**Arunika Cruises is the itinerary-led comfort-cruise brand of florescruise.com, operated by Komodo Luxury — a Labuan Bajo operator founded in 2015 whose reservations team books voyages directly. We sell ensuite-cabin, small-ship routes across the Flores arc, from Komodo National Park east to Riung, Ende and Maumere.**
Who is Arunika Cruises, and who runs it?
Arunika Cruises is a route brand, not a boat owner. Every voyage on this site is operated and reservation-handled by Komodo Luxury, an award-winning operator founded in 2015 and based in Labuan Bajo — the town multiple operators, including Le Pirate, describe as “the gateway to Komodo National Park.” When you book through us, your booking is confirmed by Komodo Luxury’s own reservations team, not passed through an anonymous marketplace.
The site itself is published by Juara Holding Group. That split matters for trust: Juara Holding Group is the publisher and editorial owner; Komodo Luxury is the licensed operator that runs the ships and takes your booking. We tell you which is which on every page.
Labuan Bajo sits on the west tip of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara. Its air gateway is Komodo Airport, IATA code LBJ. Aqua Expeditions cites roughly a 15-minute transfer between Le Bajo Flores port and the airport; Le Pirate cites about a 10-minute taxi from LBJ to its town office on Jalan Soekarno Hatta near the harbour. Because domestic flights into LBJ can slip, operators — and we — advise arriving one day before departure.
What does Arunika actually sell?
One thing, done properly: comfort-class scheduled cruise routes east of Komodo, sold by route and cabin class. Every Arunika voyage uses ensuite cabins on a small ship. We do not sell open-deck sleep-aboards, day trips, private local-boat rental, or ultra-lux private yachts — sister brands in our network cover those. Arunika owns the ensuite comfort route.
Voyages run 3 days/2 nights up to 8 days/7 nights, as scheduled departures or as a full-ship buyout for private groups and families. The category is real and growing: Adventure Life promotes “4 Best Labuan Bajo Small Ship Cruises for 2026,” and Aqua Expeditions markets an all-inclusive 7-night “Bali to Komodo” small-ship voyage — boarding at Benoa Cruise Ship Terminal in Bali at 15:00 and disembarking at Le Bajo Flores at 08:00. Arunika occupies exactly this comfort small-ship tier.
| Voyage | Duration | Route highlights | Cabin basis | Booking format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Komodo Core | 3D2N | Padar sunrise hike, Pink Beach, Komodo & Rinca, Manta Point | Ensuite double / twin | Scheduled or buyout |
| Komodo Explorer | 4D3N | Full Komodo NP loop plus added snorkel sites | Ensuite double / twin | Scheduled or buyout |
| Flores Arc East | 6D5N | Komodo east to Riung 17 Islands and Ende | Ensuite + suite | Scheduled or buyout |
| Full Flores Arc | 8D7N | Bali/Lombok crossing → Komodo → Riung → Ende → Maumere/Larantuka | Ensuite + suite | Full-ship buyout favoured |
Public per-person prices in this category are usually quote-based rather than listed, and Komodo National Park entrance fees are always a separate line item. All fares are date-stamped “as of 2026” and subject to change — confirm the live figure when you enquire.
When can you sail the Flores arc?
April to September. Aqua Expeditions sails the Bali-Komodo-Flores region April to September only, avoiding the harsher conditions of the other months, and independent guides name April to June as the sweet spot — greener islands, better underwater visibility, thinner crowds. We frame every Arunika departure around that April-September window.
Shorter scheduled routes tend to follow a fixed weekly rhythm. As a market reference, Le Pirate Explorer’s 3D2N departs every Monday and returns Wednesday around 15:00, while its 4D3N departs every Thursday and returns Sunday around 15:00 — meeting at the office at 09:00-09:30 and casting off at 10:00 sharp. Arunika’s own scheduled calendar is confirmed at enquiry.
Who writes and checks this site?
On-site editorial is led by Bramantyo Aji, Arunika’s travel editor. He reviews every route page, cross-checks each departure pattern and fee note against what Komodo Luxury’s reservations team actually quotes, and re-dates figures when they move. Where a claim can’t be verified, it doesn’t go on the page. You will never see invented awards, borrowed ratings, or fabricated reviews here — a standard Juara Holding Group holds across its titles.
That discipline extends to the named places we describe: Komodo and Rinca for the dragons, Padar for the sunrise ridge hike, Pink Beach and Manta Point for the water, and — heading east, where Arunika is strongest — Riung’s 17 Islands, plus cultural shore stops around Ende, Maumere and Larantuka.
How does booking an Arunika voyage work?
Booking runs through Komodo Luxury’s reservations team. The payment structure below follows the market norm set by operators such as Le Pirate; Arunika confirms exact terms in writing before you pay.
- Enquire by route and dates. Message the concierge with your preferred route, cabin class and travel window (April-September).
- Hold your cabin. A 10% deposit secures the booking. This deposit is non-refundable.
- Confirm 14+ days out. A further 25% is payable; it stays refundable only if you cancel 14 or more days before departure.
- Settle the balance. The final 65%, plus Komodo National Park entrance fees, is due 14 days before departure and is non-refundable.
- Arrive a day early and board. Fly into LBJ the day before, meet at the office in the morning, and cast off.
| Stage | Share of fare | Timing | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit | 10% | At booking | No |
| Second instalment | 25% | Before the 14-day cutoff | Yes, if cancelled 14+ days before departure |
| Final balance + park fees | 65% + KNP fees | Due 14 days before departure | No |
A few rules to plan around: shared scheduled trips carry a minimum age of 16, so families with younger children book a full-ship private charter instead. Operators — and we — strongly recommend travel insurance covering cancellation, medical emergencies and disruption.
What about park fees and the road to 2027?
Komodo National Park entrance fees sit on top of your cruise fare, are non-refundable, and are quoted at booking. The park is managed by Balai Taman Nasional Komodo under Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK); exact fee tables aren’t publicly citable, so treat any figure you see elsewhere as subject to change until Komodo Luxury confirms it.
Looking ahead, the Flores arc is getting busier at the premium end. Raja Ampat-to-Flores expedition sailings are already scheduled for March 2027, a Smithsonian-style 2027 Indonesia cruise includes Flores and Komodo, and Labuan Bajo remains a government “super-premium destination” priority with port and marina upgrades tracked toward 2027. Booking a comfort route now, ahead of that curve, is the quiet advantage.
Talk to the concierge
Ready to hold a cabin on the Flores arc? Arunika Cruises voyages are booked directly by Komodo Luxury’s reservations team. Send your route, dates and cabin class, and get a live 2026 quote — including the separate Komodo National Park fee — with no obligation and no guaranteed-outcome sales talk.
- WhatsApp the concierge: +62 811-3823-875
- Email: sales@komodoluxury.com
Figures are current as of 5 July 2026 and subject to change; your final fare, departure calendar and park fee are confirmed at booking.