Vinca
Vinca Deluxe Phinisi
Komodo family boat trip: where the kids sleep, and where they should not walk
Updated 10 October 2026
Families do best in the Balinese Rooms on the lower deck, with a double and a single bed, an extra bed for a fourth person and the least motion on the boat. Children under 3 travel free with an accompanying adult. On the open trip, a Balinese Room is IDR 6,950,000 (≈ USD 426) per person.
The Balinese Room is the family room
Down on the lower deck are two Balinese Rooms, styled like a little Bali villa. Each has a double and a single bed, an ensuite with a hot shower, air conditioning, and an extra bed so a fourth person can join you. The brochure describes the room as suitable for children, and it's where we put families.
The reasons are practical. The lower deck moves least, which matters for a child who's never been on a boat, and the room is also the cheapest, at IDR 6,950,000 (≈ USD 426) per person on the open trip. It's made for two adults with two children.
There are real drawbacks. The windows are portholes, so there's no balcony and no view from the bed. And the room is nearest the engine, so it's the noisiest on board. Children generally sleep through it; adults vary. The room sleeps three, with an extra bed for a fourth, so tell us your numbers before you pay.
| Cabin | Rooms | Beds | Sleeps | with extra bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese Room | 2 | 1 double + extra bed option | 4 | 6 |
| Western Room | 2 | 1 double + extra bed option | 4 | 6 |
| Balinese Room | 2 | 1 double + 1 single + extra bed option | 6 | 8 |
| Berths in total | 6 | 14 | 18 |
Extra beds add up to 20; the vessel's licensed maximum is 18 guests.
The engine runs quiet, which matters if you are travelling with a baby or simply want silence: at anchor the boat is still, and under way the lower deck hears the most. Ask the desk for an upper-deck cabin if silence decides it.
Fees, ages and the stairs
Children under 3 travel free with an accompanying adult; from 3 they pay the full price. National park fees are separate and charged per person per day, at IDR 250,000 for international visitors. Ask us about the child rate before you budget, as we don't quote what we can't confirm.
The boat has three decks and no lift. Getting between the lounge, the sundeck and the rooms means stairs, and the stairs move when the boat does, so a toddler needs a hand on every step. Every guest gets a life jacket, and small children should wear one on deck as well as in the water.
Our rule of thumb is simple: if a child can climb steadily and listen to a ranger, they can manage the Komodo walk and the short hill on Kelor. Padar is steeper, about 25 to 45 minutes each way to the viewpoint, and if you carry a child up, you'll be carrying them back down.
Which route suits children
Start with the 2D1N or 3D2N rather than the 4D3N. A child's patience with a boat usually runs out after about two nights, and a long overnight leg is where seasickness tends to show up. The 3D2N spreads the sailing over three days, whereas the 2D1N squeezes an overnight run of roughly three to four hours, from Kalong towards Padar, into its first night.
The easier stops are the short hill on Kelor, the shallow snorkelling at Pink Beach and the sandbank at Taka Makassar when the tide is low. The hard ones are Padar before dawn and Manta Point, where the current is strong and the snorkelling is guided. Each child should swim with a confident adult.
- Easy: Pink Beach, Taka Makassar, Sebayur.
- Moderate: Kelor hill, Padar, the Komodo walk.
- Not for small children: Manta Point current.
Choose the route around the child first and the date second. A calm month, April to June or October to November, matters more than an extra day.
Day 1
| What happens | Sailing from previous stop | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:30 | Labuan Bajo — Hotel / airport pickup to harbour | — | soft bag, not a hard suitcase |
| · | Sebayur — Snorkelling at Sebayur | 90–120 min | reef-safe sunscreen |
| · | Lunch | — | |
| · | Manta Point — Snorkelling at Manta Point Tide | 60–90 min | reef-safe sunscreen |
| · | Snack | — | |
| · | Taka Makassar — Snorkelling at Taka Makassar Tide | 20–30 min | reef-safe sunscreen |
| · | Dinner | — | motion tablet before any overnight leg |
| 🌙 | Night aboard. Where the boat spends the night, at anchor or under way, depends on the weather and the captain's decision on the day. | ||
Day 2
| What happens | Sailing from previous stop | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrise | Padar — Padar sunrise trek | 120–180 min | headtorch, sturdy shoes |
| · | Breakfast | — | |
| · | Pink Beach — Snorkelling or paddle boarding at Long Beach (Pink Beach) | 60–90 min | reef-safe sunscreen |
| · | Lunch | — | |
| · | Komodo — Komodo Island trek | 30–60 min | |
| · | Pimpe — Pimpe Island trek | — | |
| · | Snack | — | |
| · | Kalong — Sunset at Kalong Island | — | camera charged |
| · | Dinner | — | |
| 🌙 | Night aboard. Where the boat spends the night, at anchor or under way, depends on the weather and the captain's decision on the day. | ||
Day 3
| What happens | Sailing from previous stop | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| · | Breakfast | — | |
| · | Kelor — Free activity at Kelor Island: trek, swim, paddle board or relax | — | |
| · | Lunch | — | |
| 11:00 | Labuan Bajo — Back in Labuan Bajo, drop-off | 50–70 min |
These stops swap order with tide and wind: Manta Point ⇄ Taka Makassar.
Times are operating patterns, not a timetable. Pickup is the only promise we make by the clock.
Whole boat or open trip with children
A family of four fills a Balinese Room and can join an open trip with other guests; plenty do. The risk is that the others may be adults who came for some peace and quiet. We'll tell you how big the departure is before you commit.
A private charter gets round that. For a 3D2N, up to five guests pay IDR 100,000,000 (≈ USD 6,135) and six to ten pay IDR 105,000,000 (≈ USD 6,442). A family with grandparents lands in the second band, and each extra person beyond fourteen adds IDR 5,000,000 (≈ USD 307). It costs more per head than the open trip, but the crew can plan meals, stops and pace around a nap.
If your children need a quiet hotel room, a gym or a swimming pool, a resort will suit them better. We're a floating house with bean bags and a long table.
| 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
FAQ
How many people sleep in a Balinese Room?
The double and single beds sleep three, and an extra bed takes a fourth. The operator confirms three guests plus one extra bed, so tell us your numbers before booking. On the open trip it's IDR 6,950,000 (≈ USD 426) per person.
Are life jackets provided for small children?
There are life jackets on board for every guest. Check sizes with us when you book, tell the guide each child's weight on day one, and have small children wear a jacket on deck as well as in the water. Children under 3 travel free. Weaker swimmers should keep a jacket on at Manta Point, where the current is strong.
Is the Padar climb safe for a five-year-old?
It can be done, but expect loose, steep stretches of path and a climb of 25 to 45 minutes to the main viewpoint. Sturdy shoes matter more than fitness. Children aged 3 and over pay the full fare on board, so the decision is about the child's stamina, not the ticket.
Who decides whether a child can do the dragon walk?
Park rangers lead every group on Komodo and decide who may go on the trail, so tell the desk your children's ages before you board. Children under 3 travel free on our boat; from 3 they pay the full fare. Walks last 45 to 120 minutes with little shade, and every child needs closed shoes.
Is seasickness likely for children on the 3D2N?
That depends on the month and the deck. The lower deck moves least, and a motion tablet taken before an overnight leg helps adults and older children; ask a pharmacist about doses for younger ones. The rough months are January to February and July to August. The 3D2N has two nights aboard, while the 1D has none.
Check availability — Vinca
Vinca is owner-held and run by its own dedicated charter desk.