Katharina with sails up
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Katharina

This 6-cabin yacht offers personalized service and an old-world sense of simple luxury.

Overview

Oozing with Indonesian charm and an old world sense of simple luxury, the Katharina Yacht is a traditional Indonesian phinisi (two-mast sailing ship) handcrafted in tropical hardwood with teakwood decks and working rigging. This beautiful 131-ft vessel is small enough to be intimate with personalized service, and large enough to provide comfort and privacy. There is simply nothing like being aboard a phinisi ship in Indonesia; these classic boats are truly at home in the seas they sail.

Your Floating Home

Katharina’s six cabins are all situated below deck, accommodating up to 12 adults and two children. There are two twin cabins, two double cabins and two triple cabins for parents traveling with a child. Each is equipped with air-conditioning, a private bathroom and modern conveniences such as USB charging ports, lighting options for bedside reading and ambient overhead, multiple baskets for storage and keyed personal item storage built right into the bed’s headboard. But since you’re cruising in the tropics, why not discover the pleasure of sleeping on the Top Deck under the stars with the selection of light sleeping bags and mattresses also available?

Katharina’s Main Deck is dominated by her 82-foot-tall main and top masts and a large and shaded alfresco dining table around which you can enjoy the chef’s delicious creations. Another alfresco area is the Sun Deck, furnished with sun loungers, beanbags and cushions, perfect for watching the scenery drift by while cruising the Indonesian archipelago. The inviting air-conditioned salon offers ample cushioned seating, games, a TV screen, DVD player, and music center. There is also a fully-stocked bar for sundowner drinks.

Dining aboard the Katharina Cruise offers a locally sourced and well balanced mix of Indonesian, Asian and other international dishes. You can expect various meat and vegetarian choices, as well as the freshest fish, with rice and salads being the daily constants among the offerings. Meals are always casual buffet style. Serve yourself to what you wish and come back for more as you please.

Facilities

You can enjoy unlimited use of the snorkeling equipment aboard as well as kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. The Katharina is fully equipped with the latest in personal safety equipment − life-rings, swimming noodles, lifejackets, and inflatable life-rafts, as well as navigational equipment including radar, depth sounder, GPS, VHS, all band radios and satellite telephones. Katharina is essentially a motor vessel but if the wind is favorable, the crew will raise her deep red sails.

Fun And Insightful Activities For Adults And Kids

Katharina journeys to some of the most gorgeous islands and national parks within the Indonesian Archipelago. Swim or snorkel in clear turquoise waters, hike up a volcano, visit remote villages, observe local cultures, go trekking and birdwatching, see conservation work in action, or relax on a deserted beach while the crew prepare a picnic or a barbeque, later entertaining you with music and song.

The team are deeply committed to the integrity and the preservation of the Indonesian Archipelago and its peoples, taking pride in their ethics and respecting the environment in which they sail, and making sure their respectful intrusions leave only footprints—their only traces their contributions to the local communities who will enrich your itinerary so much.

Indeed, as well as various social initiatives including their Peek Under The Surface initiative whereby they distribute educational books and swimming goggles to teach local children about life under the sea, you can also purchase beautifully illustrated books on board about the famous naturalist Alfred Wallace, and for each English version of the book bought, ten books in the Indonesian language are printed and provided to local children.

A Voyage To Remember

Each Katharina cruise is led by multilingual, local guides who are extremely knowledgeable and passionate about Indonesia and the need to conserve nature. The crew and the guides’ affability, expertise and skills will ensure an authentic adventure and a voyage to remember for couples, families and groups of friends. The Katharina is also a good option for solo travelers as they pay no single supplement if they are willing to share a cabin.

Itineraries & Prices

All itineraries are subject to change due to seasonal weather conditions (and resultant variations in river and tributary water levels) affecting accessibility to locations. Thus navigation routes, times and excursions may need to be modified at the cruise captain’s or your guide's discretion.

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9-Day A
10-Day B

9 Day - Whale Sharks, Corals, & Dragons - Komodo to Komodo

itinerary map

Embarkation

AM: Taking the early morning flight from Bali, you will be met at the airport in Komodo by your tour leaders and be taken straight to your boat. And as you settle into your new home, we will head to our first snorkeling spot; a coral restoration project where you will see how the corals and fish populations have grown since they were first transplanted in 2014.

