Onboard dining, chef & special diets
Full-board dining is included on every Magika package: all meals, mineral water, coffee and tea, served in indoor and outdoor dining areas by a six-person crew that includes galley staff. Diving packages add afternoon coffee or tea with snacks. Alcohol and personal snacks are excluded. Dietary requirements must be declared at booking, because provisioning happens ashore.
Why dining decides a liveaboard week
On a 26.74-metre phinisi with no resupply at sea, the galley is the difference between a comfortable week and a long one.
There is no restaurant to walk to, no supermarket, and no delivery. Everything you will eat for five days is bought in Labuan Bajo before you board, stored in a boat with 5 tons of fresh water capacity, and cooked by a crew that also runs the vessel.
That reality is worth stating plainly rather than dressing up as “gourmet cuisine”. What Magika publishes is honest and specific: onboard restaurant service, full-board meals, mineral water, coffee and tea throughout, indoor and outdoor dining, a lounge, a sundeck and a water dispenser.
What to declare, and when
The single most useful thing you can do is send the list once, in writing, when you pay the deposit. Provisioning is a shore activity; a request made at boarding cannot be actioned.
| Requirement | How it is handled on a phinisi galley | When to confirm | Practical advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vegetarian | Straightforward — Indonesian coastal cooking is vegetable and rice led | At booking | Specify whether eggs and fish are acceptable |
| Vegan | Possible, requires deliberate provisioning | At booking | Shrimp paste and fish sauce are common base ingredients; flag them explicitly |
| Halal | Default provisioning standard in Labuan Bajo | At booking | Confirm if you also need separate preparation |
| Gluten free | Rice-based cuisine helps; soy sauce and fried coatings are the risk | At booking | Ask for kecap manis and battered items to be flagged |
| Nut allergy | Serious — peanut is structural in Indonesian cooking | At booking, in writing | Carry your own medication; there is no pharmacy at sea |
| Shellfish allergy | Manageable with notice | At booking, in writing | Flag cross-contact, not just the dish |
| Dairy free | Easy — local cooking uses little dairy | At booking | Watch for condensed milk in coffee and desserts |
| Child portions | Handled routinely on family charters | At booking | Mention ages so the galley can plan blander options |
Dining spaces on board
Indoor dining area
Air-conditioned meals, rain cover, evening service.
Outdoor dining area
Breakfast at anchor, sunset dinners on deck.
Lounge
Between-activity downtime and daily briefings.
Sundeck & chill area
Coffee after a dive, stargazing at Kalong.
Water dispenser
Refilling bottles all day — bring a reusable one.
Sound system
Group dinners and celebrations on the main deck.
Coffee & tea, all day
Included on every package, sailing and diving alike.
What dining costs you, and what it does not
Because full board is inside the charter rate, the marginal cost of feeding a larger group is already carried in the band pricing. A 3D2N charter for 11–15 guests at USD 7,150 includes every meal for every guest; the same charter for 1–5 guests costs USD 5,750.
The USD 1,400 difference covers provisioning, service and wear for up to ten additional people over two nights.
Extras that are genuinely extra: alcohol, personal snacks, and anything you want that is not on a boat in eastern Indonesia. Bring your own wine; nobody will mind.
Best for…
Groups with mixed dietary needs
One written list at booking solves what a dozen verbal requests at boarding cannot.
Families with young children
Flexible timings and mild options are standard on family charters.
Divers
The afternoon coffee-and-snack service on diving packages exists because three dives a day is genuinely tiring.
Celebration groups
Deck dining plus the sound system covers most of what a birthday at sea needs — see groups and celebrations.
Deck equipment and comfort hardware are covered under stabilisers, tenders and toys, and the value question is answered on is a luxury Komodo liveaboard worth it. Travellers heading east instead can see the luxury Raja Ampat programme. Everything else is at the Magika FAQ hub.
Frequently asked questions
Are all meals included on a Magika cruise?
Yes. Full-board meals are included on both sailing and diving packages, along with mineral water, coffee and tea throughout the trip.
Is alcohol included?
No. Alcoholic beverages are explicitly excluded on both package types. Most groups arrange their own supply in Labuan Bajo before boarding.
Can the galley handle vegetarian or vegan guests?
Yes, with notice at booking. Indonesian coastal cooking is naturally vegetable- and rice-heavy, so vegetarian provisioning is straightforward; strict vegan needs should be confirmed with reservations.
How do I declare a food allergy?
State it in writing at booking, not on embarkation day. Provisioning happens in Labuan Bajo before departure and there is no resupply at sea.
Is there a dedicated chef on board?
The six-person crew includes galley staff, and the operator lists onboard restaurant service with indoor and outdoor dining areas.
Where are meals served?
There are indoor and outdoor dining areas plus a lounge and sundeck, so breakfast on deck and dinner inside during a squall are both possible.
Can we bring our own food or drinks?
Personal snacks are excluded from the package, which means you are free to bring them. Confirm storage and refrigeration with the crew at boarding.
Is halal food available?
Indonesian crews and galleys work to local norms, and halal provisioning is the default in Labuan Bajo. Confirm your specific requirements with the reservations desk at booking.
Send the dietary list once, in writing
Allergies, vegan, halal, gluten free, child portions — tell us at booking and the galley provisions for it in Labuan Bajo before you board.
Whole-boat charter and shared cabins · Labuan Bajo departures · 2026 & 2027 dates open