Adelaar

Just avoid them I am sad to say I cannot recommend this liveaboard and having spent a fortune going I cannot begin to tell you how much I still regret going months later. Firstly, the boat is extremely uncomfortable and as an avid sailor that says a lot. My room and bed were vibrating constantly because it was over the engine which they leave on all the time for the air conditioning. Every morning the smell of petrol filled the room. Although I paid a single supplement, a free upgrade was given to a couple who were in a smaller room and so it was not possible for me to change rooms. It was extremely difficult to sleep which made the trip feel a little like a prison. But by far the worst part was the lack of diving professionalism. They gave an itinerary in the booking which I knew was subject to change but I later discovered was just a lie (the guide said that they never dive the indicated southern sites at that time of year-so why include them at all?). The briefings were the worst I have ever had and with a big difference in dive levels we were very unprepared for the currents in Komodo. They should have had plan B's and instead we were often running out of air due to "surprises". At one point a guide seemed to be narking on a dive and was swimming randomly in a strange direction. We managed to catch him to bring him back but it did not feel safe. They also promote themselves as "eco" and somehow up with conservation but that was also a lie. The whale shark stop we did was just a big tourist bait stop and was very sad. I don't know if there are better liveaboard guides out there but I know for a fact there are less expensive luxury boats with more comfort. There were 3 others I was looking at that I wish I had booked so badly. Many had more divers but seeing the boats around Komodo I could just tell they were more professional and often wish I could jump across. Finally I asked for a refund of the single supplement as a gesture of goodwill because they were not full, gave a free upgrade to a couple and I had had such a hard time sleeping. Not only did they refuse but they were incredibly rude, ignored me at points, called me a liar (until I showed them our messages in writing) and were generally awful. They know nothing of hospitality or even just being gracious and are clearly struggling as a result. I recommend avoiding this liveaboard.

Warning ⚠️ after this it will be hard for any other live aboard to live up to your expectations. This is not a typical liveaboard. First of all, a floating piece of history first built in 1902.. this vessel has touched my people's lives. The owners love this vessel and it shows in every detail. The cabins are fantastic. As these are a maximum of 8 dive speakers for itself. In 20 years of diving I have not come across such a magic experience. I could go into extensive details about everything but I think you should just experience it for yourself.

Best and Luxury Liveaboard in Indonesia We’re board this for Maumere to Ambon passing thru Banda Sea for 10 days. From the booking process up to our departure. I cant praise them enough as the best customer services and experiences, and beyond my ecxpectations. The boat is beautiful and the food is delicious, they make sure we have full belly everyday. On diving, the cruise director and his assistant, make sure our dive site is beautiful and safety is number one. If you look for best liveaboard experience in Indonesia, this is the boat you looking for.

Superbe croisière et belles plongées I just came back from a 10-day cruise between Bali and Komodo, in this superb boat. It was a very nice cruise, with a quality crew, kind and caring. Thank you all for making this trip so beautiful.
We had some great unforgettable dives, especially Requin baleines, mantas and so many other things.
Everything was great. Thank you to the guides for their support!
Now we know that there is a lot of currents in Komodo :)

Breathtaking diving. Fabulous service. Beautiful ship I cannot rate the Adelaar highly enough! our Komodo’s trip was beyond our expectations.
The ship is exquisite and the cabins are very well appointed, with more storage than I have ever experienced on a liveaboard.
Every single member of the crew, go above and beyond, to provide the premium experience
Their knowledge of the dive sites, currents and tides, along with reinforcing the ‘no hook, no gloves’ rules of Komodo National Park was truely impressive, and I certainly learned a lot. Despite being on a schedule, the crew went out of their way to flex, and to make our experience perfect. 2nd snorkel with the Whale sharks after breakfast - no problem. We would love to dive ‘shotgun’ again - no problem. My partner is heavier on air bigger tank - no problem.
The food was delicious,fresh and varied, and plentiful. I cannot begin to imagine how they provision for an 11 day trip, and provide that standard of catering. Our amazing steward Wayau catered to our every need.
The whole trip was seamless. Rock Star diving!

