Raja Ampat Yacht Charter with Crew
Captain, chef, dive guides, engineers and service staff on every charter. Crewed yachting is the only format in Raja Ampat — and it makes the whole trip work.
A Raja Ampat private yacht charter is always fully crewed, with captain, crew, service staff and onboard dining support depending on the yacht. Crew size, service style, guides, dive staff and chef setup vary by yacht and should be confirmed before booking.
- Google rating4.9 / 5 — 500+ charters
- Owner ratesDirect — no broker markup
- AvailabilityOwner-confirmed before quoting
- Fleet50+ curated yachts, licensed & insured
- Crew size
- 8 – 20
- Guide ratio
- 4:1 or better
- Chef
- Included
- Gratuity
- 5 – 15% customary
How crewed yacht charters work
Every yacht has a fixed core crew and specialist staff added for each charter (dive guides, cruise director on some yachts, wellness therapist on request). Crew live aboard for the full season and know the archipelago intimately.
Captain, chef, dive guides and service
| Role | Responsibility | On board |
|---|---|---|
| Captain | Navigation, safety, route | Every charter |
| First officer / mate | Support navigation, tender ops | Every charter |
| Chief engineer | Mechanical, power, water | Every charter |
| Chef | Menus, provisioning, dietary | Every charter |
| Sous chef / service | Kitchen support, table service | Most yachts |
| Housekeeping | Cabin turndown, laundry | Most yachts |
| Dive guide(s) | Site briefings, dive supervision | Diving charters |
| Cruise director / GRO | Guest liaison, activities | Luxury phinisi |
| Wellness therapist | Massage, spa | On request |
- Responsibility
- Navigation, safety, route
- On board
- Every charter
- Responsibility
- Support navigation, tender ops
- On board
- Every charter
- Responsibility
- Mechanical, power, water
- On board
- Every charter
- Responsibility
- Menus, provisioning, dietary
- On board
- Every charter
- Responsibility
- Kitchen support, table service
- On board
- Most yachts
- Responsibility
- Cabin turndown, laundry
- On board
- Most yachts
- Responsibility
- Site briefings, dive supervision
- On board
- Diving charters
- Responsibility
- Guest liaison, activities
- On board
- Luxury phinisi
- Responsibility
- Massage, spa
- On board
- On request
Crew setups by yacht
| Yacht | Guests | Crew | Cruise director | Dive guides |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamima | 14 | 18+ | Yes | Yes |
| Prana by Atzaró | 18 | 20+ | Yes | Yes |
| Alila Purnama | 10 | 16 | Yes | Yes |
| Aqua Blu | 15 | 18 | Yes | Yes |
| Fenides | 11 | 10 – 12 | Guest host | Yes |
| Mutiara Laut | 14 | 14 | Yes | Yes |
| Dewata | 6 | 8 – 10 | Captain-led | On request |
- Guests
- 14
- Crew
- 18+
- Cruise director
- Yes
- Dive guides
- Yes
- Guests
- 18
- Crew
- 20+
- Cruise director
- Yes
- Dive guides
- Yes
- Guests
- 10
- Crew
- 16
- Cruise director
- Yes
- Dive guides
- Yes
- Guests
- 15
- Crew
- 18
- Cruise director
- Yes
- Dive guides
- Yes
- Guests
- 11
- Crew
- 10 – 12
- Cruise director
- Guest host
- Dive guides
- Yes
- Guests
- 14
- Crew
- 14
- Cruise director
- Yes
- Dive guides
- Yes
- Guests
- 6
- Crew
- 8 – 10
- Cruise director
- Captain-led
- Dive guides
- On request
What to expect from the service
Luxury phinisi run five-star hotel-style service — cabin turndown, table-side pouring, custom menus, private beach setups. Premium yachts are less formal but equally attentive. Classic phinisi are friendlier and more casual, with crew who become part of the trip.
Crew gratuity
Guideline: 5–10% for good service, 10–15% for exceptional. Cash (USD or IDR) to the captain on the final day. See the inclusions page for the full breakdown.
What to confirm
- Chef style and dietary flexibility
- Number and certification of dive guides
- Cruise director / guest liaison presence
- English-speaking crew
- Any specialist staff (spa, kids counsellor)
Frequently asked questions
Are Raja Ampat yacht charters always crewed?+
Yes. Every Raja Ampat private yacht is fully crewed. There is no bareboat (self-drive) option in the region — crossings are long, reefs are complex and remote anchorages need experienced local knowledge.
How many crew are on board?+
Typically 8–20 crew depending on yacht size. That includes captain, deck officers, engineers, chef, sous chef, service staff, dive guides and cabin housekeeping.
Who runs the diving?+
Certified PADI or SSI dive guides on staff or contracted for the trip. Ratios are usually 4:1 or better. Camera guides can often be arranged on request.
Is the chef included?+
Yes — full-time chef on every yacht, with dietary flexibility. Menus are usually a blend of Indonesian, Asian and Western. Preferences and allergies are collected before departure.
Do I tip the crew?+
Yes — 5–15% of the charter fee is customary. Given in cash to the captain on the final day, distributed across the crew.
Can I meet the crew before booking?+
Yes on video call for extended charters or celebration trips. Crew bios are provided during the booking process.
Keep exploring
Find crewed yacht options
- 1. We review your dates, group size and budget.
- 2. We check suitable Raja Ampat yachts and availability.
- 3. You get curated options with pricing and route ideas.
Independent specialist guidance — not a generic booking engine. We only recommend yachts we would send our own family on.