Go ashore on Komodo Island in search of the fearsome Komodo dragons, found only in the Komodo National Park. This is the world’s largest lizard, growing up to a length of three meters and weighing up to approximately 70 kilograms. Enjoy some magnificent snorkeling on some of the Komodo Park’s best reefs.

PM: Swim with manta rays as they feed on the current and circle the so-called cleaning stations, where small fish remove parasites from their skin. Snorkel at a favourite hangout of sea turtles, where we will have a chance to swim with these gentle reptiles as they cruise along the shallow water of the reef.

Katharina - Whale Sharks, Corals, & Dragons - Komodo to Komodo - Day 1
Location
Labuan Bajo
Day
1 / 9

Exploring Komodo National Park

AM & PM: Go ashore on Komodo Island in search of the fearsome Komodo dragons, found only in the Komodo National Park. This is the world’s largest lizard, growing up to a length of three meters and weighing up to approximately 70 kilograms. Enjoy some magnificent snorkeling on some of the Komodo Park’s best reefs. Swim with manta rays as they feed on the current and circle the so-called cleaning stations, where small fish remove parasites from their skin. Snorkel at a favourite hangout of sea turtles, where we will have a chance to swim with these gentle reptiles as they cruise along the shallow water of the reef.

Katharina - Whale Sharks, Corals, & Dragons - Komodo to Komodo - Day 2
Location
Komodo National Park
Day
2 / 9

Beautiful Uninhabited Island

AM: Wake up off the coast of a beautiful uninhabited island with a beach of pure white sand with some sparkles of powdered red coral, creating the effect of a “pink beach”. We will spend the morning here, swimming, paddle boarding, and snorkeling on the beautiful coral reef that lies parallel to the beach.

PM: Over lunch, we will cruise to a nearby active volcanic island where we will see a large wooden pinisi boat with the same pedigree and history of Katharina’s very own ships being built on the beach. Walking around this small village, get a feel for their simple way of life, chat with the locals and maybe buy some handmade textiles as a souvenir.

Spend the day at a strange and mystical volcanic island with a sunken crater lake in its center that was filled with saltwater when the nearby Mt Tambora catastrophically erupted in 1815. Here we will swim, kayak and paddleboard on the lake, and the more adventurous can go trekking around the crater rim.

Experience one of our famous beach BBQs under a night sky filled with millions of stars as you feast on the amazing local delicacies prepared by our chef, and all accompanied by live musical entertainment from our talented crew. Another highlight of our visit to the island will be the sight of thousands of flying foxes that fly at dusk from the island to feed on the mainland.

Katharina - Whale Sharks, Corals, & Dragons - Komodo to Komodo - Day 3
Location
Komodo National Park
Day
3 / 9

Mystical Volcanic Island

AM: Wake up off the coast of a beautiful uninhabited island with a beach of pure white sand with some sparkles of powdered red coral, creating the effect of a “pink beach”. We will spend the morning here, swimming, paddle boarding, and snorkeling on the beautiful coral reef that lies parallel to the beach.

PM: Over lunch, we will cruise to a nearby active volcanic island where we will see a large wooden pinisi boat with the same pedigree and history of Katharina’s very own ships being built on the beach. Walking around this small village, get a feel for their simple way of life, chat with the locals and maybe buy some handmade textiles as a souvenir.

Spend the day at a strange and mystical volcanic island with a sunken crater lake in its center that was filled with saltwater when the nearby Mt Tambora catastrophically erupted in 1815. Here we will swim, kayak and paddleboard on the lake, and the more adventurous can go trekking around the crater rim.

Experience one of our famous beach BBQs under a night sky filled with millions of stars as you feast on the amazing local delicacies prepared by our chef, and all accompanied by live musical entertainment from our talented crew. Another highlight of our visit to the island will be the sight of thousands of flying foxes that fly at dusk from the island to feed on the mainland.

Katharina - Whale Sharks, Corals, & Dragons - Komodo to Komodo - Day 4
Location
Komodo National Park
Day
4 / 9

Relaxing Day

AM: We will have chance for an early morning swim with whale sharks, the gentle giants of the sea. These massive but harmless animals have long congregated here in the bay but now, thanks to travelers like you, we have formed a mutually beneficial alliance with the local fisherman who have their traditional small floating fishing platforms in the bay that attract the sharks. We can’t make any promises, as we don’t have these wild animals on a leash, but fingers crossed we will see them.

