Skip to content
Komodo Boat Construction Komodo Boat Construction

Our methodology

Five pillars,
one weighted score.

How we evaluate a phinisi, liveaboard or stay before we recommend it: weighted criteria, site visits, partner audits and guest feedback.

Ask about a vessel See the rubric
Phinisi under sail off a rugged island

At a glance

Scored, not
simply suggested.

Every liveaboard or stay we recommend — our own phinisi included — is assessed against the same five pillars.

  • 5

    Pillars scored

    Comfort, safety, sustainability, experience and vessel quality.

  • 30

    % weight on luxury & comfort

    Cabins, service, dining and wellness.

  • 25

    % weight on safety

    Regulations, certifications and emergency plans.

  • 1+

    Site visits a year, minimum

    Our own fleet included.

The full rubric is set out below.

Scoring rubric

What we score,
and how much.

Each pillar is scored to give an objective measure of quality, then weighted.

Luxury & comfort Weight30% What we look atCabin size and design, service, dining, spa and wellness
Safety & compliance Weight25% What we look atSafety rules, crew certificates, emergency plans, food and water
Sustainability & ethics Weight20% What we look atWaste, energy, anchoring, conservation, local jobs, culture
Exclusivity & experience Weight15% What we look atItineraries, guides, privacy and seclusion, activities
Vessel quality & maintenance Weight10% What we look atBuild quality, materials, upkeep, modern systems

Weights total 100%.

Standard cabin with teak joinery aboard a phinisi

Luxury & comfort · 30%

Comfort is
measured, not assumed.

The heaviest pillar looks past the brochure to what a guest actually lives with on board.

  1. Amenities & design

    Cabin size, interiors, furnishings, en-suites, air conditioning and onboard technology — plus decks and dining spaces.

  2. Service

    Crew-to-guest ratio, professionalism, attentiveness, languages and personal touches such as a private chef.

  3. Dining

    Quality and variety, fresh local ingredients, dietary needs, presentation and setting.

  4. Spa & wellness

    Availability and quality of spa treatments, fitness facilities and relaxation areas.

Interiors matter, but they are only 30% of the score — safety alone carries 25%.

Interior fit-out & cabins

Safety & compliance · 25%

Certificates
and drills, verified.

Safety is checked against Indonesian and international rules, including those of the Directorate General of Sea Transportation.

  • Fire safety systems and life-saving equipment on board
  • Structural integrity of the vessel
  • Captain and crew licences, with STCW training
  • Dive masters certified with PADI or SSI
  • Hospitality staff certified under BNSP
  • Emergency plans for medical incidents, evacuation and natural disasters
  • HACCP principles in the galley and safe drinking water

Licences and training are verified for every role on board, from captain to hospitality staff.

BKI class & registration

Site visits & audits

Checked again,
every year.

A recommendation is not permanent. Our operations team revisits, audits and listens to guests.

  1. Site visit

    At least once a year, own fleet too

  2. Checklist

    Every criterion, line by line

  3. Permit review

    Operating permits still current

  4. Safety records

    Reviewed with each audit

  5. Guest feedback

    Solicited and analysed

  6. Score updated

    Reflects the latest findings

Owner rep & supervision

Why it holds up

What a pick
rests on.

The method works alongside our editorial standards, so a recommendation can be traced back to criteria.

Every recommendation is

  • Objective — based on transparent, measurable criteria
  • Current — updated as standards, rules and guest experience change
  • Holistic — covering comfort, people and environmental impact

FAQ

Methodology
questions.

What we score, how often we re-check and what cannot change a result.

How do you evaluate a liveaboard or stay?

Against five weighted pillars: luxury & comfort (30%), safety & compliance (25%), sustainability & ethics (20%), exclusivity & experience (15%) and vessel quality & maintenance (10%).

Are your own phinisi evaluated too?

Yes. Our own vessels are assessed against the same pillars and included in the site visits.

Which certifications do you look for?

Licences and STCW training for captain and crew, PADI or SSI for dive masters and BNSP for hospitality staff — plus practised emergency plans and HACCP food handling.

How often are recommendations re-checked?

Our operations team visits every recommended option at least once a year, and partner audits review operating permits, safety records and guest feedback.

What counts under sustainability & ethics?

Waste and single-use plastic policies, energy and water use, responsible anchoring, conservation work, local employment and fair wages, and respect for local culture.

Can a commercial agreement change a score?

No. Recommendations rest on the criteria, not on commercial agreements — see our editorial standards.

Company

More in
Company.

How we write and verify — and how the same scrutiny is applied to a build.

Vessel seen from directly above on blue water How we verify Editorial Standards Research, fact-checking, sourcing rules and update cadence. Read more
Phinisi at anchor beneath bare hills at dusk Since 2015 About Us Who we are, how we build and the standard we hold every vessel to. Read more
Teak foredeck of a traditional phinisi Full build Owner Rep & Supervision Milestone inspections, weekly reporting and payment release control. Read more
Phinisi seen from directly above on deep blue water 2–6 months Naval Architecture & Stability Lines plan, scantlings, hydrostatics and the stability booklet BKI reviews. Read more

Ask about a vessel

See how a boat
measures up.

Considering a charter or a vessel? Ask what we look at and how it measures up across the five pillars.

Ask a specialist Email a specialist

WhatsApp +62 811-3941-4563 · bd@juaraholding.com

Operated by Komodo Luxury, part of Juara Holding Group — in Komodo marine tourism since 2015.