Holiday Voyage 2026 / 2027
Christmas & New Year
Luxury Cruise
Midnight strikes. You are on the teak deck of a phinisi, champagne in hand, and the only light comes from phosphorescent plankton beneath the hull and a sky so full of stars it looks fake. No fireworks — you do not need them.
Departs
26 Dec 2026
Returns
2 Jan 2027
7 nights
The Voyage
Holiday pricing runs 15–20% above regular peak-season rates. You are buying the flattest seas of the year, surface temperatures of 29–30°C, and marine life that behaves as though it knows it is showtime.
Day by Day
The Holiday Itinerary
Sorong → Dampier Strait
Board by noon, afternoon snorkel at Kri Island, welcome dinner.
Cape Kri → Manta Sandy
Morning dive at Cape Kri, the world record site for fish diversity. Mantas in the afternoon.
Arborek → Friwen Wall
Village visit, wall dive and sunset kayaking.
Fam Islands → Penemu
Hidden lagoon snorkel and the blue water mangroves.
Piaynemo Viewpoint
Sunrise hike, afternoon diving, pre-New Year celebration dinner.
Wayag Lagoon
The karst hike, then the gala dinner: a six-course menu of grilled lobster, tuna sashimi from the morning catch and coconut panna cotta. We anchor in the inner lagoon where the water mirrors the karsts. At midnight the crew sets out floating lanterns. No noise, no crowd — just you and the ocean.
Wayag → Kabui Bay
A New Year’s morning dive at a pinnacle our captains keep to themselves, then limestone cave exploration.
Kabui Bay → Sorong
Final snorkel, brunch, and transfer to Sorong airport.
Why This Window
Conditions, and the Booking Reality
01
Marine life at its peak
Late December sits inside the October to April peak. Water holds at 29–30°C and visibility reaches 25–35 metres on good days. Mantas are at their most active at the cleaning stations — we see them on roughly 95% of holiday dives.
02
Fish density at its annual high
Schools of fusiliers, sweetlips and barracuda form walls thick enough that you cannot see through them. The reef systems here hold around 75% of the world’s coral species.
03
Book nine to twelve months ahead
Every premium vessel sells out for the 26 December to 2 January window by mid-year. In 2025 our entire holiday fleet was booked by April, with the flagship vessels gone by February and March.
04
Only about thirty vessels
Roughly thirty luxury-class vessels operate in Raja Ampat in any given week, and this window draws the highest concentration of travellers from Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Europe. Everyone wants the same dates.
Holiday Window Availability
Vessels for 2026 / 2027
What the Price Covers
Included
Not included
Budget an additional $300–$500 per person for extras. Once you are aboard, your wallet largely stays in the cabin until disembarkation.
Getting There
Fly to Sorong (SOQ) via Jakarta or Makassar; carriers add extra flights across the holiday period. We arrange a private transfer from the airport to the marina, roughly twenty minutes.
Most guests arrive on 25 or 26 December, stay overnight in Sorong if arriving late, and board by noon on the 26th. Connecting from Bali, take the morning flight arriving by early afternoon — our team meets you at the gate.
Before You Book
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are available. Shared cabin liveaboards start at $7,500 per person; full private charters start at $45,000 for the holiday week. For groups of six or more the private charter usually works out better per person.
December is peak dry season — rain is rare and seas are calm. Across nine years of holiday voyages we have adjusted the New Year anchorage twice. Our captains always hold backup locations that are equally spectacular.
Yes. Around 40% of holiday guests are non-divers who snorkel, kayak, hike and enjoy the yacht. Much of the reef sits between one and five metres, so snorkellers see most of what divers see.
Holiday bookings take a 50% deposit, with the balance due 90 days before departure. Cancelling 90 or more days out is refunded in full less an administrative fee. Inside 90 days the deposit is non-refundable but transferable to another date within twelve months.
Yes. Our chefs handle halal, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy-specific requirements. Tell us at booking and it is built into the menu rather than substituted on the night.
Immediately. Slots for the next holiday season typically open a year ahead and are meaningfully filled within months. We have had guests book two years out for the flagship vessels.
Limited Slots 2026 / 2027
Ring In 2027 at Anchor
Tell us your group size and preferred vessel. If your first choice has gone we will tell you straight away rather than hold you in a queue.
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