Built in 1902, sailed under three flags, rescued from East Berlin, and reborn as one of Indonesia's most distinctive liveaboards.
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A 122-year-old schooner, properly restored
Adelaar is a 38-metre schooner built in 1902 at a Dutch shipyard, originally a cargo vessel sailing between England, Sweden, Norway, and Russia under wind power alone. Requisitioned by Germany during the Second World War and renamed, she spent decades after as a cargo ship on the Baltic before being discovered, unrecognised, in a small harbour between former East Germany and Poland in 1979. Two friends bought her — intending to take only her anchors — and instead sailed the entire ship out. She was smuggled out of East Berlin in 1981, restored at the very same shipyard that built her eighty years earlier, and re-emerged with a steel hull, a 40-tonne concrete keel, and her original name restored.
She's sailed Indonesian waters continuously since 1994, making her one of the longest-serving liveaboards in the region. A full interior renovation completed in 2011 brought her to her current standard — teak-panelled walls, high ceilings, and an old-world luxury that has little in common with most liveaboards on the water today.
Diving and leisure, properly balanced
Adelaar isn't built around a fixed dive schedule. Up to 3 to 4 dives a day are available for guests who want them, but there's no obligation to fill the itinerary — a day can just as easily go toward snorkelling, kayaking, a beach landing, or simply reading on deck. The pace adjusts to whoever is on board.
With a maximum of 8 guests across 4 staterooms, cruises often run with five or six guests rather than a full complement, giving the trip a near-private-charter feel. The steel hull also means quieter, more stable nights at anchor compared to traditional wooden phinisi vessels — a detail returning guests notice immediately.
Cabins and crew
The four staterooms include a Master Suite and three further cabins, each with individually controlled air conditioning, en-suite bathrooms with Kohler basins and Grohe fixtures, hot water showers, and vacuum toilets. Sensatia Botanicals toiletries are provided throughout. A crew of around 12 — including a Western cruise manager and dive instructor — includes several members who have sailed with Adelaar for more than two decades.
Meals are served in the air-conditioned dining salon, or on deck under the stars when conditions allow.
Where Adelaar sails
Itineraries cover Raja Ampat, Komodo, the Banda Sea, and Triton Bay, including longer crossing routes such as Sorong–Ambon and Maumere–Ambon, running 6 to 11-night trips. Diving is supported by Bauer compressors and two aluminium tenders, with nitrox available as an add-on, alongside kayaking, paddleboarding, and wakeboarding between dives. Starlink WiFi with up to 1GB per person is included.
What's available to book
Adelaar's upcoming departures are now live on Coralbound with real-time availability and pricing direct from the operator.
Questions? Reach us on WhatsApp or via the contact form. Bookings through Coralbound come at the same price as booking direct, with booking gifts including the option of a complimentary hotel night.
