About Lady Grace
The first thing I noticed wasn’t the polished rosewood handrails or the way the sails caught the afternoon wind—it was the quiet efficiency of the crew as they slipped the mooring lines at 16:45, just as the sun began softening over Kelor. No shouting, no clatter. Just a gentle pull away from the dock while a chilled towel and lemongrass drink appeared on a tray. By the time we reached Menjerite’s crescent shore, the rhythm of the boat had already settled into something natural, like the tide.
Lady Grace, at 34.4 meters, doesn’t try to impress with size. Instead, it leans into balance—five cabins carrying ten guests means space to breathe without feeling empty. I stayed in a Superior Cabin on the port side, and while it wasn’t the largest, the airflow from the dual portholes and the soundproofing between decks made for deep, uninterrupted nights. Mornings began with coffee served on the upper deck just before Padar Island’s jagged ridgeline caught the first light. The climb up is steep, but the view over three differently coloured beaches—one famously pink—makes the burn in your calves worth it.
The real test of any Komodo boat is how it handles the dragon walk on Komodo Island. Lady Grace’s ranger liaison had already cleared permits by 08:30, so we were among the first groups on the trail. The breeze off the savannah was warm, but the wide-brimmed hats provided by the crew kept the glare manageable. After, we cooled off at Pink Beach, where the crushed coral gives the sand its blush. Snorkeling here isn’t just about the colour—it’s the reef’s edge, where the current brings in reef sharks and Napoleon wrasse.
Manta Point was another highlight. We dropped anchor at 14:00, and within minutes, two large mantas circled the bow, their mouths open in slow motion. The crew timed the drift perfectly—no crowded rafts, just quiet entries from the swim platform. Later, as we sailed toward Kalong Island, the sky turned amber. The crew had set up a small table on the aft deck with a spread of grilled snapper, spicy eggplant, and fresh mango. No music, just the sound of wings as thousands of fruit bats began their nightly exodus.
Day three brought Taka Makassar—often called the sandbank of dreams. We arrived at 07:30, before any other boats, and had the entire stretch of shallow water to ourselves. The shallow lagoon is only visible at low tide, and Lady Grace’s captain timed it perfectly. After an hour of swimming and photos, we motored to Kanawa for a final snorkel above a slope of soft corals and blue tang. Back on board, the staff handed out cold towels and iced tea—small things, but consistently done right.
