Elbark vs Ayvara comes down to group size and budget. Elbark is a 37-metre phinisi with 9 cabins for up to 21 guests and shared 3D2N places from USD 400 per person. Ayvara is a 25-metre phinisi with 7 sea-view cabins for 15 guests, shared places from USD 450 and private charters from USD 5,500 (2026 rates).
Every figure below comes from the two vessel pages Komodo Luxury publishes, as checked in September 2026. Where a page is silent, this guide says “confirm with desk” instead of guessing. Komodo Luxury reviews its rates every year, and fuel costs or park regulations can move them.
How do Elbark and Ayvara compare at a glance?
| Spec | Elbark Cruise | Ayvara Cruises |
|---|---|---|
| Class (per Komodo Luxury) | VIP phinisi | VIP phinisi |
| Dimensions | 37 x 6.8 m, 167 GT | 25 x 5.6 m (GT: confirm with desk) |
| Launched | October 2022 | Confirm with desk |
| Cabins / maximum guests | 9 / 21 | 7 / 15 |
| Cruising speed | 7-10 knots | 9-10 knots |
| Engine | Mitsubishi 8M20 | Mitsubishi 6D14, 160 PK |
| Power | 30 kVA + 40 kVA, 8,000 W emergency | 20 kVA + 20 kVA |
| Fresh water | 5,500 L | 6,000 L |
| Navigation | Compass, GPS map, AIS, SSB and VHF radio, handheld radios | Radio, VHF, GPS |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi listed | Starlink internet |
| Signature space | Sky deck, master jacuzzi | 360-degree rooftop deck |
| Crew | 12+ crew listed | Confirm with desk |
| Relationship to Komodo Luxury | Independent partner vessel | Owned and operated, in-house crew |
That last row matters more than it looks. Komodo Luxury describes Ayvara as its own boat, with in-house crew and maintenance. Elbark sits in the fleet as an independent partner vessel, booked through the same reservations team. Both routes lead to one desk, one invoice and one set of payment terms.
If Le Costa, Vinca or Raffles are also on your shortlist, you can compare Komodo cruise ships side by side before narrowing down to these two.
Which cabins do you actually get on each boat?
Every cabin on both boats has air conditioning and a private en-suite bathroom. The split is in the view.
Elbark (9 cabins, named after Indonesian islands)
- Misool (1): double bed plus extra bed, private balcony and jacuzzi, sea view
- Weh and Mentawai (2): double bed plus extra bed, sea view
- Rote and Selayar (2): double bed, sea view
- Toraja and Alor (2): double bed, porthole view
- Banda Neira and Savu (2): double bed, porthole view
Ayvara (7 cabins)
- Master (1): queen bed (160 x 200 cm) plus extra bed for 3 guests, private balcony, sea view
- Deluxe (2): queen bed, private balcony, sea view
- Superior (4): queen bed, large panoramic windows, sea view
Four of Elbark’s nine cabins look out through portholes. All seven Ayvara cabins face the sea, and three have balconies. Elbark’s cabin table shows a balcony only for Misool, so if a balcony is non-negotiable on Elbark, ask the desk which cabins qualify.
Which boat is cheaper on a shared 3D2N open trip?
| What you want (2026, per person) | Elbark | Ayvara |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest fare | USD 400 (Banda Neira/Savu, porthole) | USD 450 (Superior, sea view) |
| Second tier | USD 430 (Toraja/Alor, porthole) | Not applicable |
| Cheapest sea view | USD 510 (Rote/Selayar) | USD 450 (Superior) |
| Upper sea-view tier | USD 570 (Weh/Mentawai) | USD 530 (Deluxe, balcony) |
| Top cabin | USD 700 (Misool, balcony + jacuzzi) | USD 570 (Master, balcony) |
Read it this way. Elbark wins on the lowest ticket by USD 50, if you accept a porthole. Ayvara wins on the cheapest sea view (USD 450 against 510) and the cheapest balcony (USD 530 against 700). Only Elbark has a jacuzzi.
Elbark has already published its 2027 shared rates, from USD 430 to USD 750 per person. Ayvara’s page does not split shared rates by year, so confirm 2027 fares with the desk.
Shared fares exclude the Komodo National Park fee. Komodo Luxury’s 2026 guidance is USD 40-50 per person, paid once per trip.
What does a private charter cost on Elbark versus Ayvara?
Private prices are whole-boat packages, not per-person rates.
| Package (2026) | Elbark, 1-10 guests | Elbark, each extra guest (to 21) | Ayvara, 1-8 guests | Ayvara, 9-15 guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2D1N | USD 8,400 | USD 300 | USD 5,500 | USD 6,200 |
| 3D2N | USD 9,650 | USD 300 | USD 6,200 | USD 7,000 |
| 4D3N | USD 11,600 | USD 350 | USD 9,300 | USD 10,500 |
| 5D4N | USD 13,500 | USD 400 | USD 12,400 | USD 14,000 |
| 6D5N | USD 15,400 | USD 400 | USD 15,500 | USD 17,500 |
| 7D6N | Not published | Not published | USD 18,600 | USD 21,000 |
Three whole-boat totals for a 3D2N charter show how this plays out in 2026:
- 8 guests: Ayvara USD 6,200; Elbark USD 9,650.
