Every private yacht in Indonesia carries its own chef, and a yacht charter chef typically plans the whole trip's menu around your group's tastes, allergies and any dietary needs you raise before boarding. Meals are cooked fresh on board using produce bought in Labuan Bajo, Sorong or wherever the boat provisions, and they usually include a mix of Indonesian dishes and more familiar Western options.
What is included in the rate
Meals are part of the standard inclusions on almost every yacht on our board: full board, meaning breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, along with soft drinks, juice, coffee and tea. Tiger Blue, for example, includes full-board accommodation and all meals, plus soft drinks, juices, coffee and local beer, as part of its standard rate. Wine, spirits and imported drinks are usually charged separately, since they cost the operator more to bring on board than local produce. For a full breakdown of what is typically included on a charter, see what a private yacht charter includes. Most chefs also keep a supply of snacks and fresh fruit available throughout the day, so guests are not limited to three fixed sittings if they want something small between activities.
Telling your yacht charter chef about dietary needs
The single most useful thing you can do before a charter is tell us about allergies, intolerances and preferences as early as possible, ideally when you book. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal, pescatarian and low-carb diets are all commonly accommodated, since the chef plans and provisions the whole trip in advance rather than cooking from a fixed menu. Children's meals and simpler options for fussy eaters are also easy to arrange with notice.
A typical day of meals
Breakfast is usually relaxed, often a mix of fresh fruit, eggs cooked to order, pastries and local coffee, served whenever guests are ready rather than at a set hour. Lunch tends to be the largest meal, often served after a morning dive or snorkel, and can range from grilled fish and rice to pasta or barbecue depending on the boat and the day. Dinner is often the most elaborate meal, sometimes plated as a multi-course menu and served on deck as the sun goes down. Portions are generous by design, since guests are usually active for much of the day between swimming, snorkelling and shore visits, and chefs are used to adjusting quantities once they see how a particular group eats. For more on how a typical day unfolds beyond meals, see a day on board a private yacht.
Indonesian flavours on board
Most charter chefs draw heavily on Indonesian cooking: grilled fish with sambal, nasi goreng, satay, gado-gado and fresh tropical fruit feature regularly on menus across the fleet. Many chefs also cook seafood bought fresh from local fishermen along the route, which varies the menu from one charter to the next depending on what is available that week. Fresh fruit, from mango and dragon fruit to local bananas, appears at almost every meal, and many chefs are happy to build a menu that leans more heavily on Indonesian dishes or more heavily on Western ones depending on what the group prefers.
Drinks: what is poured and what costs extra
Soft drinks, juice, tea and coffee are almost always included in the nightly rate, and several boats include local beer as well. Wine, spirits and premium imported drinks are the most common extra cost on a charter bill, and a few boats operate a bring-your-own-bottle policy for guests who want a particular label. Your quote will say exactly what is included on your chosen yacht, so there are no surprises once you are on board.
Special occasions and celebration meals
If you are chartering for a birthday, anniversary or honeymoon, most chefs are happy to put together a special meal, a cake or a particular dish tied to the occasion, provided you let us know ahead of time. This is one of the advantages of a private charter over a shared liveaboard: the entire menu, pace and occasion can be built around your group. It is worth mentioning any occasion at the time of booking rather than once you are on board, since some requests, such as a particular cake, need ingredients bought in port before the charter starts.
Plan your charter
Tell us about your group's dietary needs and the kind of trip you want when you send your dates, or browse available yachts first if you are still comparing boats.
Frequently asked questions
Can chefs cater for allergies and special diets?
Yes, in almost all cases, provided you tell us before the charter so the chef can plan and provision accordingly. Common requests such as vegetarian, gluten-free and shellfish-free meals are handled routinely.
Is alcohol included in the charter rate?
Soft drinks, juice, coffee and tea are usually included, and several boats include local beer. Wine, spirits and imported drinks are typically an extra cost, listed on your quote for the specific yacht you book.
What kind of food is served on a phinisi charter?
Expect a mix of Indonesian dishes such as grilled fish, satay and fresh fruit alongside more familiar Western options like pasta, eggs and salads. The exact style depends on the chef and the boat.
Can I request a special meal for a celebration?
Yes. Let us know about any birthday, anniversary or honeymoon when you book, and most chefs will arrange a special dish or cake for the occasion as part of the standard service.