Adelaar is just Amazing! I own Dive N Ride Adventures and chartered the Adelaar to retrace a scuba trip I took in the 1990s in Indonesia. At that time, there were no reliable GPSes to mark sites, and we played a lot of our site selection by the whim of the wind and the sea. I had a small-scale map of the trip, estimating where my dive sites were.
On this 10-day trip, we visited Komodo National Park and the area around Selayar to dive. The things we saw were very diverse—from Pygmy Seahorses to Whale Sharks! The sites were not a disappointment at all; they exceeded my expectations.
The boat was quite comfortable. There were several things that I would change if I were the owner, but they did not really impede my clients' enjoyment of the trip. The boat even seems quite stable when heavy seas are experienced.
The crew and the cruise managers were OUTSTANDING! They met my expectations and more. They were attentive and very concerned for our safety and our enjoyment. I left the trip feeling that I was leaving my family.
All in all, it was a fabulous experience. I hope to be able to charter the ship again!

Wonderfully Memorable Experience What an incredible trip! I spend 10 days on their Banda Sea itinerary, and if you are looking for an intimate live-aboard diving experience, The Adelaar does not disappoint in any aspect. The crew was absolutely wonderful to talk, interact, and work with, and they made you feel right at home aboard the ship. The cruise directors and dive team (Reto, Lorine, and Nick) did a fantastic job of putting together and guiding diverse and beautiful dives across the region. I was less experienced than some of the more seasoned divers board, but their patience and experience allowed me to easily tackle more challenging dives with ease. The rooms aboard the ship were beautiful and cozy. I had a shared room and there was plenty of space to comfortably store gear and move about. The meals were freshly prepared and always fantastic; enjoying an evening Bintang while the sun sets across the water does not disappoint.
I highly recommend the Adelaar, for your next live-aboard trip, and wold not hesitate to return to try a new itinerary. Thank you all again for such a great trip!

An A+++ experience I've just returned from a 10 day cruise on the Banda Sea, my second trip on board The Adelaar. I had hopes and expectations for this trip to the deepest sea on the planet they were blown out of the water!
Lorine and Reto, the two cruise directors, have a fantastic team, from the boat captain through to the chefs and engineers. They ensured that the cruise was perfect in every detail, from the cleanliness of the cabins to the quality of food, from the care taken with camera gear to the quality of dive briefings, complete with artwork! 'Thank you' seems wholly insufficient.
Attention to detail, a dry sense of humour and a keenness to share a deep love of Indonesia and it's many hidden treasures, are at the heart of The Adelaar. Prior to every dive, everyone's gear was checked (they discovered a tiny high pressure hose leak that I'd missed and replaced it!), the dive site was visited for a current check, buoy dropped in place where necessary, and great care was taken to ensure the safety of all. The dive boats maintained their station above us at all times to ensure that they were readily available should a problem arise, as well as being close to hand at the dive's end.
The diving? What did we see? It's probably easier to go down a list of what we didn't on this trip! So varied were the dive sites and deep the knowledge of our dive guides, that if there was something to be seen, we saw it:- hammerheads on numerous dives, whalesharks on two occasions, Threshers, silver tips, black tips and white tips; schools of barracuda; huge tuna; oceanic manta; eagle rays and mobula; there were frogfish, leaf fish and Ornate Ghost Pipefish; and nudis of every shape and size. Sights on the surface were memorable too:- blue whales and pilots; sailfish and barracuda; and it wouldn't be a trip without dolphins.
Yes, the currents did prove entertaining at times, as well as being unpredictable, and the diving was deep in order to encounter the thermoclines, cold water, amazing visibility and the wildlife. The water did get a little chilly at times, but nothing that a 3mm suit and 1.5mm hooded vest couldn't cope with.
The food was great - normally I lose about 7 pounds on a dive trip, but the chefs' efforts added 3 pounds to my waistline oh dear, my doctor will not be happy! The cabins were beautifully fitted, with plenty of storage, as well as TVs with a host of films available for those who weren't shattered at the end of the diving day.
Would I go to the Banda Sea again? Yes. Would I join The Adelaar, Lorine and Reto and their team? Definitely as Arnie says: 'I'll be back!'

Adelaar : the diving dream ! A fantastic diving cruise , certainly the best ever we did. Adelaar is a very secured , modern and confortable boat offering all commodities you need. The crew is permanently smiling , at your disposal , having in mind to make your life the best possible. Food is diverse and very good. Diving desk and camera room are well equiped and offer a large space for everyone. Thanks a lot to Reto and Lorine who managed very professionaly this trip. The great experience they have in diving and Indonesia as well has been a great added value for us. Thank you so much to all Adelaar crew members who contributed to make our dream real