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>Liveaboards>Indonesia>Cheng Ho

Other Indonesia options

Cheng Ho

From USD 360 per day

Length

35m
116 ft

Max 26

Nitrox

PADI

Wi-Fi

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LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE

At a glance...

Cruises Komodo, Sumbawa, Alor, Flores
Cabins feature private en-suite bathrooms
2 cabins for single travellers
Cinema room
Sea kayaks, SUP and snorkelling equipment
Large boat, plenty of relaxation areas

Customer reviews

Very good!

Click on an image to enlarge

An upper deck double bed cabin with large seaview windows

The aluminium tenders for diving in Indonesia

View your magical macro diving videos in the screening room

Varied outdoor seating offers beautiful, ever-changing views

Delectable dishes are served onboard in style

The Cheng Ho Indonesia liveaboard - another view

Page contents:
Departure & Prices
Trip Details
Itineraries
Cabins
Crew & Facilities
Food
Specs
Safety
Reviews

The Cheng Ho is a long-standing fixture in the Indonesian diving cruise scene. At a length of 35 metres, she is a substantial vessel made from ironwood in traditional Phinisi style, operating Komodo liveaboard trips in and out of Labuan Bajo. The operator knows these waters better than most and they can showcase all the best that the region has to offer.

Cheng Ho accommodates a maximum of 26 guests. You can choose from a variety of cabins consisting of 6 double, 6 twin and 2 single bed cabins. Each of the cabins is well-appointed and comfortable, and they all feature private en-suite bathrooms.

There is a roomy saloon and dining area as well as a separate cinema room! The saloon also has the entertainment facilities you might expect including TV, DVD player, board games, reading library and photo and video editing facility. There is also an outdoor lounge area with a jacuzzi and lazy beds, for those that prefer to unwind in the open air. Adventure lovers will be delighted by the onboard sea kayaks and banana boat.

Diving activities are conducted from 2 aluminium speedboats. ENOS lost diver tracking is provided free of charge, and nitrox is also available. So not only does a liveaboard trip on the Cheng Ho mean that you will be treating yourself to some top class diving, but you will also have fun between dives in making the most of the facilities of this spacious Phinisi schooner. If you are seeking one of the best liveaboards in Komodo and want to enjoy some of Indonesia's finest scuba diving from the luxury of a large and impressive schooner, check out the mighty Cheng Ho.

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Scheduled departures, prices, destinations, durations...

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More Trip Details...

Notes: Children under 12 years old - 50% off, based on sharing with parent without extra bed. Child of 5 years old or less - free of charge.

Dive experience: All divers must have at least 30 logged dives in the past 5 years. Otherwise it is possible to hire a private dive master. Please ask us for more details.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, hot drinks, land tours to see Komodo dragons (Komodo cruises), dives (as detailed in the trips above), experienced English-speaking divemaster(s) (max 4 divers per guide), ENOS lost diver tracking system, port fees, 11 litre tanks, weights and weightbelt, all taxes.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment (US$ 35 per day), dive computer (US$ 10 per day), fuel surcharge/transfers/entrance fees (to be paid in advance): (Raja Ampat/Komodo: US$ 35 per night, all other regions US$ 25 per night), Raja Ampat local government tax (PIN) (US$ 75 per year). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash or credit card).

Optional extras: Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks, dive insurance, nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers (US$ 20 per day), torch (US$ 8 per day), 15 litre tank (US$ 10 per day). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.

How to get there: All cruises are planned to depart at 12 noon, or when all guests have arrived. Check-out time is before 12 noon.
Komodo: Cheng Ho departs from Labuan Bajo in Flores. You can fly direct to Labuan Bajo from Bali.
Raja Ampat: You can fly directly to Sorong from Jakarta, Ujung Pandang (Makassar) and Manado. From Bali there are convenient connections via Ujung Pandang (Makassar) and Manado.
Ambon/Banda: Fly direct to Ambon from Jakarta (or from Sorong or Surabaya).
Flores: Fly direct to the port of Maumere (direct from Bali, or via Makassar from Jakarta or Kuala Lumpur).
Flights can be arranged by the operator. A minibus transfer service from airports to and from the boat is included. For more details, including airlines, see our travel information section. The last dive of the trip will be at around 10 am on the second last day of the trip. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving.

Non-diver rate: US$ 50 per night off the published prices.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - solo travellers may choose to share a cabin and pay the regular fare, book a single bed cabin, or pay a supplement of 50% of the published price.

Dive clubs and group discounts: See whole boat charter policy below.

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 12+ guests and 2 additional persons can join the cruise free of charge (total 14-17 guests).
Pay for 16+ guests and 3 additional persons can join free of charge (total 19-22 guests).
Pay for 20 guests and 4 additional persons can join free of charge (total 24-26 guests).

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Itineraries...

