Mid-range ironwood Phinisis from an operator running Indonesian liveaboards since 1988 — diving first, no frills. Cheng Ho, Sea Safari VI and Sea Safari 8 are on Coralbound.

This is an operator spotlight. If you're here to plan an Indonesia liveaboard trip, start with the Indonesia liveaboard guide.

Sea Safari Cruises

Sea Safari Cruises has run liveaboards in Indonesia since 1988, one of the longest track records of any operator in the country. The fleet is three traditional Phinisis, all built in-house from Ulin ironwood, a dense tropical hardwood prized for durability in saltwater.

This is a diving-focused, no-fuss operator. The boats are comfortable mid-range vessels rather than luxury yachts, and they are often chartered by groups. Rates are low for what you get: from USD $360 per person per day for the 2026/2027 season. If you're weighing where this sits against other options, our liveaboard category guide explains how the price tiers compare.

All three boats were refurbished in recent years. The dates are in each boat section below.

Cheng Ho

Cheng Ho is the flagship. She is 35 metres long with an unusually wide beam of 10.65 metres across four decks, which gives her more deck space and interior volume than most vessels of similar length.

She carries 26 guests in 14 cabins: six doubles, six twins and two single cabins. Single cabins for solo travelers are rare on Indonesian liveaboards of this size. Every cabin is en-suite and comes with a hair dryer, bathrobes and towels.

Between dives, the four decks give you room to spread out. There is an indoor restaurant, indoor and outdoor sofa lounges, a sun deck with lazy beds and a jacuzzi. The dive deck has a dedicated camera station, and kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are available for guests. Cruising speed is 7 to 10 knots.

Cheng Ho was renovated in 2025 and goes into dry dock for annual maintenance, typically in May.

Her main destination is Raja Ampat, with Komodo as the counter-season destination. The Banda Sea, Alor and the Forgotten Islands feature on longer crossings through the year.

Sea Safari VI

Sea Safari VI is 36 metres long, built from Ulin ironwood across four decks, and based in Sorong. She is the smallest of the three by guest numbers, with en-suite double and twin cabins. She was renovated in 2022.

She has the same layout of shared spaces as the rest of the fleet. That means an indoor restaurant, indoor and outdoor sofa lounges, a sun deck with lazy beds, a jacuzzi and a dedicated dive deck with a camera station. Kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and board games are onboard for time between dives. Cruising speed is 7 to 10 knots.

Raja Ampat is her primary destination. Komodo, the Banda Sea and Alor feature across the seasonal schedule.

Sea Safari 8

Sea Safari 8 is 35 metres long, built from Ulin ironwood across four decks, and also based in Sorong. Her cabins were refurbished in 2026. Several cabins convert between double and twin, which works well for friends, family or couples. Each cabin is en-suite with air conditioning, a hair dryer, bathrobes and towels.

Common areas include an indoor restaurant and bar, indoor and outdoor sofa lounges, a sun deck with lazy beds and a jacuzzi. The dive deck has a camera station, and kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are available for guests. Cruising speed is 7 to 10 knots.

She runs a different seasonal circuit from her fleet partners. Raja Ampat is the main destination, with crossings into Halmahera, North and Central Sulawesi and the Sangihe Archipelago, a region relatively few Indonesian liveaboards service regularly.

Diving and comfort on all three boats

Diving is run from a dedicated dive deck with a camera station. Two aluminium speedboats handle dive site transfers, every diver carries an ENOS diver locator, and EAN 32% nitrox is available onboard. Oxygen, life rafts and smoke detectors are carried on all three. Navigation equipment includes Furuno GPS, Koden radar and echo sounder, EPIRB, satellite phone, and VHF and SSB radio.

Every cabin has an en-suite bathroom with hot and cold showers, air conditioning, bathrobes and towels, and a safety box. Common areas include an indoor restaurant, indoor and outdoor sofa lounges, and a sun deck with lazy beds. Each boat also has a jacuzzi, and kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are available for guests.

Where they sail

Raja Ampat is the main destination across the fleet. Read our Raja Ampat guide for seasons and routes.

Cheng Ho and Sea Safari VI add Komodo, the Banda Sea and Alor, and Cheng Ho also runs Forgotten Islands crossings. Sea Safari 8 heads north and east instead, into Halmahera, Sulawesi and Sangihe.

What's available to book

All three boats' upcoming departures are live on Coralbound with real-time availability and pricing direct from the operator. Rates start from USD $360 per person per day for the 2026/2027 season. For a group or full-boat charter, message us on WhatsApp.

Questions? Reach us on live chat on the site, via WhatsApp, or through 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.