Vinca
Vinca Deluxe Phinisi
Solo traveller on a Komodo boat: what to expect on Vinca
Updated 10 October 2026
You join a fixed-date 3D2N open trip as a single booking in a per-person cabin, from IDR 6,950,000 (≈ USD 426). Every meal is eaten at one long table with the other guests, and a crew of 7 sails the boat. We don't publish a solo supplement or a pairing rule, so ask in writing before the deposit. The next departure is Monday, 12 October 2026.
How booking works when you're on your own
The open trip is priced per person and by cabin type: IDR 8,500,000 (≈ USD 521) in a Western room, IDR 8,500,000 (≈ USD 521) in a Japanese room and IDR 6,950,000 (≈ USD 426) in a Balinese room. Every cabin has a double bed, and the Balinese room has a single as well. Travelling solo, you book one berth.
The brochure doesn't say what happens to the other berth. Ask the desk three things: whether you'd be sharing, who with, and what it costs to have the cabin to yourself. Get the answers in writing before you pay the 50 percent deposit. Ask first, because the answers change your total.
Chartering the whole boat for one to five guests costs IDR 100,000,000 (≈ USD 6,135) for a 3D2N, which is why one person rarely takes it alone. It only makes sense when friends come along and split the band price.
| Cabins | Deck | per person | Extra bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Room | Main deck | IDR 8,500,000 (≈ USD 521) | IDR 5,500,000 (≈ USD 337) |
| Japanese Room | Upper deck | IDR 8,500,000 (≈ USD 521) | IDR 5,500,000 (≈ USD 337) |
| Balinese Room | Lower deck | IDR 6,950,000 (≈ USD 426) | IDR 4,500,000 (≈ USD 276) |
Fixed dates, mostly Mondays and Fridays. Not every Monday or Friday runs. Next departures: 12 October 2026, 16 October 2026, 19 October 2026, 23 October 2026
Checked 10 October 2026 · Source: operator rate sheet
Fixed dates, and the table where strangers become a group
The open trip runs on fixed start dates. There are 122 on our list, mostly on Monday & Friday, though not every Monday or Friday runs. The next one is Monday, 12 October 2026. Don't book flights until the desk has confirmed your date.
Meals are served at one long table on the covered dining deck, with the chef cooking in the open galley, so you'll end up chatting to someone whether you planned to or not. The two stand-up paddleboards are shared among everyone, so ask early for a turn. Sunrise on Padar is a climb with a ranger and the whole group, which is a good way to get to know the people you've been sitting next to.
The route is set. The captain can change stops for weather, current and park decisions, but you can't pick them. If you want an itinerary of your own, the open trip isn't for you.
Fixed dates, mostly Mondays and Fridays. Not every Monday or Friday runs.
Real photo from a KEXI trip · 8 photos
Safety when you travel alone
A crew of 7 looks after up to 18 guests. The boat carries a life raft for 25 people, life jackets, flares, GPS and a VHF radio, and a guide joins every trek alongside a park ranger. The current at Manta Point is strong, so if you're a weak swimmer, tell the guide and wear the life jacket.
We can't vet the other guests on an open trip, and we won't pretend to. What we can say is that the crew and the guide are with the group at every landing, and that every cabin is air-conditioned with its own ensuite.
You'll be mostly offline. There's local Wi-Fi, a hotspot off the crew's mobile signal, but no satellite link, so it works near Labuan Bajo and in patches between islands. Give someone at home your dates, the boat's name and the desk's WhatsApp number, and agree to check in on the evening you get back. If you get seasick, choose the Balinese room: it moves least, though it's closest to the engine. There are no stabilisers.
What to bring, and what to tell the desk
Pack a soft bag, sturdy shoes, a headtorch for the Padar sunrise, reef-safe sunscreen, a power bank, your original passport, your own medicines and rupiah in small notes. There are no cash machines on the islands.
Tell the desk how well you swim, plus any allergies, your hotel and your flights. Arrive in Labuan Bajo the day before, because pickup is at 09:30 and flights are sometimes cancelled or delayed. Book your flight home for after 14:00, as the boat docks between 11:00 and 12:00 on the last day. Park entry is IDR 250,000 per foreign visitor per day and isn't included in the fare.
A guaranteed private room, a quiet corner or a route of your own are things an open trip can't promise. Send the desk the date you'd like and we'll tell you which cabins are still free.
- Usually within hoursSend dates, group size and route
- 50 percent of the totalDeposit confirms the date
- 30 days beforeBalance before sailing
FAQ
Can I ask for a cabin to myself?
You can certainly ask. The brochure prints no single supplement and no pairing rule, so we won't quote a figure we haven't confirmed. Write to the desk with your date and cabin type, get the answer in writing, and only then pay the 50 percent deposit. Having a cabin to yourself may cost more than the per-person rate.
Does a solo guest pay the park fee too?
Yes. Park entry is charged per person per day, at IDR 250,000 for a foreign visitor, and it's invoiced separately from the fare. The ranger fee is charged per group of up to five guests, so on your own you share it with the others on the trek. Ask the desk to put the park line on your quote.
Is it easy to meet people on the boat?
Easier than on land. Every meal is at one long table, the sunrise climb on Padar is done as a group, and the two paddleboards are shared. The open trip runs on fixed dates, so you all start the 3D2N together at 09:30 and finish together on the last morning.
How far ahead should a solo traveller book?
As soon as your flights are fixed. The open trip has 122 start dates, and not every Monday or Friday runs; the next is Monday, 12 October 2026. The balance is due 30 days before sailing, and if you book inside that window you pay in full when the desk confirms.
Check availability — Vinca
Vinca is owner-held and run by its own dedicated charter desk.