PM: Spend the day on a beach located on a small limestone island nearby, kayaking, swimming and snorkeling, and exploring the local karst formations.

We will cruise to Labuan Aji village on the island of Moyo to visit the village and walk to a scenic waterfall where we can bathe in the refreshing cool water.

Katharina - Whale Sharks, Corals, & Dragons - Komodo to Komodo - Day 5
Location
Komodo National Park
Day
5 / 9

Spend Day on The Beach

AM: We will have chance for an early morning swim with whale sharks, the gentle giants of the sea. These massive but harmless animals have long congregated here in the bay but now, thanks to travelers like you, we have formed a mutually beneficial alliance with the local fisherman who have their traditional small floating fishing platforms in the bay that attract the sharks. We can’t make any promises, as we don’t have these wild animals on a leash, but fingers crossed we will see them.

PM: Spend the day on a beach located on a small limestone island nearby, kayaking, swimming and snorkeling, and exploring the local karst formations.

We will cruise to Labuan Aji village on the island of Moyo to visit the village and walk to a scenic waterfall where we can bathe in the refreshing cool water.

Katharina - Whale Sharks, Corals, & Dragons - Komodo to Komodo - Day 6
Location
Komodo National Park
Day
6 / 9

Komodo National Park

AM: Enjoy a unique snorkeling experience where volcanic gasses escape in the form of bubbles from the sea floor among the corals, with the metallic black volcanic sand below being home to an abundance of very interesting invertebrates.

PM: Entering the Komodo National Park again we will go drift snorkeling in one of the best and healthiest coral reefs in the park, and for those who want to take the land-adventure to another level, you can do a sunset hike up to a gorgeous viewpoint overlooking the other islands in the park.

Visit Rinca Island, which is well known for its diverse wildlife, and maybe spot dragons, monkeys, wild buffaloes and deer as well. From the top of the hills, the scenery is breath taking.

Katharina - Whale Sharks, Corals, & Dragons - Komodo to Komodo - Day 7
Location
Komodo National Park
Day
7 / 9

Komodo National Park

AM: Enjoy a unique snorkeling experience where volcanic gasses escape in the form of bubbles from the sea floor among the corals, with the metallic black volcanic sand below being home to an abundance of very interesting invertebrates.

PM: Entering the Komodo National Park again we will go drift snorkeling in one of the best and healthiest coral reefs in the park, and for those who want to take the land-adventure to another level, you can do a sunset hike up to a gorgeous viewpoint overlooking the other islands in the park.

Visit Rinca Island, which is well known for its diverse wildlife, and maybe spot dragons, monkeys, wild buffaloes and deer as well. From the top of the hills, the scenery is breath taking.

Katharina - Whale Sharks, Corals, & Dragons - Komodo to Komodo - Day 8
Location
Komodo National Park
Day
8 / 9

Disembarkation

AM: After breakfast on our last day, we will take you on a scenic drive towards Melo Village, where you will witness the traditional Caci dance performance. Local strongmen perform a ritual whip-fight between two rivals in which the players, each armed with a rattan shield and a whip, will try to hit each other while dancing to the rhythm of traditional acoustic instruments.

PM: After lunch on the boat, we will say farewell to the crew and your fellow shipmates as you disembark and continue onto your next destination.

Katharina - Whale Sharks, Corals, & Dragons - Komodo to Komodo - Day 9
Location
Labuan Bajo
Day
9 / 9
1 / 9

10 Day - Jewels of Raja Ampat - Sorong to Sorong

itinerary map

Embarkation

AM: Your flight will arrive in the West Papuan port town of Sorong, the gateway to Raja Ampat. From the airport, we will transfer you to the harbor where your boat will be waiting at anchor. Once settled into your cabin, your cruise director will familiarize you with the vessel’s facilities and safety procedures.

PM: Ready to start our adventure, we will weigh anchor and set a southerly course for the Misool Archipelago, stopping for a refreshing swim along the way. We will then dine alfresco on the main deck while meeting the other passengers and crew and watching the sunset on our first day at sea.

