About Princes Nabila
We keep the bow into the current off Batu Bolong just after first light. The tide’s pushing hard from the south, and even at idle, Princes Nabila holds steady—her full-displacement hull biting through the surge. At 33 meters, she’s not the biggest phinisi here, but she’s built for this. Ironwood frames, teak planking, and a draft that lets us tuck into sheltered bays where others can’t swing an anchor. I’ve skippered these waters for 18 years, and I trust this boat because she doesn’t fight the sea—she works with it.
Our seven cabins sleep 25, but we run tight guest numbers so the dive deck never feels crowded. You’ll find the Maluku Cabin tucked forward—smaller, two guests, perfect for solo travellers or budget-conscious divers. Midships, the Sulawesi, Bali, and Papua cabins run two guests each, private en suite, with opening ports and solid teak lockers. Flores Cabin shares the same layout but books per person for group travellers. Then you’ve got the Jawa and Sumbawa cabins—premium spaces, two guests each, with extra storage and better airflow from the trade winds. All cabins have private bathrooms, but only Sumbawa and Jawa come with bathtubs, so book early if that matters to you.
Day one starts with arrivals in Labuan Bajo by 13:00. We load, brief, and cast off by 14:00—heading to Menjerite for sunset. The beach glows pink from crushed coral, and the current wraps gently around the point. Snorkelers drop in with the crew watching from the canoe. Day two we’re on Padar by 06:30, hiking the east ridge for sunrise over three bays. Back on board by 08:30 for coffee and toast while we motor to Komodo Island. The rangers meet us at Loh Liang—dragons are usually sunning near the first watering hole by 10:00. We spend an hour on the trail, then lunch on deck before Pink Beach. That’s where the boat stays anchored—fine pink sand, shallow entry, and decent visibility. Then it’s Manta Point by 15:00. We anchor up-current, deploy the surface marker, and let guests drift with the plankton swarm. More mantas show up in late afternoon when the tide shifts.
On day three, we leave the anchorage at 07:00 for Taka Makassar. It’s a sandbar, but at low tide it emerges like a mirage, ringed by blue. Great spot for photos, and the crew paddles the canoe for guests who want to wade across. Then we shift to Kanawa—snorkel the outer rim where the current brings reef sharks and bumphead parrotfish. We surface by 13:00, stow gear, and head back to Labuan Bajo, arriving by 15:30. No rush—we time the crossing to avoid the midday chop.
Princes Nabila’s sundeck runs two-thirds the length of the boat, shaded by a canvas awning during the day, open for stargazing at night. There’s a dining area under the lower deck awning, where meals are served family-style—nasi goreng, grilled reef fish, tropical fruit. Wi-Fi works in port and sometimes near Labuan Bajo, but don’t count on it at Kalong. We’ve got canoes, snorkels, and life jackets—but no dive gear unless you ask ahead. This boat’s for guests who want Komodo’s core sites without luxury frills. We deliver that, consistently, year after year.
