Vhale
Vhale Phinisi
From a first message to a place at the table, in five steps
Updated 4 November 2026
How to book a Komodo all inclusive boat on Vhale takes five steps: 50 percent down pins your date to Vhale's calendar, and the balance follows 30 days ahead of the gangway. Card links carry 3 percent on top. The whole boat for 3D2N is IDR 148,000,000 (≈ USD 9,080), and a seat starts at IDR 4,450,000 (≈ USD 273).
Five steps between a first hello and the gangway
Booking is shorter than it looks. It begins with a message naming the date, the route and your head count, or, for a seat, which cabin kind and for how many. In the second we reply with the fare, a plan for the cabins and the ledger written out for your trip. The third message carries the deposit, and from then the date is yours.
The fourth is the list of names and passport details, needed before the park tickets can be issued in each visitor's name, and the fifth is the balance, after which there is nothing left to do but board. We ask for nothing before it is useful. Five steps; the fifth is the shortest.
- Answered on WhatsAppSend dates, group size and route
- 50 percent of the totalDeposit confirms the date
- 30 days beforeBalance before sailing
Two payments: a deposit first, the rest before sailing
Two payments make a booking: 50 percent to begin with, which takes the date off the market, and the remainder 30 days before you board. On the departure day you can still settle the balance in Labuan Bajo, in cash or at the EDC card machine, which answers the people who arrive with an envelope.
The deposit and the balance are both shown on your invoice, in the currency we quote, and the table below sets the percentages beside the days. The fares are rounded and carry VAT of 11 percent inside them. The park package is arranged separately, and we tell you how and when it is paid.
| 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.
Paying from abroad: cards, links, transfers and wallets
People pay us from all over the world, and what it costs depends on the road the money travels: a card link carries 3 percent on top, PayPal 7.2 percent, and the EDC card machine in Labuan Bajo 3 percent. A bank transfer in rupiah carries no fee that we add. Some payers use Wise, Revolut, QRIS or Alipay, and WeChat Pay travels via a partner; tell us your country and we will name the simplest road.
To be sure you are paying the right people, check the company and the channels. The company is PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia, NIB 1805260128363, answering Daily 08:00–20:00 (WITA). There is one official WhatsApp thread, and one bank account, which appears on the invoice we send you. Never pay into an account that arrives any other way. Pay the invoice, keep the receipt.
Payment — all methods available
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.
If the boat is replaced or cancelled
If Vhale cannot sail on your dates, or the boat's owner calls the trip off, you get to choose: a replacement boat of her class or better for those dates, free, or every rupiah you paid returned within 2 days. We write your choice down.
The reverse case, in which you cancel, follows the percentages on the terms page; the two are separate, and mixing them up is how disputes begin. The boat's part is to sail; ours is to put the promise in writing.
How far ahead to ask
A large group should ask early. We publish no lead time, because it depends on the calendar and the route, and an invented number would only alarm you or lull you. For twenty guests or more, a first message several months ahead is not too soon, and a date can be held in three messages.
A seat on the Monday or Friday trip is simpler: the live check on WhatsApp tells you where the calendar stands that day. Send the month, and the rest follows.
FAQ
I live overseas: which payment routes work, and at what fee?
A card link costs 3 percent and PayPal 7.2 percent. Bank transfer in rupiah carries no fee we add, and Wise, Revolut, QRIS and Alipay are accepted for some payers. We tell you the exact route and amount on the invoice.
May the balance wait until boarding morning, paid in cash or by card?
Yes. On the departure day the balance can be settled in cash or on the EDC card machine in Labuan Bajo, which adds 3 percent. Bring the amount in rupiah if you choose cash, since not every foreign card works.
How much is the deposit, when is the rest due, and what if we cancel?
You pay 50 percent to reserve, and the remainder 30 days before you board. The terms page sets out the refund windows and the rescheduling fee, which is IDR 500,000 in the middle window.
How far ahead should a big group book?
Early. We publish no fixed lead time. For twenty guests or more, write several months ahead and we hold a date in three messages. A seat on the open trip needs a shorter notice, and we confirm the cabin live.
Check availability — Vhale
Bookings for Vhale are made with the Komodo Explorer team in Labuan Bajo; the boat sails with its own crew of nine.