Katharina's Jewels of Raja Ampat - Day One - Sundeck
Location
Sorong - Misool
Day
1 / 10

Misool Archipelago, Tomolo Bay

AM: This morning we will wake to see the sunrise over the picturesque chain of islands that makes up the Misool archipelago. The topography is typical of ‘karst dissolution,’ featuring a great number of tiny islets whose bases have been eroded over time by the relentless motion of the tides. We will spend the day maximizing everything that this fascinating area has to offer by marveling at both the marine wonderland under the water and the magnificent landscape above the surface.

PM: We can test out our paddling skills in the sea kayaks, watch for birds perched on the rocks, or just sit back and take in the glorious scenery. After a full day of island hopping through this archipelago, the boat will spend a quiet night at anchor in Misool’s Tomolo Bay.

Katharina;s Jewels of Raja Ampat - Day Two - Flores Mainland
Location
Raja Ampat
Day
2 / 10

Karst Island, Island of Batanta

AM: A swim through Tomolo’s mysterious dome-topped cave is undoubtedly one of Raja Ampat’s most memorable activities. After an early breakfast, our tenders will take us into the heart of the bay to see this partially submerged cave where it is possible to swim, snorkel or simply float while gazing up at the cavernous grotto adorned with astonishing stalactites.

The more adventurous can swim or paddle through the dark waters to the other mouth of the cave. We will then move on to the mysterious stingless jellyfish lake, one of only 20 in the world where these amazing creatures exist and swim amongst the many thousands of stingless animals.

PM: After returning to the ship, we will use our tenders to explore more of this impressive maze of karst islands, both above and below the surface, complete with mysterious skull cairns in sea-cave cemeteries, and prehistoric cave paintings, estimated to be anything between 3,000 to 5,000 years old and depicting various human figures and huge human palms, fish, flowers and plants, tools and vessels. Overnight, our boat will cruise north to the island of Batanta.

Katharina;s Jewels of Raja Ampat - Day Three - Raja Ampat
Location
Raja Ampat
Day
3 / 10

Arefi Village, Wayag

AM: After our days of marine exploration, the jungle-clad island of Batanta offers us a change of scenery and a chance to stretch our legs on an adventurous trek into the island’s interior. We anchor at the foot of Arefi Village, nestled on the north coast of the island, where we will find local guides to escort us through the mangrove waters to the start point of our trek.

PM: A short walk along the riverbed brings us to a jungle waterfall, complete with a refreshing pool for cooling off. After leaving the wilderness behind us, we will find a nearby spot to swim and snorkel before moving north to the islands of Wayag.

Katharina;s Jewels of Raja Ampat - Day Four - Raja Ampat
Location
Raja Ampat
Day
4 / 10

Wayag

AM: Few areas in Indonesia can lay claim to such unsurpassed natural splendor as Raja Ampat’s Wayag islands. The beauty of these picturesque karst spires is perhaps only equaled by the brilliant colors and vibrancy of the reefs and the marine life that flourishes below.

PM: Nature has carved these islands into a series of coves and lagoons, narrow channels and inlets, caves, jagged rocks and shaded sandy beaches. For those who dare, some spectacular but nearly vertical climbs are rewarded with magnificent panoramas. We will spend a quiet night here at anchor.

Katharina;s Jewels of Raja Ampat - Day Five - Snorkeling with Jellyfish
Location
Raja Ampat
Day
5 / 10

Waigeo

AM: The Wayag islands are Raja Ampat’s best, and we will make the most of this unique region for one more morning, navigating the maze of mushroom-shaped islands, and stopping for swimming and snorkeling.

PM: In the afternoon, we will set our compasses to return to the southern hemisphere and the island of Waigeo.

Katharina;s Jewels of Raja Ampat - Day Six - Dolphin
Location
Raja Ampat
Day
6 / 10

Wofoh, Aljui Bay

AM: Another full day of adventure awaits us along the convoluted western coast of Waigeo. We will begin the morning by exploring Wofoh, three island gems linked together by stretches of pristine coral reef. You can use the tenders or kayaks to navigate the islands or put your newly-acquired fish identification skills to use in exploring this vibrant reef. Or you may prefer to simply just relax on the beach.