Komodo National Park North (7 Days / 6 Nights - 20 Dives)

Trip highlights: shark action, dolphins, manta rays, dugongs/manatees, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics, non diving activities

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Sabolan, Gili Lawa Laut, Gili Lawa Darat, Sangeang, Gili Banta, Tora Longkoy, Padar, Lohoksera, Tatawa Besar, Tatawa Kecil, Pantai Merah. Komodo island for dragon land visit

Day 1
A quick transfer from Labuan Bajo Airport to the harbour, where the tender takes you straight to the biggest and finest 2-masted wooden ship in view: Cheng Ho. The 20 crew members welcome onboard you with a fresh fruit juice and the cruise director explains in detail the boat features, helping to familiarize you with the liveaboard and make yourself comfortable. A video about diving safety will also be shown, before heading to the dive deck where you will be asked to set up your dive gear. Your diving adventure will begin after a delicious lunch, with a check dive at a nearby bay. Dinner is served at sunset. A perfect start of your vacation!

Days 2-6
There are 4 dives per day on most days, with the first dive usually scheduled at 08:00 hrs, the second morning dive at 11:00 hrs, then an afternoon dive at 15:00 hrs, with the final one always being a night dive, around 18:30 hrs.
Expect great muck diving in the Komodo National Park, with some amazing critters like frogfish and ghost pipefish, zebra crabs, rhinopias, blue ringed octopus and countless coloured nudibranchs with crazy names that you can find in the fish books available onboard. The diving in this area is more than about just macro-life though. At some dive sites the presence of manta rays is almost guaranteed! These sites are cleaning stations that the oceanic mantas like to visit very often. The safari won't leave you disappointed, with its grey reef sharks, schools of surgeonfish and snappers, giant trevallies, turtles, barracudas, Spanish dancers and other out-at-night critters, plus excellent soft corals can be seen throughout. It will be a blast of colours and emotions.
Lunch and dinner are buffet style in the indoor restaurant, whilst you can choose from a menu what you want to have for breakfast the following morning. You will have the chance to taste Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Chinese, Thai, and of course Indonesian dishes during the tour. Hot soups start your meal and a dessert ends it. Tea, coffee, and mineral water are free flow. Beer and other alcoholic beverages are available.
Please note that there will be only 2 dives on the last full day of the tour. The afternoon will be spent looking for Komodo dragons on Komodo island, escorted by park rangers.

Day 7
Cheng Ho arrives in Labuan Bajo early in the morning. You will be served breakfast and afterwards be transferred to the airport.

Raja Ampat National Park Central (8 Days / 7 Nights - 23 Dives)

Trip highlights: shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat: Black Rock, Penemu, Yanggefo, Arborek, Manta Sandy, Mioskon, Dampier Strait: Mansuar, Kri Island. Go in search of the Red Bird of Paradise at Sawingkrai Village on Gam.

Day 1
A quick transfer from Sorong Airport to the harbour, where the tender takes you straight to the biggest and finest 2-masted wooden ship in view: Cheng Ho. The 20 crew members welcome onboard you with a fresh fruit juice and the cruise director explains in detail the boat features, helping to familiarize you with the liveaboard and make yourself comfortable. A video about diving safety will also be shown, before heading to the dive deck where you will be asked to set up your dive gear. Your diving adventure will begin after a delicious lunch, with a check dive at a nearby bay. Dinner is served at sunset. A perfect start of your vacation!

Days 2-7
By now you should have a big smile on your face: your safari is taking you to the one of the most amazing dive areas of the world, with the greatest underwater biodiversity ever recorded. On some dives of your trip you will experience unique macro diving in search of wonderpus, pygmy seahorses and ghost pipefish. You will also encounter wobbegongs, epaulette sharks, swim with majestic mantas and reef sharks, and be surrounded by large schools of pelagic fish.
There are 4 dives per day on most days, with the first dive usually scheduled at 08:00 hrs, the second morning dive at 11:00 hrs, then an afternoon dive at 15:00 hrs, with the final one always being a night dive, around 18:30 hrs.
Lunch and dinner are buffet style in the indoor restaurant, whilst you can choose from a menu what you want to have for breakfast the following morning. You will have the chance to taste Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Chinese, Thai, and of course Indonesian dishes during the tour. Hot soups start your meal and a dessert ends it. Most trips will aim to include a BBQ night for one of the evenings on board. Tea, coffee, and mineral water are free flow. Beer and other alcoholic beverages are available.
Please note that only 2 dives will be on the schedule for the last full day of the safari, then in the afternoon Cheng Ho starts its cruise back to port.

Day 8
Time to leave the boat, after a continental breakfast. A complimentary transfer will take you to either Sorong Airport or your hotel, depending on your post trip plans.

Alor (7 Days / 6 Nights - 20 Dives)

Trip highlights: great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Alor: Kalabahi, Pantar Strait, Pura, Sika

Day 1
A quick transfer from Kalabahi Airport, Alor, to the harbour, where the tender takes you straight to the biggest and finest 2-masted wooden ship in view: Cheng Ho. The 20 crew members welcome onboard you with a fresh fruit juice and the cruise director explains in detail the boat features, helping to familiarize you with the liveaboard and make yourself comfortable. A video about diving safety will also be shown, before heading to the dive deck where you will be asked to set up your dive gear. Your diving adventure will begin after a delicious lunch, with a check dive at a nearby bay. Dinner is served at sunset. A perfect start of your vacation!

