Chartering Celestia, the Phinisi TIME Named One of the World's Greatest Places

Admin|09/11/2026

Celestia is a 45-metre phinisi with seven staterooms for up to 14 guests. She was hand built from ironwood and teak and named to TIME's World's Greatest Places list. Through The Yacht Club Indonesia, she can be chartered in Komodo, Raja Ampat or the Spice Islands according to the season. A private charter on the Celestia phinisi gives your party the whole yacht and a crew of 17 at one all-inclusive nightly rate, published from USD 13,500 per night for the 2026 low season. The month then decides where you sail: Komodo from April to October, Raja Ampat from November to April, and the Spice Islands in November and December.

Why did TIME name Celestia one of the World's Greatest Places?

TIME's reasons for the recognition also describe what a charter guest is paying for. TIME's World's Greatest Places 2025 entry for Celestia highlights three things:

her ironwood and teak construction, built by hand by indigenous artisans
culinary voyages led by a celebrated Balinese chef
bespoke voyages through the Indonesian archipelago

When a list of places includes a yacht, the yacht is being treated as a destination in itself, and not as transport between destinations.

The phinisi helps explain that. It is Indonesia's traditional two-masted, gaff-rigged wooden sailing ship. Modern luxury phinisi add en-suite cabins and dive decks to the traditional hull. Celestia carries that layout across 45 metres.

The recognition also has a practical effect. A yacht with seven cabins has a limited number of nights each season. Booking roughly 8 to 12 months ahead is typical for peak season or a specific yacht.

What is Celestia like on board?

For families and groups, the layout and staffing of the yacht usually matter more than the recognition.

Specification	Celestia
Length	45 m (148 ft)
Staterooms	7
Guests	Up to 14
Crew	17 (company-reported)
Construction	Hand built from ironwood and teak
Collection tier	Ultimate
Design brief	Multi-generational travel
Cruising grounds	Komodo, Raja Ampat, Spice Islands

The crew ratio is the figure to read most closely. With more crew than guests, the yacht can run several activities at once. Certified divers can be on a reef wall while children snorkel in the shallows and grandparents stay on deck. This is why the yacht suits multi-generational travel.

Celestia's kitchen is led by Chef Wayan, and chefs across the collection cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal diets. Chefs cater to dietary requirements as standard.

Group size is the main reason to look at other yachts:

More than 14 guests: Prana by Atzaro (9 cabins, 18 guests), or a Tandem Charter in which two or more yachts cruise together.
A couple travelling alone: Alexa, a one-suite phinisi with its own PADI dive centre.

Where and when does Celestia sail?

The season matters as much as the yacht, and each of Celestia's three cruising grounds has its own.

Cruising ground	Season	Gateway	Typical length	Highlights
Komodo	April to October	Labuan Bajo (flights from Bali, Jakarta or Singapore)	3 to 6 nights	UNESCO World Heritage park, Komodo dragons, Padar, Pink Beach, Manta Point
Raja Ampat	November to April	Sorong (flights from Bali or Jakarta)	7 nights minimum, 7 to 12 typical	537 recorded coral species, Misool, Piaynemo, Arborek, Kri, Penemu
Spice Islands	November to December	Ambon	Sample route 8 days, 7 nights	Run, Ai, Banda Besar, Hatta, Saparua

Komodo. A Komodo yacht charter is the shorter format. Diving in the park's strong currents usually calls for Advanced Open Water certification.

Raja Ampat. A Raja Ampat luxury cruise needs more time. The Nature Conservancy's 2002 rapid ecological assessment, combined with a similar survey in 2001, brought the number of hard coral species confirmed there to at least 537. Misool alone fills most of a 10-day sample itinerary.

Spice Islands. A Spice Islands cruise through the Banda Sea is a voyage in its own right. It is the natural choice if you want time on the water between the two regions without combining them. One sample route runs one way through Banda and Misool and ends in Sorong.

Separate trips. Komodo and Raja Ampat are never combined in one voyage. They run in opposite seasons, and guests fly to each gateway separately.

Routes and diving. Most Komodo charters start and finish in Labuan Bajo, and about 70 percent of Raja Ampat charters run Sorong to Sorong. One-way routes such as Sorong to Ambon are also offered. A typical dive day includes three to four dives, and private charters can dive up to four or five times.

What does a Celestia charter include, and what sets the private yacht charter cost?

On a private charter, the cost follows from the yacht and the season you choose. Celestia's published rate starts from USD 13,500 per night for the 2026 low season.

The rate is a fixed price per night. A useful comparison is a fully staffed villa that moves: one nightly price covers the house, the staff, the kitchen and the fuel to reach each anchorage. The total therefore rises in step with the number of nights. A longer charter does not lower the nightly rate.

The rate depends on the vessel itself, the season and the standard of service on board.

The cruising ground does not change the rate.

Included:

- the fully crewed yacht and an expedition leader

- chef-prepared meals and snacks, soft drinks, tea and coffee

- fuel for the agreed itinerary

- water toys and the planned excursions

- dive equipment and divemasters

- nitrox for certified divers

- unlimited Starlink wifi

Excluded:

- alcohol

- travel and dive insurance

- crew gratuities, which are at the guest's discretion and typically 5 to 10 percent of the trip cost

- hotels before and after the cruise

- dive certifications and dive computers

Confirmed per quotation:

- national park fees, which are included on most yachts but not all

- local beer and wine, which some yachts include

- massage

- any fuel surcharge or relocation fee

A relocation fee applies only if you ask to board or leave the yacht somewhere she is not positioned.

Booking terms:

- A deposit of 30 to 50 percent secures the yacht.

- The balance is due about 60 days before departure.

- A yacht can be held for up to 7 days while the agreement is signed.

- Compliance is a contractual requirement for every yacht in the collection. Documentation for Celestia can be requested at the quotation stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many guests can Celestia accommodate?

Up to 14 guests in seven staterooms. The Yacht Club reports a crew of 17.

How much does it cost to charter Celestia?

Rates start from USD 13,500 per night for the 2026 low season. The rate is all-inclusive, and there is no advance provisioning allowance.

How long should a Raja Ampat yacht charter be?

Seven nights at minimum, and typically 7 to 12. Shorter trips leave too little time for Misool and the central reefs.

Can one trip include both Komodo and Raja Ampat?

No. They are separate trips in opposite seasons. If you want time on the water between the two regions, consider the Spice Islands, a voyage in its own right.

Where does a Celestia charter begin?

Guests fly to Labuan Bajo for Komodo charters, Sorong for Raja Ampat charters or Ambon for Spice Islands charters. Most voyages begin where guests land, and one-way routes are also offered.

Is diving included?

Yes. Equipment, divemasters and nitrox for certified divers are included. Valid dive insurance is mandatory.

About The Yacht Club Indonesia

The Yacht Club Indonesia is a luxury yacht charter company and part of the YMA Yachting group. It books privately owned yachts and phinisi across Raja Ampat, Komodo, Alor, Sumbawa and the Spice Islands. Every enquiry is handled by a named yacht charter consultant, and the company offers a Best Price Guarantee and a Voyage Planner team that arranges flights, transfers and hotels.