If Elbark Cruises is the upper-end mid-range crowd-pleaser of Labuan Bajo phinisi, Elrora Liveaboard is its quieter, more intimate cousin. Smaller boat, smaller crew, smaller group of guests on board. That's not a downgrade — it's a different vibe entirely. And depending on what kind of Komodo trip you're after, it might be the better one.
I spent three days on Elrora and have been quietly recommending it to friends ever since. Here's the honest take — what's good, what to know before you book, and why I think it's underrated.
What makes Elrora different
Most phinisi liveaboards out of Labuan Bajo seat 14–20 guests across 8–10 cabins. Elrora has just six cabins spread across two decks. Maximum guests on a full boat is twelve. That number changes the entire feel of the trip.
Practically, this means:
- The dining table fits everyone in one sitting
- You actually get to know the other guests
- Tender boat trips aren't a logistical scramble
- You're not waiting for a snorkel turn
If you're traveling solo and dread eating dinner with strangers, this is where small-boat shines — by day two everyone feels comfortable. If you're a couple who specifically don't want a party-boat feel, this is also where small-boat shines.
The cabins
Six cabins across upper deck (3) and main deck (3). I stayed in an upper-deck cabin — queen bed, ensuite bathroom with a real shower (not the trickle some boats give you), AC, and a window you could actually open. Clean wood interior, soft lighting, none of the over-decorated gold-and-velvet thing that some Indonesian charters lean into.
Honest cabin notes
- Upper deck is bigger and gets better natural light. The premium pick if available.
- Main deck is smaller but closer to the dining and lounge area — faster to stumble out for sunrise.
- No TV in cabins (good — you didn't come here for that)
- Soundproofing is OK, not great — neighbors moving around in early morning is audible
- No safe in some cabins — bring a small dry bag for valuables
The bathrooms are the surprise quality bit. Real fixtures, decent water pressure, and they actually clean them mid-trip.
Food
Elrora's chef leans more western-friendly than some other Labuan Bajo boats. There's still proper Indonesian on the menu (rendang, sambal, gado-gado), but breakfasts are eggs/pancakes/fruit-driven and lunches often have a pasta or grilled fish option for picky eaters.
A few standouts from my trip:
- Day 1 welcome dinner: grilled tuna with lime butter, jasmine rice, sayur lodeh
- Breakfast all three days: scrambled eggs, banana pancakes, fresh papaya, toast, real coffee
- Day 2 lunch: sweet-and-sour fish, vegetable curry, rice
- Snack: pisang goreng + cendol drink in the afternoon — this combo is unbeatable
If you have allergies or are vegetarian — they handled both on my trip without making it a big thing. Tell them at booking.
The route
Elrora runs the standard 3D2N Komodo loop, with minor variation by departure:
- Day 1: board around lunch, cruise toward the park, snorkel at Sebayur, sunset at Kalong (the bat island)
- Day 2: pre-dawn Padar climb, Pink Beach, Komodo Island for the dragon walk, Manta Point in the afternoon
- Day 3: Taka Makassar sandbar at sunrise, one last snorkel, return to Labuan Bajo by lunch
The schedule is packed but not exhausting. I never felt rushed at any stop — and the small group made every transition faster than on bigger boats.
A nice touch: Elrora's captain pays attention to where the tides are. At Manta Point we hit the cleaning station at peak inflow and saw seven mantas in a single snorkel. That's not luck. That's planning.
The crew
Elrora's crew is six people for six cabins. Captain, two engineers/deckhands, a chef, a sous-chef, and a guide. Most of them have been with the boat for years, which you can tell — there's no rushing, no shouting, just quiet competence.
Things I noticed:
- Safety briefing on day 1 was real — life jacket fit-check, emergency procedures, tender boat rules
- The guide knew the underwater terrain at every snorkel site
- They stowed and re-stowed our gear without being asked
- The chef came out to ask if everything was OK at every meal (lovely)
What's not perfect
In the spirit of honest reviewing:
- WiFi is hit-or-miss. Starlink-equipped but coverage patches in and out depending on where you anchor. Consider it a feature.
- The sun deck is small. With a full boat (12 guests), prime lounger spots fill fast. Get up early or claim with a towel.
- Included snorkel gear is functional, not premium. If you're picky about masks, bring your own.
- No diving included — Elrora is snorkel-and-cruise, not a dedicated dive boat. If you want certified dives at Castle Rock or Crystal Rock, book a separate day with a Labuan Bajo dive op.
How much it costs
Honest pricing — what I actually paid:
- Shared trip 3D2N (per person, upper deck): around IDR 9.5–11M
- Whole-boat private charter: starts around IDR 75M for 2D1N. 3D2N around IDR 105M.
That makes Elrora a noticeably better value than the bigger premium phinisi at IDR 13–18M per person on shared trips. You get a smaller boat (good), with comparable food and route, at 60–70% of the cost. The trade-off is you don't get the marble-bathroom treatment of the very-high-end boats — but I'd rather have small group + good food than marble-and-strangers.
Booking it
Standard advice: don't book through random WhatsApp agents on the boardwalk. Lock it in before you arrive in Labuan Bajo.
I booked through charterphinisi.com — they had Elrora's real cabin availability, proper photos of each room (so you can pick deck), and clear pricing including park fees. The booking flow handled my dietary note and a routing question without bouncing me between five different agents.
If you're trying to decide between Elbark and Elrora: Elbark is the bigger, glossier option (good if you like more amenity options, more guests to chat with, slightly nicer finish). Elrora is the smaller, quieter, more value-driven choice (good if you want fewer people, better cost-to-quality, no upgrade theatrics). Both are legit. The team at charterphinisi.com can talk you through which fits your group.
Verdict
Would I do Elrora again? Honestly, yes — it might even be my pick over Elbark for a second trip. The smaller group is hard to overstate. By day two everyone on the boat felt like friends. By day three I didn't want to leave.
The boat earns its quiet reputation. It's not flashy. It's not the most-photographed phinisi on Instagram. But the food is real, the route is right, the crew is calm, and you sleep well. For a three-day Komodo trip, that's basically everything that matters.
Ready to plan your trip?
When you're locked in on dates, head over to charterphinisi.com — pick Elrora (or compare Elbark, Vinca, and Raffles side-by-side), check real cabin availability, and lock it in. Aim for May through September for the most reliable weather. The good cabins go quickly. The mantas, if your tide timing is right, will already be waiting.