What guests rate, and what they pay
Every review that matters comes down to four things: the cabin, the food, the guides and the value. Here is what those actually mean on Magika — with the numbers behind them.
What guests consistently rate on a Komodo liveaboard
These are the categories every liveaboard review turns on. Each one is measurable before you book.
The cabin
All nine cabins on Magika are en-suite and air-conditioned, with hot water from an onboard water heater. Guests-per-cabin at maximum load is 2.4 — low for a 26-metre vessel.
The food
Full board on every package, with mineral water, coffee and tea throughout, served indoors or on deck. Dietary requirements are provisioned ashore in Labuan Bajo, so they need declaring at booking.
The guiding
A guide is included on every published package, and a dive guide on every diving package, with up to three dives daily. Guiding is not an upsell.
The value
From about USD 155 per person per night on a shared Studio cabin to roughly USD 139 at full boat on a 6D5N charter — including meals, guiding and the whole vessel.
What a night on board actually costs
The honest way to judge value is cost per person per night with meals and guiding included. These are Magika’s published numbers.
| How you sail | What you get | Cost per person per night |
|---|---|---|
| Shared cabin — Studio | En-suite cabin, AC, full board, guide | USD 155 |
| Shared cabin — Deluxe Ocean | Queen bed, en-suite, full board | USD 230 |
| Shared cabin — Master Ocean | King bed, private balcony, bathtub | USD 260 |
| Private charter — 8 guests, 6D5N | Whole vessel, six crew | ~USD 283 |
| Private charter — 12 guests, 6D5N | Whole vessel | ~USD 213 |
| Private charter — 16 guests, 6D5N | Whole vessel | ~USD 173 |
| Private charter — 20 guests, 6D5N | Whole vessel | ~USD 139 |
Park fees are excluded from every row — IDR 250,000 per foreign visitor per visit under PP 36/2024. The full tier-by-tier analysis, including where a liveaboard is not worth it, is on is a luxury Komodo liveaboard worth it.
Where to find real reviews
Magika is operated and marketed by Komodo Luxury, part of Juara Holding Group, working out of Labuan Bajo since 2015 and a TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice award holder.
Reviews for a specific vessel and departure are worth more than reviews for a brand. Ask the reservations desk for recent feedback on the exact package and month you are considering — they will send it, and they will also tell you which months this boat is not the right choice for.
- Ask for feedback on your specific package and month, not the brand overall.
- Ask what the last group of your size actually paid.
- Ask which cabin the previous charter would book again.
- Ask for the cabin list with bathroom status, the crew count and the rate card in writing.
Judge us on the documents
Rate card, cabin list, crew manifest, safety equipment list, recent guest feedback. Ask for any of it before you pay a deposit.
Whole-boat charter and shared cabins · Labuan Bajo departures · 2026 & 2027 dates open