What does a liveaboard fare include?
There is no standard liveaboard inclusions package. A fare can cover accommodation, meals and guided diving while leaving park fees, fuel, Nitrox and equipment outside the price. Compare the itemised terms for the named departure, rather than treating “full board” or “all inclusive” as a complete cost breakdown.
Emperor currently includes marine park fees, port fees, fuel surcharges and Nitrox for certified divers in its published policy. White Manta’s Central Raja Ampat programme lists those fees and Nitrox among its exclusions. The difference changes the price comparison before you consider a cabin upgrade.
Emperor: published inclusions policyTwo published inclusion policies
Swipe or scroll sideways to compare every column.
| Your decision | Emperor published fleet policy | White Manta Central Raja Ampat example |
|---|---|---|
| Park and port charges | Marine park and port fees included | Marine park and harbour fee excluded |
| Fuel | Fuel surcharges included under published policy; read booking terms too | Separate fuel surcharge; booking updates can affect the amount |
| Nitrox | Included for certified Nitrox divers | Charged separately by diving day or fill |
| Rental equipment | May cost extra | Diving gear excluded; reserve items and sizes |
| Personal extras | Alcohol, gratuities, insurance and upgrades may be separate | Alcohol, satellite Wi-Fi, laundry and massage excluded |
White Manta: separate the standard kit from rental gear
The Central Raja Ampat programme includes local airport or hotel transfers, onboard accommodation, meals, snacks, listed soft and hot drinks, regular air tanks, weights, belt and dive guides. It excludes flights, land hotels, insurance, Nitrox and rental gear. A regular tank in the fare does not mean that a larger tank, computer, torch, BCD or regulator is free.
The page quotes Nitrox at US$20 per diving day or US$7 per fill. Its prepaid full-set rental is US$70 per diving day and excludes the large tank and torch; otherwise individual-item rates apply. These are published examples reviewed on 24 October 2026, subject to availability and the departure quote. Count charged diving days, not simply nights onboard.
White Manta: included items, exclusions and rental ratesFuel fees: reconcile the itinerary and booking updates
White Manta’s Central Raja Ampat page lists US$250 per person for marine park and harbour fees and US$250 for fuel, payable in advance. Its booking page also carries a 20 March 2026 update: an additional US$50 for existing bookings on departures from 22 March, settled onboard, and a US$100 rise in the current fuel surcharge for new bookings. It says the new fees appear in its fees spreadsheet.
Do not assume the itinerary’s US$250 fuel line is the final payable amount, or automatically add both updates. The existing-booking and new-booking cases differ. Get one reconciled fuel figure on your invoice, stating whether the update is already included and whether anything remains payable onboard.
White Manta: fuel surcharge updates and booking termsIncluded Nitrox still requires the right qualification
An included gas supply is a pricing term, not permission to use it. Emperor’s inclusion policy specifies certified Nitrox divers. Galapagos Sky requires recognised enriched-air certification, asks for the card at check-in and does not teach Nitrox onboard.
Galapagos Sky also requires a private guide for divers without Nitrox certification and describes restrictions on the Wolf and Darwin programme. Its FAQ and diving page do not describe those restrictions identically. Resolve eligibility and the exact diving available before comparing the cost of air with Nitrox; a guide fee is not a substitute for qualification or operator acceptance.
Galapagos Sky: Nitrox certification and programme restrictionsCheck the unit, the supply and the payment method
For every extra, record whether the rate is per person, per night, per diving day, per fill or per trip. Specify the actual rental items and sizes, including a computer and torch where needed. A published rental menu does not reserve equipment.
White Manta lists a 4.5% card handling charge for onboard extras. Establish which charges are prepaid, what remains onboard, the payment currency and any transaction costs. Keep optional spending separate from compulsory fees, and do not count an unknown amount as zero.
White Manta: onboard payment and equipment detailsTurn the exclusions into a usable quote
Request the fare and occupancy basis, every compulsory extra, the Nitrox and rental charging units, taxes or surcharges, transfers and any required guide charge. Ask the seller to mark each line included, additional or not yet quoted, and to state whether amounts may change.
Add flights, land nights, baggage and appropriate insurance separately to reach the whole-trip budget. Source review: 24 October 2026. These are operator-policy examples, not a market-wide rate survey or available-cabin quote.
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