Soe Besar Vanrei
Soe Besar Vanrei Phinisi
Deposit, refunds and the replacement boat
Updated 8 November 2026
Soe Besar Vanrei booking terms in brief: a 50 percent deposit holds the date and the balance follows 30 days before sailing. Cancel 60 days or more ahead for a 50 percent refund. If the boat cannot sail, you receive an equal or higher class, or a full refund.
Payment schedule: deposit then balance
A booking has two payments. The deposit is 50 percent of the total and holds the date. The balance is due 30 days before sailing, or you can pay it in cash or by card machine in Labuan Bajo on the day of departure.
Each channel states its fee before you pay. A card payment link carries 3 percent, PayPal 7.2 percent and the card machine on departure day 3 percent. Wise, Revolut, QRIS and bank transfer are also accepted, and your own bank can add charges on top.
The Komodo National Park package is quoted per trip type, kept apart from the fare and paid in full with the deposit, because the park limits visitors. The invoice names one bank account. These are the Komodo Explorer terms, applied the same way to every booking.
| Deposit | 50 percent of the total |
| Balance | 30 days before |
| Bookings inside 30 days pay in full | |
| Children | Children under 3 are free when they travel with a parent |
| Figures are rounded and all-in · 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. Fees: card payment link 3%, PayPal 7.2%, EDC card machine 3%. Your issuing bank may add its own charges.
Cancelling and changing dates
Cancel on WhatsApp, so the date of your request is on record. The refund is a share of what you paid, set by the days left before sailing.
- 60 days or more: 50 percent is refunded.
- 30 to 59 days: 25 percent is refunded.
- Fewer than 30 days: no refund.
Moving a booking is gentler. A new date costs nothing when you ask 30 days or more before sailing. Asked 14 to 29 days before, it costs IDR 500,000. Within 14 days a change counts as a cancellation. The new date depends on the boat's calendar, so we confirm it live on WhatsApp before we move anything.
| 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 · Once the refund terms are met, the transfer is made within 2 days.
When the operator cannot sail
If the boat cannot sail, we offer a replacement boat of equal or higher class on the same date at no extra charge. If you decline it, or none exists, you receive a full refund within 2 days. That is the replacement-boat guarantee, and it applies to private charters and open-trip seats alike.
Weather is a separate matter. The captain and the harbour authority decide whether the sea is safe, and no sailing is promised regardless of weather. The route can change with the weather, and the captain agrees which stop comes first.
Caveat: a closure caused by weather is handled under these terms, and we tell you in writing what follows.
Children, papers and insurance
Children aged 0 to 2 travel free with a parent or guardian. From age 3 the full fare applies. Tell us each child's age when you write, because it changes the quote and the life-jacket sizes we confirm. If a birthday falls close to the sailing date, say so and we confirm the fare in writing.
We need a copy of each guest's passport or ID about seven days before sailing. Travel and medical insurance is recommended and is not part of a charter price. Flights, visas and hotels before and after the trip are yours to arrange.
A private charter does not include a guide or photo and video documentation. Either can be added on request and is quoted separately before it appears on the invoice.
FAQ
How much is the deposit, and when is the balance due?
A deposit of 50 percent holds the date. The balance falls due 30 days before sailing, or you can pay it in cash or by card machine on the departure day. Cancelling 60 days or more ahead returns 50 percent of what you paid, and 30 to 59 days returns 25 percent. Under 30 days there is no refund.
What happens if the boat is replaced or the trip is cancelled by us?
If Soe Besar Vanrei cannot sail, we offer a boat of equal or higher class on the same date at no extra charge. If you prefer not to take it, or no replacement exists, you receive a full refund within 2 days. Weather closures are decided by the captain and the harbour.
Can I move my booking to another date?
Yes, subject to the boat's calendar. A change asked 30 days or more before sailing is free, a change asked 14 to 29 days before costs IDR 500,000, and inside 14 days it counts as a cancellation. We confirm the new date on WhatsApp before we move anything.
Check availability — Soe Besar Vanrei
Bookings for Soe Besar Vanrei run through the Komodo Explorer team in Labuan Bajo. We plan the voyage, take payment and answer in writing before you board; the boat keeps its own captain and crew.