Part of our Raja Ampat guide →
You pay the same as booking direct. Here’s how we’re paid.
Raja Ampat budget at a glance
- Typical total fare
- $8,000-$16,000 per person, seven to eleven nights
- Marine park levy
- Roughly 1,000,000 IDR, about $65, per visitor
- Domestic flights
- About $350-$700 return to Sorong from Jakarta or Bali
- Dive supplement
- Charged separately on most ships; bundled on a few
- Gratuities
- Substantial on some vessels; ask before you book
- Long-haul airfare
- Additional, and the single largest variable
How Much Does a Raja Ampat Cruise Cost?
Between $8,000 and $16,000 per person for most seven to eleven night voyages, with small luxury yachts at the upper end and larger expedition ships generally below it. Longer regional itineraries pairing Raja Ampat with the Spice Islands cost more in total but often less per night.
| Vessel type | Typical range per person | Length | What you are paying for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boutique expedition yacht | $8,000-$14,000 | 7 to 10 nights | Around 30 guests, suite accommodation, high crew ratio, dedicated dive tenders, minimal transit time |
| Small expedition ship | $9,000-$16,000 | 10 to 14 nights | Larger vessel with active stabilisation for comfortable open-water passages, full expedition team, lecture programme, medical facility, wider itinerary reach including Cenderawasih Bay |
| Longer regional voyage | $14,000-$22,000 | 14 to 18 nights | Raja Ampat combined with the Spice Islands or West Papua; higher total, often lower per night |
| Private charter and superyacht | $16,000-$30,000+ | Varies | Exclusive use, bespoke routing, butler service, extensive tender fleet; quoted individually |
Raja Ampat is tropical: ice class and polar certification are irrelevant here. What matters on the larger ships is size and stabilisation for open-water transits, particularly in the monsoon months.
Per-night thinking is more useful than headline totals here, because itinerary lengths vary so widely. A seven-night yacht voyage and an eighteen-night regional voyage are not comparable products, and comparing their brochure prices tells you very little.
Charter yachts and superyacht products sit above this range entirely. They are a different market and we quote them individually.
What Is Usually Included in the Fare?
Accommodation, all meals, guided excursions with tenders and Zodiacs, naturalist and lecture programmes, and on most ships some beverages. What varies most is diving, equipment rental, the marine park levy, transfers and gratuities — and those four items are where two similar-looking fares diverge.
Some operators bundle equipment, permits and airport transfers into a single rate, which makes their headline fare look higher while the total is lower. This is the main reason we do not recommend ships by price list.
Alcohol policies differ sharply between the small luxury yachts and the larger expedition vessels. Ask specifically rather than assuming.
What Is the Marine Park Conservation Levy?
Every visitor to Raja Ampat pays a marine park entry contribution, around 1,000,000 Indonesian rupiah, roughly $65. It funds ranger patrols and management across the protected area network, and it is sometimes collected by the operator as part of the fare and sometimes payable locally.
We treat this as part of the cost of the trip rather than an inconvenience. The condition of these reefs is directly connected to enforcement, and enforcement is funded by visitors. Our view on this is set out in responsible travel.
Confirm whether your fare includes it. If it does not, carry the amount in rupiah; card facilities are not guaranteed.
What Do the Flights Add?
Domestic flights between Jakarta or Bali and Sorong typically run $350 to $700 return, on top of long-haul airfare from North America or Europe. Add at least one buffer hotel night before the Sorong flight, which we consider mandatory rather than optional.
Long-haul fare is the largest single variable in the whole budget and moves with cabin class and season more than with anything on the ship. Business class on this routing can exceed the cruise fare.
Routings, timings and baggage limits are covered in flights, Sorong and buffer days.
What Do Diving and Equipment Cost?
Dive programmes are usually a separate supplement, priced by dive package or by day, with nitrox sometimes extra. Rental gear is available on dive-capable vessels and generally included in dive packages. Snorkelling equipment is almost always provided at no cost.
Some operators, including Swan Hellenic's certified dive programme, bundle equipment and permits into the dive package, which simplifies the maths. Others itemise. Certification requirements and conditions are in our diving guide.
Bring your own mask and computer regardless. Buying these once beats renting them repeatedly.
What About Gratuities?
This is the line most travellers do not budget for. Recommended gratuities on some Raja Ampat vessels are substantial, particularly on small yachts with very high crew-to-guest ratios, and they are usually suggested per guest per day. Ask for the figure in writing before you book.
| Item | Typical cost | Usually included? |
|---|---|---|
| Marine park conservation levy | About $65 per visitor | Sometimes; confirm by operator |
| Domestic flights to Sorong | $350-$700 return | No |
| Long-haul airfare | Highly variable | No |
| Buffer hotel night | $100-$400 | No |
| Dive package or supplement | Varies by ship and number of dives | Rarely |
| Nitrox | Sometimes a per-day charge | Sometimes |
| Gratuities | Can be substantial on high-ratio yachts | Sometimes |
Ask for gratuity guidance in writing at the quote stage. It is the most commonly under-budgeted line on a Raja Ampat trip.
Policies range from fully included through to a recommended daily amount plus separate dive-guide tipping. On a seven-night voyage for two, the difference between the two extremes can run into four figures.
We put this in every Raja Ampat quote we send, because an unexpected end-of-voyage envelope is a poor way to finish an otherwise excellent trip.
Are These Your Own Costs?
Not from our own voyage — we sail Raja Ampat in 2027. These figures come from published 2026 and 2027 fares and operator terms, from quotes we have built and booked for clients, and from an advisor colleague's recent account of what the extras actually came to on the ground.
Booking the region is where an advisor's cost knowledge accumulates fastest, because we see the invoices and the final statements. That is a different kind of knowledge from having been, and we do not conflate the two.
Raja Ampat cost questions
How much does a Raja Ampat cruise cost?
Most travellers spend $8,000 to $16,000 per person for a seven to eleven night voyage. Longer regional itineraries cost more in total but often less per night.
Is there an entry fee for Raja Ampat?
Yes. A marine park conservation levy of around 1,000,000 rupiah, roughly $65, funds ranger patrols and management. It is sometimes included in the fare.
Are dives included in Raja Ampat cruise fares?
Usually not. Diving is generally a separate package or supplement, with nitrox sometimes charged on top. A few operators bundle equipment and permits in.
How much should you budget for gratuities?
It varies widely and can be substantial on small yachts with very high crew ratios. Ask for the recommended amount in writing before booking.