Phinisi Cabin Layouts and Square-Metre Benchmarks From Real Boats
On published Indonesian phinisi, twin and superior cabins run about 15–18 sqm, deluxe doubles about 18–23 sqm, and master or sea-view suites about 20–30 sqm. Beam is what decides how many of them fit: a 39 m hull with 8 m of beam carries eight cabins for sixteen guests, while a 42 m hull configured for privacy carries five cabins for eight guests and thirteen crew.
- Twin / superior: ~15–18 sqm — the volume workhorse for dive charters.
- Deluxe double: ~18–23 sqm — the mainstream premium cabin.
- Master / sea-view suite: ~20–30 sqm — the cabin the brochure photograph comes from.
- Crew ratio: 0.6–0.8 crew per guest on standard liveaboards; 1.0–1.4 on genuine luxury vessels.
Cabin planning is where a phinisi build becomes a business decision. Every square metre you give a guest cabin comes out of the saloon, the dive deck or the crew quarters, and every cabin you add lowers the rate you can charge for all of them. These are the real benchmarks from vessels with published specifications, and what they imply for your own arrangement.
What are the real cabin size benchmarks?
| Cabin type | Typical area | What it fits | Published example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twin / superior | 15–18 sqm | Two single beds, ensuite, limited stowage | Standard across the dive-charter fleet |
| Deluxe double | 18–23 sqm | Queen or king, ensuite, seating or desk | Majik Phinisi deluxe cabins at 18 sqm; Neptune One at 18 sqm |
| Sea-view / upper deck | ~20 sqm | Double bed, larger windows, better outlook | Neptune One sea-view cabins at 20 sqm |
| Master suite | 20–30 sqm | King, separate seating, larger bathroom, sometimes private access | Neptune One master at 30 sqm |
Two named reference vessels anchor the whole table. Neptune One is 39 m with eight cabins for sixteen guests, spanning 18 sqm, 20 sqm sea-view and a 30 sqm master. Majik Phinisi is 42 m LOA, 7.5 m beam, 2.2 m draft, with five cabins, up to eight guests and thirteen crew — a longer boat carrying half the guests, which tells you everything about how differently the same hull length can be used.
How does beam limit cabin count?
Length gets the headlines; beam builds the cabins. Operating Komodo and Raja Ampat phinisi cluster around 20–50 m LOA with beam from about 4.5 m to 10.5 m and draft near 2.2–2.4 m where published. Below roughly 6 m of beam you are essentially working with a single line of cabins and a central passage; above 7 m you can put cabins either side of a corridor at usable widths.
The practical arithmetic: a cabin that is comfortable at 18 sqm needs both floor area and a shape you can furnish. A long, narrow 18 sqm cabin is worse than a squarer 16 sqm one. This is why buying beam is often better value than buying length, and why the arrangement should be tested against the hull form early — see naval architecture and stability engineering. Bear in mind that enclosed volume also feeds gross tonnage, which drives manning and equipment — the trade-off is set out in gross tonnage explained for phinisi owners.
How many cabins should a charter phinisi have?
| Model | Cabins / guests | Positioning | Implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dive-volume | 7–9 / 14–18 | Per-cabin sales, mixed groups | Higher occupancy needed; heavier dive infrastructure |
| Balanced premium | 5–6 / 10–12 | Mixed charter and per-cabin | Most flexible; the mainstream of new builds |
| Private-charter luxury | 4–5 / 8–10 | Whole-boat charter only | Highest rate per guest, thinnest market, highest crew ratio |
Published rate spreads show why this matters: traditional phinisi liveaboards in Labuan Bajo are quoted at roughly IDR 15–50 million per day depending on size and amenities, while well-positioned luxury vessels charge USD 2,500–10,000 per night. Where you land inside that spread is largely a function of cabin size, crew ratio and finish — not of hull length. Model it before you draw it, using our charter revenue benchmarks.
What about crew accommodation and ratio?
Standard liveaboards run about 0.6–0.8 crew per guest; genuine luxury vessels run 1.0–1.4. Majik’s thirteen crew for eight guests sits at the top of that range and is a deliberate positioning statement. Crew have to sleep somewhere, and crew quarters compete for exactly the same hull volume as guest cabins.
Designing crew space badly is the most reliable way to lose good crew, which in a market where experienced Komodo crews are in demand is a direct commercial risk. Allocate proper bunks, ventilation, stowage and a crew mess, and keep the service routes separate from guest circulation. Full arrangement detail sits in phinisi interior fit-out and cabin design.
Which deck should the master cabin be on?
Documented design trends point upward: larger beam and superstructure volume to allow above-deck master suites, spa and massage rooms, and yoga decks. An above-deck master sells extremely well — natural light, view, privacy — but it adds enclosed volume high up, which affects both tonnage and stability, and needs to be modelled rather than assumed.
Below-deck masters are cheaper, quieter under way and easier on stability, but they compete with the best mid-ship guest cabins for position. The compromise most new builds settle on is a main-deck master aft with guest cabins on the lower deck — good outlook, moderate volume impact, sensible circulation.
Frequently asked questions
How big is a phinisi cabin?
Twin and superior cabins are typically 15–18 sqm, deluxe doubles 18–23 sqm and master suites 20–30 sqm on published Indonesian phinisi. Neptune One’s 39 m arrangement runs 18 sqm, 20 sqm sea-view and a 30 sqm master.
How many cabins can a 35 m phinisi have?
Typically six to eight, depending on beam and how much space goes to saloon, dive deck and crew. Fewer, larger cabins usually means a higher rate per guest and a higher crew ratio, not a cheaper boat.
What crew-to-guest ratio should I plan for?
0.6–0.8 crew per guest for a standard liveaboard, 1.0–1.4 for a luxury vessel. Decide this before the arrangement, because crew accommodation has to be designed in, not squeezed in.
Do bigger cabins really earn more?
They support a higher rate, which is not the same thing. A 30 sqm master on a boat with a weak dive deck and a thin crew will underperform a well-run vessel with 18 sqm cabins. Rate follows the whole product; the cabin is one part of it.
Can cabin layout be changed later?
Minor joinery, yes. Moving bulkheads or adding cabins is a refit-scale job that touches structure, systems and possibly tonnage — see phinisi refit and restoration. Decide the layout before joinery starts.
Talk to the team
Komodo Boat Construction is operated by Komodo Luxury, part of Juara Holding Group, in Komodo marine tourism since 2015. Send us a target guest count and rate positioning and we will propose an arrangement with real square metres against it.
WhatsApp: +62 811 3823 875 · Email: sales@komodoluxury.com