Thalassa
Thalassa Phinisi
How to book a Komodo phinisi charter: three steps, one WhatsApp, one written quote
Updated 23 October 2026
How to book a Komodo charter on Thalassa, in three steps: send boat, dates, guests and occasion on WhatsApp; receive a written quote with one all-in rate, fuel included; pay a 50 percent deposit and the balance 30 days before sailing. If the boat cannot sail, a phinisi of equal or higher class is arranged or you are refunded.
Step one: the first message
Send one message on WhatsApp with five things: the boat (1, 2 or not sure), the dates, the number of guests, the occasion, and which you prefer: private charter or open trip. That's all our team needs to get going.
The first message can say "not sure which boat". Under 12 guests, we point you to Thalassa 1. From 12 to 27, Thalassa 2. Open trips exist on Thalassa 1 only.
Add anything you care about: the balcony cabin, children, a birthday, a dietary need. It saves a round of questions later on. The reply names one person from our team who stays with your booking until you step off the boat.
- We reply on WhatsApp during team hoursSend dates, group size and route
- 50 percent of the totalDeposit confirms the date
- 30 days beforeBalance before sailing
Step two: the written quote
The written quote comes in two parts: the all-in rate for your guest band from the 2026 price list, which already includes fuel, and the list of what stays outside the fare.
The price is confirmed in writing before you pay. Komodo National Park tickets and ranger fees are never part of the fare. On a private charter the guide and photo and video documentation are not included; both are available on request and quoted separately.
The quote also names the cabins and confirms what is still open, such as the bathroom type on Thalassa 2. Once you say yes, nothing gets added.
Step three: deposit and balance
A deposit of 50 percent of the quote confirms the booking, and the rest follows 30 days before you sail. Book inside that window and you pay in full up front.
Cancellation before sailing follows a scale: 50 percent back at 60 days or more before sailing, 25 percent at 30 to 59 days, nothing inside 30 days. Moving a date costs IDR 500,000 when you move it 14 to 29 days out and nothing when you move it 30 days or more out.
Payment is by bank transfer in rupiah, a card payment link, Wise, Revolut, QRIS or PayPal, which carries a fee of 7.2 percent. Prices include 11 percent VAT.
| Deposit | 50 percent of the total |
| Balance | 30 days before |
| Bookings inside 30 days pay in full | |
| Children | Under 3 free, accompanied by a parent |
| Prices include 11 percent VAT · Passport details 7 days before sailing |
Deposit 50% to confirm, balance 30 days before departure. You can also settle the balance in Labuan Bajo on the departure day, in cash or by card on the EDC machine.
| Notice | Refund |
|---|---|
| 60 days or more | 50 % |
| 30 to 59 days | 25 % |
| 29 days or less | 0 % |
| Notice | Fee |
|---|---|
| 30 days or more | Free |
| 14 to 29 days | IDR 500,000 |
| 13 days or less | Treated as a cancellation |
If we cancel, you are refunded 100 percent · Refunds are paid within 14 days.
Payment
Secure payment by Stripe, Airwallex, American Express, Visa, Mastercard.
Fees: card payment link 3%, PayPal 7.2%, EDC card machine 3%. Your issuing bank may add its own charges.
Names on the list, cabins on the plan
Every guest's name goes on the sailing list before the boat leaves, and identity documents are needed for the maritime manifest. The date by which we need them is in your quote.
The cabin plan comes after the names. On Thalassa 1 you choose the Master or the other cabins. On Thalassa 2 the group allocates its nine cabins with our team, and the allocation is confirmed in writing.
Plan to land in Labuan Bajo a day ahead. A late flight shouldn't cost you the first morning, and the pickup time and meeting point are confirmed in writing once the names are in.
Children are on the list too, with their ages. Children aged 0 to 2 travel free when accompanied, and from age 3 the full price applies on an open trip.
Weather, harbor orders and the substitute boat
Should Thalassa be held in port by a breakdown or an order from the harbor master or the park, you sail on a phinisi of the same class or higher on the same dates at no extra cost, or we refund you in full within 14 days.
Changing the route is another matter. Wind, tide and the harbor master can reorder the stops, and the captain decides on the day. The trip still sails.
Insurance is recommended, because the scale above does not cover a missed flight or a medical bill. The guarantee is about the boat, and your insurer covers the rest.
The name on your invoice and the crew on your deck
Thalassa 1 and Thalassa 2 are owned and run by their owner, which has its own website. Your booking is with PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia (NIB 1805260128363), the booking partner, and we are the ones who sell the trip, answer your questions and answer for the booking.
The invoice is in our name, and a company can ask for an invoice in the company's. The crew on your deck is the Thalassa crew: a cruise leader, a captain, ship mechanics, a chef and deckhands.
One limit applies: a change of boat after the quote is a new quote, because the rate, the cabins and the band all change.
Who you are booking with
- Legal entity
- PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia
- Business ID (NIB)
- 1805260128363
- Address
- Jl. Soekarno Hatta, Kampung Air, Labuan Bajo, Kec. Komodo, Kabupaten Manggarai Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur 86754, Indonesia
- +6285190096797 · +6287727777677
- info@komodoexplorer.com
- Team hours
- Daily 08:00–20:00 (WITA)
A cruise leader, captain and crew sail with every trip. Bookings and payments are handled by PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia.
FAQ
What deposit and payment terms apply?
A 50 percent deposit confirms the booking and the balance is due 30 days before sailing. Payment is by bank transfer, a card link, Wise, Revolut, QRIS or PayPal, which carries a fee of 7.2 percent.
How far ahead should we book a Komodo charter for July or August?
As early as your dates are set. July and August are the busiest months, and the boat can only take one charter at a time. For a group of 20 or more, ask months ahead.
Can I pay by card?
Yes, through a card payment link we send with the invoice. PayPal also works and carries a fee of 7.2 percent.
What if weather cancels the trip?
A change of route is the captain's decision and the trip still sails. If the boat can't leave port, you get a phinisi of the same class or higher, or a full refund within 14 days.
Can a company pay by invoice?
Yes. PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia, NIB 1805260128363, issues the invoice, and a company can ask for it in the company's name.
Check availability: Thalassa
Thalassa is published and booked by PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia, a booking partner for Thalassa 1 and Thalassa 2. The boats belong to their owner.