This huge liveaboard is Kararu's newest and biggest vessel. With a length of 49 metres, a beam of 11 metres, three decks and 22 cabins this modified Pinisi (Bugis) Schooner is comfortable and offers plenty of room to lose yourself between dives.
The cabins are cleaned twice a day with a turn down service at night, with a very high staff to guest ratio on board service is excellent. Languages spoken include German, French, Spanish, Italian, Indonesian and English.
Constructed with three decks the Cheng Ho gives you plenty of space to lose oneself; whether it is in the air-conditioned comfort of the large saloon or on the decks under the shade of one of the ship's huge sails.
The main salon is fully air conditioned and features a comfortable lounge area, shop and library corner. Also equipped with sound system, TV, Video and DVD player and wireless email access. The Cheng Ho has her own cinema room featuring a wide selection of movies and comfortable seating arrangements as well as DVD projector for slide show enthusiasts.
There are equipment service areas, a private library and a lounge area with a wide selection of fish and wildlife books, novels, travel guidebooks, a music collection plus current movies and documentaries relevant to the area. A sample of the onboard facilities:
TV, Video Cassette, DVD and Video CD player
Video, CD, DVD and music CD library
Slide and digital projectors
Wireless email access
Camera battery charging stations, 220/110 volt
Satellite phones and e-mail access
Laptop power points
The Cheng Ho is equipped to suit long range liveaboard scuba diving and underwater photography. Nitrox and rental equipment is available on board and all diving is from tenders.
Much like a luxury hotel, you can expect first class personalised service, both on the water and underneath. With a very high staff to guest ratio on board service is excellent. Languages spoken include German, French, Spanish, Italian, Indonesian and English.
Other services include: Laundry and pressing service, Massage & Spa service, Vegetarian menu upon request, E6 slide processing, Scuba and snorkeling equipment for hire, Onboard equipment servicing and spare parts, PADI/SDI/TDI & NITROX courses
Komodo Itinerary
bima to bima (seven nights)
The Komodo cruises are also available as a seven night expedition starting and finishing at the port of Bima (on the island of Sumbawa).
Please note that these itineraries are subject to change depending on local weather and diving conditions and that all times are approximate.
day by day
Detailed itinerary for cruises starting and ending in Bima on the island of Sumbawa.
Day One: Arrival & Boarding Board in Bima after a short one hour domestic flight. Immediately after the guests have embarked, the ship will leave Bima and steam towards the Komodo National Park. This will be the orientation day with enough time to get familiar with the boat and to set up the dive gear for the next days diving.
Day Two: Lawah Laut/Gili Lawah Darat Welcome to the first day diving the in Komodo National Marine Park. We begin on the North East corner of the park at Gili Lawah Laut. Famous for warm, clear waters, and full of schooling fish, Napoleon Wrasse, reef sharks and turtles. Stunning corals and reefs will excite you on your full days diving in this area.
Day Three: Komodo Island Early in the morning, we will begin our breathtaking walk of Komodo Island to see the infamous dragons. Usually a few hours is spent on shore meeting the dragons and we are back in the water by noon. We will dive at the famous Pink Beach and other exciting dive sites such as Padar in the Komodo Island region as well.
Day Four: South Komodo/Rinca Our morning begins in South Komodo at Tora Longkoi, home to a famous manta cleaning station. With a 99 percent success rate to witness the mantas, you will marvel at these graceful creatures as they circle around and around.
During lunch, we steam to Horseshoe Bay, Rinca Island where we will spend the rest of the day diving in this area. You will be able to take full advantage of the uniqueness of this area. These dive sites are famous for their diversity in marine life that will be fully appreciated once under the water!
All meals will be served on board and between dives guests can explore by foot or with binoculars the nearby beach where wild boars, monkeys and the occasional Komodo dragon can be seen.
Day Five: South Rinca Welcome to another full day's diving in Rinca's Horseshoe Bay. CANNIBAL ROCK one of the Top five dive sites in the world is located here as well as Larry's YELLOW WALL Of TEXAS. On top of that we have one of the best muck sites TORPEDO ALLEY and four more stunning dive sites to offer. We usually offer 5 dives during our stay in this protected bay. Don't miss the night dive!!
Day Six: Komodo Marine Park, Gili Lawah Laut and Banta You will explore the warm waters of the parks northernmost islands all the time cruising westwards on our return journey. This is another day of diving ending with a spectacular night dive in Banta Island.
