On a Komodo open trip, a shared cabin is sold per person: you sleep in a room with other guests, usually four to a cabin, and it is the cheapest berth on the boat. A private cabin is booked as a whole room, normally for two, with your own door.
The price gap is often smaller than people expect, for example just IDR 400,000 per person on Aimar or IDR 800,000 on Sabira. So the real question is not which class is better. It is who you are travelling with, and how much a bathroom of your own matters to you.
Shared Cabin vs Private Cabin: The Difference
Of the 152 boats on Open Trip Komodo that list their cabins, 49 have a shared cabin type. If you are travelling on a budget, you have plenty to choose from.
| Shared cabin | Private cabin | |
|---|---|---|
| How it is sold | Per person (per bed) | Per room (usually 2 people) |
| Who is in the room | 1 to 4 guests, sometimes up to 6 | You and whoever you travel with |
| Beds | Bunk beds or single beds | Double, twin, or bunk beds |
| Bathroom | Depends on the boat: inside the cabin, or shared outside | Depends on the boat: usually inside |
| Best for | Solo travellers, budget pairs, groups of four | Couples, or two friends who want their own space |
How Much More Does a Private Cabin Cost?
These examples come from each boat's page as of 5 October 2026. Prices move with dates and availability, so check the boat page again before you book.
| Boat | Shared cabin | Cheapest private cabin | Difference per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sabira | IDR 2,800,000 | IDR 3,600,000 | IDR 800,000 |
| Ahsana | IDR 4,000,000 | IDR 4,500,000 | IDR 500,000 |
| Aimar | IDR 5,200,000 | IDR 5,600,000 | IDR 400,000 |
| Blessing | IDR 4,500,000 | IDR 4,500,000 | Same price |
If you are a pair and the gap is only a few hundred thousand rupiah, the private cabin is usually worth it. Two nights with your own door makes a real difference, especially when you want an early night before the dawn hike up Padar.
On Blessing, the shared cabin and the private bunk cabin cost exactly the same. If you are two and a private cabin is still free, take it.
"Private" Does Not Always Mean an En-Suite Bathroom
This is the detail that catches guests out most: a cabin's name does not tell you what the bathroom situation is.
On Aimar, the Private Bunk Cabin gives you your own room behind a closed door, but the bathroom is outside and shared. Meanwhile the shared cabins on Ahsana and Blessing come with a bathroom inside.
So open the boat page and read the line under each cabin. It says either "kamar mandi dalam" (bathroom inside) or "kamar mandi bersama" (shared bathroom). If the photos or details are unclear, ask our team before you pay.
Travelling Solo: Which Cabin?
The shared cabin is made for you. You pay for one berth, with no need to find a roommate first. The Ahsana page says it plainly: both shared cabins on that boat are sold per person.
Who will you share with? Other guests on the same trip.
How rooms are split by gender varies from boat to boat. Leticia, for example, pairs solo guests with someone of the same gender in the same cabin type. If this matters for your comfort, do not assume. Ask our team before you book.
Want to travel solo but still have a private room? You can take a whole private cabin. The price is different from the per-person rate shown on the site, so ask us for a quote first.
Quick Guide by Group Size
- Two of you (couple or friends): Take a private cabin. The extra cost is small, and you will not be sharing a room with people you just met.
- Four of you: Book a whole four-berth shared cabin. It becomes a private room for your group, at the lowest per-person price on the boat.
- Eight or more: Start comparing with a private charter of the whole boat. For a group this size, chartering often works out better than buying berths one by one.
Whatever cabin you choose, the trip outside it is the same. Same route, same meals on deck, same snorkel spots, the same morning on Padar. The only difference is where you sleep and shower.
How to Book Your Berth
Pick a boat on the 3-day 2-night open trip page or browse all trips and phinisi boats. Each boat page shows its cabin types, available dates, and guest capacity.
Open trip berths are paid in full when you book. Your berth is locked as soon as payment is confirmed, with nothing left to pay later. Cancellation terms are on our cancellation policy page.
FAQ
How many people share a cabin on a Komodo open trip?
Most often four. Some boats have shared cabins for three, and a few go up to six. The capacity is listed under each cabin on the boat page.
Are shared cabins mixed gender?
It depends on the boat. Some boats pair solo guests with someone of the same gender, and rules elsewhere can differ. If this matters to you, ask our team before you book.
Does a private cabin always have its own bathroom?
Not necessarily. Some private cabins give you your own room but use a shared bathroom outside. Check whether the cabin says "kamar mandi dalam" (inside) or "kamar mandi bersama" (shared) on the boat page.
I am travelling alone. Do I have to pay for a whole private cabin?
No. In a shared cabin you pay for one berth. If you would rather have a private cabin to yourself, the price differs from the per-person rate, so ask our team for a quote.
How big is the price gap between shared and private cabins?
Based on prices on the boat pages as of 5 October 2026, the gap runs from nothing at all to IDR 800,000 per person. Prices change with dates and season, so check the boat page for the current figure.
Not sure which cabin fits? Our team is on the ground in Labuan Bajo. Message us on WhatsApp, tell us how many of you are travelling, and we will find the right cabin.