Days 2-6
Diving in Alor is extraordinary and full of surprises. The volcanic island has varied underwater topography and is great for black sand muck diving. You can expect to find macro creatures like rhinopias, frogfish, wonderpus and pygmy seahorses. The reefs and walls are colourful and full of life, even if you need a bit of experience to dive them. There are incredible corals, endemic biodiversity and schools of fish. The waters have become a migration route for cetaceans, and you can expect to see some whales and other aquatic animals, such as sunfish, sharks, turtles, mantas, dolphins, and even dugongs.
There are 4 dives per day on most days, with the first dive usually scheduled at 08:00 hrs, the second morning dive at 11:00 hrs, then an afternoon dive at 15:00 hrs, with the final one always being a night dive, around 18:30 hrs.
Lunch and dinner are buffet style in the indoor restaurant, whilst you can choose from a menu what you want to have for breakfast the following morning. You will have the chance to taste Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Chinese, Thai, and of course Indonesian dishes during the tour. Hot soups start your meal and a dessert ends it. Most trips will aim to include a BBQ night for one of the evenings on board. Tea, coffee, and mineral water are free flow. Beer and other alcoholic beverages are available.
Please note that only 2 dives will be on the schedule for the last full day of the safari, then in the afternoon the yacht starts its cruise back to port.

Day 7
Time to leave the boat, after a continental breakfast. A complimentary transfer will take you to either Kalabahi Airport or your hotel, depending on your post trip plans.

[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].

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Cabins, Berths, Showers, Bathrooms...

The Cheng Ho liveaboard comfortably accommodates her charges on tours with a total of 14 guest cabins. There are 3 double cabins on the upper deck that feature 3 metre wide windows for spectacular views in luxurious lodging. 2 single bed cabins and 2 twin bed cabins are located on the main deck. The lower deck is home to the 3 double bed and 4 twin bed cabins.

All the cabins have:

Air-conditioning
Large windows on upper and main decks, portholes on lower deck
En-suite bathroom with hot-water shower, hand basin & toiletries
Towels, hairdryer and bathrobe
Reading light
Bedding
Cabinet, shelves & mirror

Safety box
24-hour, 220v electricity supply
Fire warning system
Fire extinguishers
Life jackets
European-style 2-pin plugs

No. of bathrooms / showers - 15 / 14 - hot water

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Crew, Facilities, Dive Courses...

Crew comprises:

3 Dive Masters
2 Cruise Leaders
Captain
2 Cooks
2 Engineer

2 Maids
3 Stewards
5 Deck Hands
2 Other Crew

45m² Dive deck and platform with shower and toilet - 3 Motorised aluminium dive tenders - 3 Rinse tanks - Separate rinse tank and table for cameras - 80m² Air-conditioned saloon with TV, DVD and sound system - Dedicated restaurant area - Open-air dining area - Computer with CD burner - Photo & video editing facilities - Internet (subject to coverage) - Separate cinema room with DVD projector - Movie and book library, games and magazines - Fish ID and diving books - Well stocked bar - Water dispenser - 2 Open-air shaded areas - 120m² Sun deck with Jacuzzi, sun chairs and mattresses - Sea kayaks - Inflatable banana boat

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Menu, Cuisine Type...

Cheng Ho considers food very important and follows the 'dive-eat-sleep' mantra with plenty to eat throughout the trip.

International and local specialities and BBQs are the themes varied on safaris.
Main meals comprise pre-breakfast, breakfast, lunch & dinner with snacks in between.
Snacks include muffins, cake, toast, fruit, tea & coffee: all of which are free of charge.
Wine and spirits, extra soft drinks and beer are available as additional extras.
The menus are not fixed and meals are served buffet style in either the air-conditioned saloon or al fresco in the open-air dining area.
Vegetarian, halal and other special diets are catered for with prior notice.
Catering starts with lunch on check-in day.

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Technical Specifications...

Built in 2002, refurbished annually
Size - 35m x 11m
Top speed - 10 knots
Cruising speed - 7 knots
1 x 447 HP Yanmar engine
3 x 25 / 40 / 60 KW Soundproof generators
3 x Lenhardt & Wagner E450 dive tank compressors

Enriched air nitrox
12 litre aluminium tanks with Int. valves & DIN adaptors
Electricity 220v - 24 hours per day
Water capacity - 50,000 litres
Freshwater maker - 10,000 per day
Fuel capacity - 40,000 litres
Environmental storage tank

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Navigation, Safety Features...

2 motorised tenders
4 x 20 person capacity life rafts
VHF radios
Furuno GPS
Satellite & mobile phones
Email
KODEN Echo sounder
KODEN Radar

EPIRB
20 life buoys
Emergency lights / signal devices
Life jackets in cabins / saloon
Fire extinguishers in hall, saloon & fire-stations
MFA box and trained staff
6,000 litres of oxygen on board

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Customer reviews:

"The divemasters and staffs are kind. And the room is wide and sundeck is so wide. They serve beach towel enough, so it's very covenient." - Eunju Seo, South Korea, 19 September 2013 ...