PM: In the afternoon we will move northwards to Aljui Bay, home to the Cendanda Pearl Farm, one of the larger producers of high-quality seawater pearls in the region. Pearling is an important industry throughout Indonesia and several farms can be seen in the waters of Raja Ampat, where the farmers may grant us permission to visit their facilities and receive an explanation of the pearling processes that we have seen during our voyage.

Katharina;s Jewels of Raja Ampat - Day Seven - Manta Rays
Location
Raja Ampat
Day
7 / 10

Penemu, Aborek Island

AM: We will wake up in front of the island of Penemu, a dramatic location with a short hilltop climb to take in the amazing views. After some great snorkeling on the island’s reefs, we will set course for the tiny Aborek Island, where the local children will perform their traditional dances for us.

PM: We can also walk around the village and gain a sense of the Asai culture, which is still kept very much alive by the villagers living in this isolated place. There's a chance that we may get to see some manta rays as we snorkel, but there are no guarantees.

Katharina;s Jewels of Raja Ampat - Day Eight - Turtle
Location
Raja Ampat
Day
8 / 10

Red Bird of Paradise, Dampier Strait

AM: After waking up, before sunrise, we will follow in the footsteps of the famous naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in a pre-dawn quest to spot the remarkable Red Bird of Paradise, one of the species that Wallace was most anxious to collect. We hope that the efforts of our trek through the forest will pay off, enabling us to catch a rare and privileged sight of the bird’s elaborate courtship dance as the day breaks over the forest canopy.

PM: Whether we spot the birds or not, for sure we will experience a wonderful trek. After lunch, we make our way through the Dampier strait, home to some of Raja Ampat’s premier reefs.

Katharina;s Jewels of Raja Ampat - Day Nine - Misool
Location
Raja Ampat
Day
9 / 10

Disembarkation

AM: After our last breakfast, we will stroll around on dry land at the Doom island with traditional transportation called Becak. During the First World War, Doom island served as an administrative center of Dutch Empire administration in West Papua and continued to become the core of Sorong for some time before the city grew in mainland Papua. During the Second World War, Japanese forces occupied and fortified the island, building a network of tunnels and bunkers. The island was attacked by American and Australian aircraft throughout the war. Following the war, a fishing station was briefly established on the island before it was moved to Manokwari.

After this we will say goodbye to our crew and captain and head to the airport for our onward flights.

Katharina;s Jewels of Raja Ampat - Day Ten - Lesser Bird of Paradise
Location
Doom Island - Sorong
Day
10 / 10
1 / 10

Accommodations

Social Areas

Al Fresco Dining
At Anchor
Deck Lounge
Deck
Salon
Top Deck
Table on the deck
Ship At Anchor
Sofa on the deck
Chairs on the deck
Indoors area with table and seats
Top deck area

Suites & Cabins

Katharina's Standard Cabin
2 Cabins

Double Bed Cabin

Guests
2
Size
9 m² / 97 ft²
Beds
Double

These rooms are designed with modern conveniences like USB charging ports, lighting options for bedside reading, several baskets for storage, and a keyed-in storage unit for personal items. The private bathrooms come with basic amenities such as a hairdryer, slippers, and a basket of toiletries.

Katharina's Triple Cabin
2 Cabins

Triple Cabin

Guests
2 - 3
Size
9 m² / 97 ft² (approximately)
Beds
Double Bed + Bunk Bed

These rooms are designed with modern conveniences like USB charging ports, lighting options for bedside reading, several baskets for storage, and a keyed-in storage unit for personal items. The private bathrooms come with basic amenities such as a hairdryer, slippers, and a basket of toiletries.There are 2 are triple cabins with one double bed and one upper single bunk suitable for children 12 years or under.

Katharina's Twin Bunk Cabin
2 Cabins

Twin Bunk Cabin

Guests
2
Size
9 m² / 97 ft² (approximately)
Beds
Twin Bunk Bed

These rooms are designed with modern conveniences like USB charging ports, lighting options for bedside reading, several baskets for storage, and a keyed-in storage unit for personal items. The private bathrooms come with basic amenities such as a hairdryer, slippers, and a basket of toiletries.There are 2 twin bunk cabins with single bed above the other.

Technical Information

Deck Plan

Deck Plan

Features

  • Air conditioning

Equipment

  • Snorkeling gear
  • Stand up paddleboard
  • Kayaks / Canoes
  • Fishing equipment
** Use of certain equipment at additional cost, ask for details
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