- 12 guests: Ayvara USD 7,000; Elbark USD 10,250 (USD 9,650 plus two extra guests).
- 18 guests: Ayvara cannot take the group; Elbark USD 12,050.
The gap closes on longer trips. At 6D5N, Elbark for ten (USD 15,400) is slightly below Ayvara for up to eight (USD 15,500).
Two cautions. Elbark’s page headline reads “USD 8,400/Night”, while its price table lists USD 8,400 as the 2D1N package, so get the basis confirmed in writing. Elbark’s 2027 packages rise to USD 9,100-16,100, while Ayvara’s 2027 tab repeats its 2026 figures.
What is included, and what costs extra?
Both pages list the same core: your cabin, meals, mineral water, coffee and tea, a guide, snorkelling gear, life vests, unedited drone, GoPro and mirrorless footage, and transfers within the Labuan Bajo mainland near the harbour.
- Elbark adds: a cruise director, Wi-Fi, movie and karaoke, a paddleboard and a canoe.
- Ayvara adds: Starlink internet. Its page also sets hotel pick-up between 8 and 9 a.m.
- Billed separately on both: park fees, crew gratuities, flights, alcoholic and soft drinks, personal snacks, and the optional drone permit (request 7 days ahead). Elbark’s page puts that permit at an estimated IDR 2,100,000 per drone per day and also excludes travel insurance.
Payment terms match: a 50% deposit, balance 30 days before departure, and full rates for children aged 3 and over.
Do both boats follow the same Komodo route?
On the 3D2N trip, yes. Both pages publish the same schedule: Kelor, Manjarite and a Kalong sunset on day one; Padar at sunrise, Pink Beach, Komodo Island, Manta Point and Taka Makassar on day two; Sebayur before returning to Labuan Bajo. Weather can change the order, and no operator can promise dragon or manta sightings.
Elbark also publishes a 4D3N loop that adds Siaba, Rangko Cave, Seraya and Sabolo or Bidadari. Ayvara’s longer routes are not spelled out, so confirm with desk. Diving on Elbark is arranged case by case. Ayvara has no published dive program.
The same 2026 park rules apply to both boats. A cap of roughly 1,000 visitors a day was reported as enforced from 1 April 2026, with timed entry sessions and passport details submitted through operator manifests. The Labuan Bajo harbourmaster also reportedly limited tourist-boat movement after dark in high-risk zones from 10 January 2026.
Elbark or Ayvara: which one fits your trip?
Run through this checklist before you message the desk:
- More than 15 guests: Elbark is the only one of the two that fits (up to 21).
- Private group of 9-15 watching budget: Ayvara, at USD 7,000 for 3D2N.
- Couple wanting a balcony on a shared trip: Ayvara Deluxe, USD 530 per person.
- Honeymoon with a jacuzzi: Elbark Misool, USD 700 per person.
- Lowest shared fare, porthole is fine: Elbark Banda Neira or Savu, USD 400.
- Three people in one cabin: Ayvara Master is listed for three. Elbark’s extra-bed cabins also work. Confirm the third-guest price with the desk.
- Charter longer than six nights: Ayvara publishes a 7D6N package; Elbark stops at 6D5N.
- Paddleboards, canoe and a cruise director included: Elbark.
- Budget below both: Komodo Luxury’s 3D2N share trips start from USD 300 per person, or USD 220 on weekday departures (as of 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for a couple on a shared trip, Elbark or Ayvara?
It depends on whether you want a balcony or a jacuzzi. Ayvara’s Deluxe cabin gives a private balcony and sea view for USD 530 per person on the 2026 3D2N open trip. Elbark’s Misool suite adds a jacuzzi to its balcony at USD 700 per person. For the lowest shared fare, Elbark’s porthole cabins start at USD 400.
Can a group of 16 or more book Ayvara privately?
No. Komodo Luxury lists Ayvara’s maximum as 15 guests across seven cabins, so a group of 16 goes over it. Elbark takes up to 21. Its 2026 3D2N charter is USD 9,650 for 1 to 10 guests plus USD 300 per extra guest, which puts 16 guests at USD 11,450 before park fees. Larger parties need two boats.
Do Elbark and Ayvara sail on the same days?
Their published 2026 and 2027 calendars show the same 3D2N pattern from Labuan Bajo: weekday trips Monday to Wednesday and weekend trips Friday to Sunday, on an identical route. A listed date is not a confirmed seat, and Elbark’s page also mentions Friday departures, so ask the desk which sailings are running for your date.