A clear look at how reserving a Raja Ampat Yacht Charter unfolds — open, adaptable, and easy from start to finish. Seven ordered stages carry you from your opening message to stepping aboard.
At a Glance
Each Raja Ampat charter reservation runs along the same backbone: enquiry, consultation, itinerary draft, then confirmation. We answer every message within 24 hours across Indonesia business hours, send back two to four boats picked to fit your brief, and secure your dates with a 30% deposit. The outstanding 70% is settled 30 to 60 days ahead of sailing.
01
Share your dates, group, goals, and budget range. We get back to you inside 24 hours.
02
A senior specialist talks through the details of your particular brief.
03
Two to three choices spanning varied intensity and price points.
04
A 30% deposit secures it; the balance falls 30–60 days before you sail.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Every stage comes with a set deliverable and a set timeframe. The whole sequence is built to take the guesswork out and hand guests a plain checklist of what comes next.
Reply within 2 hours · business hours
Send us your dates, headcount, dive certification levels, and preferred route via WhatsApp, email, or the contact page. A concierge gets back to you within two hours across Indonesia business hours.
Issued within 4 hours
Inside four hours you receive a curated boat list (two to four phinisi choices sized to your group and budget), a draft itinerary, and a full cost summary. The quote spells out the charter rate, fuel surcharge, port fees, conservation permits, an estimate for crew gratuities, and optional dive package extras.
30% deposit · vessel reserved
Once you pick a boat, we send a digital charter contract together with the 30% deposit invoice. Paying the deposit holds the vessel and locks your dates in place. You can settle by international wire transfer, Wise, or the major credit cards.
Final version · 30 days pre-departure
A senior planner maps out your day-by-day schedule, weaving in the dive-site rotation, karst-exploration stops, cultural village calls, and rest-day anchorages. You get a draft, ask for any changes, and sign off on the final version 30 days before you depart.
Video call · 14 days pre-departure
A fortnight out, we run a video call that walks through the packing list, dive gear, medical disclosures, the final word on dietary needs, and the port-pickup arrangements for Sorong (SOQ) and Waisai.
Sorong (SOQ) or hotel pickup
Our shore crew meets you at Sorong (SOQ) or at your hotel. Coming aboard covers the safety briefing, cabin assignment, dive-gear fitting, and a welcome dinner. Most charters set off that same evening.
Daily captain review
Each morning the captain goes over the day ahead. Within the broader route, changes can be made on the spot — swapping sites, choosing surface-interval activities, and shifting departure times all bend around the charter group.
What Happens If
We write down our approach to the four situations that come up most often mid-charter, so guests know precisely what to expect before anything happens. Each one sets off a protocol the captain and shore team carry out with no waiting around.
Should sea conditions put a planned site at risk, the captain redirects within the permit zone — trading a morning dive at Cape Kri for the more sheltered Sardine Reef. Swapping individual sites carries no refund, since the total dive count stays the same.
If someone in the group drops out up to 14 days before departure, that place can be reassigned or refunded on a pro-rata basis. We can add people too, provided we get 7 days notice for permits and provisioning.
We can cater to any fresh dietary requirement you tell us about up to 5 days before departure. Vegan, halal, kosher, low-FODMAP, and gluten-free all come as standard.
The captain liaises with the closest medical resource — the Waisai clinic, the Sorong hospital, or a charter-flight evacuation to Bali. Travel insurance that covers evacuation is required.
Cancellation Policy
Our cancellation terms work across three timing tiers, set against the boat commitments we make to crew, fuel, and provisions. We outline the policy at the quote stage and write it into the charter contract.
Window
More than 90 days before departure
Outcome
80% refund
You get 80% of the deposit back; we keep 20% to cover booking-handling.
Window
45 – 90 days before departure
Outcome
50% refund
Half the deposit is returned; the rest becomes credit toward a rescheduled charter taken within 12 months.
Window
Less than 45 days before departure
Outcome
No refund
The deposit is not returned. The charter can be handed to another party with our written approval and a US$500 transfer fee.
Window
Force majeure
Outcome
100% refund
In the event of a natural disaster, a government travel ban, or a boat breakdown that cannot be fixed within 48 hours: a full refund or a rescheduled charter, with no penalty.
We strongly advise travel insurance that covers cancellation, and it is mandatory for anyone booking within 60 days of departure.
Practical Logistics
A visa on arrival is available to more than 90 nationalities when entering through Jakarta or Bali. The Raja Ampat marine park permit (Rp 1,000,000 for international visitors, roughly USD 70) is compulsory and pays for park management. Conservation contributions, dive-site fees, and homestay levies usually add another USD 50–100 to the trip total. We handle every permit for you ahead of arrival, and each receipt appears as a line item on your charter invoice.
Start Your Booking
Tell us your dates, headcount, certification mix, and preferred route. We send back two to four boats chosen to fit your brief — usually inside one business day.