Day Seven: Sangeang Arriving early morning at Sangeang Island, a stunning volcanic island offering some of the region's best dive sites. We will spend the entire morning diving off this incredible island to ensure nothing will be missed. Lunch will be served on board while sailing towards the peaceful bays of Sumbawa where you will end your trip.
Day Eight: Bima, Sumbawa The ship will arrive at 6:00 AM in Bima Harbour, Sumbawa. You will be served breakfast and afterwards prepare for disembarkation. At 9:00 AM, you will be transferred to the Bima airport for your domestic flight at 11:00 AM.
Flight time is approximately 40 minutes and you will be transferred to your next destination in Bali upon arrival.
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Please note that itineraries are subject to change depending on local weather and diving conditions and that all times are approximate.
Price list:
- Cabin Type No. Available Daily Rate Per Pax Single Occupancy surcharge
- Below Deck Twin 2 $325 $225
- Below Deck Double 2 $325 $225
- Below Deck Single 2 $340
- Main Deck Single 2 $340
- Main Deck Twin 2 $325 $225
- Bridge Deck Stateroom 3 $375 $225
Group bookings
- Cabin Type No. Passengers Daily Rate Per Pax Free of Charge Pax
- Twin or Double 8 - 11 $325 1
- Twin or Double 12 - 17 $325 2
The The Cheng Ho
Boat Information
- Name : The Cheng Ho
- Destination : Indonesia
- Seasons : Year around
- Capacity : 20 approx (max no. guests)
About the cabins
- Cabin Facilities Room : All 13 cabins and staterooms are equipped with private bathrooms, ample hot water, individual air-condition units and wireless email access. The cabins are cleaned twice a day with a turn down service at night.3 staterooms,2 double cabins,2 twin cabins,6 singles
- Electricity :
- Sockets:
Technical Data
- Length x Beam : 49 x 11 meters
- Engines : 1 x 447 hp Yanmar diesel
- Max speed :
- Cruising speed : 8 - 10 knots
- Navigation equipment :
- Communications equipment : Satellite phones; Wireless email; VHF radio and normal maritime communications equipment
- Fuel capacity/range : 40 Tons
- Fresh water capacity : 50 Tons
Further Information
- Dive Entry : 2 x fibreglass dive tenders (10 persons), 1 x Viking dive tender - (6 persons)
- Life jackets : Yes
- Life rafts : Y
- Boat Crew : There is always at least two fully qualified and locally experienced expatriate dive instructors on each cruise plus Indonesian dive guides.
This huge liveaboard is Kararu's newest and biggest vessel. With a length of 49 metres, a beam of 11 metres, three decks and 22 cabins this modified Pinisi (Bugis) Schooner is comfortable and offers plenty of room to lose yourself between dives.
The cabins are cleaned twice a day with a turn down service at night, with a very high staff to guest ratio on board service is excellent. Languages spoken include German, French, Spanish, Italian, Indonesian and English.
Constructed with three decks the Cheng Ho gives you plenty of space to lose oneself; whether it is in the air-conditioned comfort of the large saloon or on the decks under the shade of one of the ship's huge sails.
The main salon is fully air conditioned and features a comfortable lounge area, shop and library corner. Also equipped with sound system, TV, Video and DVD player and wireless email access. The Cheng Ho has her own cinema room featuring a wide selection of movies and comfortable seating arrangements as well as DVD projector for slide show enthusiasts.
There are equipment service areas, a private library and a lounge area with a wide selection of fish and wildlife books, novels, travel guidebooks, a music collection plus current movies and documentaries relevant to the area. A sample of the onboard facilities:
TV, Video Cassette, DVD and Video CD player
Video, CD, DVD and music CD library
Slide and digital projectors
Wireless email access
Camera battery charging stations, 220/110 volt
Satellite phones and e-mail access
Laptop power points
The Cheng Ho is equipped to suit long range liveaboard scuba diving and underwater photography. Nitrox and rental equipment is available on board and all diving is from tenders.
Much like a luxury hotel, you can expect first class personalised service, both on the water and underneath. With a very high staff to guest ratio on board service is excellent. Languages spoken include German, French, Spanish, Italian, Indonesian and English.
Other services include: Laundry and pressing service, Massage & Spa service, Vegetarian menu upon request, E6 slide processing, Scuba and snorkeling equipment for hire, Onboard equipment servicing and spare parts, PADI/SDI/TDI & NITROX courses
