3D2N | 4D3N |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | IDR 25,000,000 | IDR 45,000,000 | IDR 50,000,000 | IDR 60,000,000 |
| 4 | IDR 12,500,000 | IDR 22,500,000 | IDR 25,000,000 | IDR 30,000,000 |
| 6 | IDR 9,170,000 | IDR 15,830,000 | IDR 17,500,000 | IDR 20,830,000 |
| 8 | IDR 6,880,000 | IDR 11,880,000 | IDR 13,120,000 | IDR 15,620,000 |
| 10 | IDR 5,500,000 | IDR 9,500,000 | IDR 10,500,000 | IDR 12,500,000 |
| 12 | IDR 5,000,000 | IDR 8,330,000 | IDR 9,170,000 | IDR 10,830,000 |
| 14 | IDR 4,290,000 | IDR 7,140,000 | IDR 7,860,000 | IDR 9,290,000 |
| 16 | IDR 4,120,000 | IDR 6,750,000 | IDR 7,500,000 | IDR 8,880,000 |
| 18 | IDR 4,000,000 | IDR 6,440,000 | IDR 7,220,000 | IDR 8,560,000 |
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per person · Whole boat ÷ group size
What a graduation group should know
Sleeping is arranged in doubles, with Balinese rooms offering a double and a single. A group of ten friends will find that the rooms are not equals: the Japanese rooms have balconies, the Western rooms a bathtub, the Balinese rooms portholes. Settle the allocation with a draw, not a debate.
The boat has a lounge with karaoke, an outdoor table and a sundeck. Its Wi-Fi is a local hotspot off mobile signal, with no satellite link, so most photos wait until you are back near Labuan Bajo. It has two paddleboards, which will be the most contested object on board.
The climb at Padar starts about an hour before sunrise. A group that stays up late on night one should know the guide wakes people early on day two. Sunrise is 06:18 in July. Water, shoes and a headtorch matter more than energy drinks.
The crew of 7 runs the boat. Nobody wants the trip to end early because someone ignored the guide at Manta Point.
When the open trip is the better graduation present
Not every graduation is a group of ten. For a family giving a graduate a trip, a pair of friends, or a solo graduation present, the open trip is simpler and cheaper. Book a Western or Japanese Room for the comfort, or a Balinese Room if the budget needs it.
If your group wants to bring parents and grandparents, check the stairs between three decks and the Padar climb, which takes 25 to 45 minutes. Older guests can stay aboard.
A late party with an open bar and a sound system is not what this boat is for. Our lounge has karaoke and a bar, but the hull also holds sleeping guests.
Send the headcount and the month. We will tell you which side of the line you fall on.
Fixed dates, mostly Mondays and Fridays. Not every Monday or Friday runs.
FAQ
Can ten friends charter the whole boat?
Yes. For 3D2N, six to ten guests pay IDR 105,000,000 (≈ USD 6,442) for the whole boat, which is about IDR 10,500,000 (≈ USD 644) each. Park fees, flights and hotels come on top. Rooms are allocated by the group, with doubles in the Japanese and Western rooms and a double plus a single in the Balinese rooms.
What is the best month for a graduation trip?
October and November are calm, clear and quieter. June is calm too. July and August are windier and busier, with rougher water. December to March is the wet season, with the roughest seas in January and February. Pick the calm month your calendar allows, and book at least 30 days ahead.
Can we bring our own alcohol?
Yes. Alcohol is not included in the fare, and guests may bring their own. The boat has a bar in the lounge. We do not set a drinking menu, and the guide expects every guest to be sober on treks and snorkels, especially at Manta Point, where the current runs strong for 30 to 60 minutes.
Is the open trip cheaper than a charter for friends?
For two to four friends, yes: a cabin is IDR 6,950,000 (≈ USD 426) to IDR 8,500,000 (≈ USD 521) per person. For ten or more friends, the charter at IDR 10,500,000 (≈ USD 644) each or less is competitive and puts the dates in your hands. Compare the two before you decide.
What happens if one friend drops out?
A charter is priced by band, so a drop from eleven to ten moves the group into the cheaper band. Cancellations follow the notice rules: 50 percent back at sixty days or more, 25 percent from thirty to fifty-nine, less after that. Rescheduling is free with thirty days' notice.
Check availability — Vinca
Vinca is owner-held and run by its own dedicated charter desk.