A deck plan is the floor plan of a boat, drawn deck by deck, showing cabin locations, bed configurations, bathroom placement, and shared spaces like the saloon and sundeck. Reading one correctly before you book tells you three things a photo gallery cannot: how far your cabin is from the engine noise, whether your bathroom is private or shared, and how much space exists for the whole group to spread out. Knowing your cabin position and the boat's layout avoids the single most common liveaboard complaint, which is booking a boat that looked spacious in photos but felt cramped once 12 people and their gear were actually aboard.
TL;DR
- Deck plans number decks bottom to top and orient the bow (front) forward, so "Fwd" and "Aft" always mean the same thing no matter which boat you're comparing.
- Cabin position matters more than cabin size: lower-deck cabins near the stern are quietest for sleeping, upper-deck cabins get natural light and easier access to the sundeck.
- Liveaboards in Komodo National Park typically carry between 8 and 24 passengers, so check the plan's total cabin count against that range to gauge how busy communal areas will feel.
- Common abbreviations, WC (toilet), AC (air conditioning), Fwd/Aft, and "sundeck", appear on almost every plan and are worth memorizing before you start comparing boats.
- There's no national minimum on cabin size or amenities in Indonesia, so two boats of similar length can have very different cabin layouts. The deck plan, not the boat's category label, is the only reliable way to check.
About This Guide: Hello Flores works with more than 12,500 travellers each year to book Komodo boat trips, reviewing deck plans, cabin counts, bathroom ratios, and engine placement as part of the boat-matching process built into every booking. This guide covers what to look for.
What Is a Deck Plan and Why Does It Matter for a Komodo Trip?
A deck plan shows you cabin locations, bed configurations, bathroom placement, and shared spaces like the saloon, galley, and open deck relative to each other, drawn deck by deck from above. On a Komodo liveaboard, this matters more than it would on a hotel floor plan because you're going to spend three or four nights aboard, and the boat's layout determines your sleep quality, your privacy, and how crowded the boat feels once everyone is on deck for a sunset at Padar Island or a Manta Point briefing.
Two boats advertised as "12-guest phinisi yachts" can sleep those 12 guests in completely different ways: one might offer six ensuite double cabins with private bathrooms, the other four larger cabins that each sleep three people and share two bathrooms between them. The deck plan is the only document that shows you this difference before you book. Photos show a boat's best angles; a deck plan shows its actual arithmetic.
How Do You Read the Layout Conventions on a Deck Plan?
Nautical deck plans follow a small set of conventions, and once you know them, any boat's plan becomes readable in under a minute. Decks are numbered from the bottom up, so "Deck 1" is the lowest level and the highest number is the top, usually the sundeck. The bow (front of the boat) is oriented at the top or forward-facing edge of the drawing, with "Fwd" and "Aft" labelling front and back consistently across every plan you'll compare.
Plans also use standardized symbols and color-coding to separate cabin categories, mark port (left) and starboard (right) sides, and flag public spaces like the saloon or dive deck. This matters when you're comparing more than one boat side by side, because once you know the symbol system, you can scan a stack of deck plans and immediately spot which boats have private balconies, which have connecting cabins suited to families, and which cram bunks into a shared dorm-style room.
Quick reference: common deck plan abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| WC | Water closet (toilet/bathroom) |
| AC | Air conditioning |
| Fwd | Forward (front of boat) |
| Aft | Rear of boat |
| Sundeck | Open upper deck for lounging |
| Ensuite | Private bathroom attached to cabin |
Where Should You Look First on a Deck Plan?
Start with cabin position, not cabin size. A cabin's location relative to the engine room and the boat's centre of motion affects your sleep far more than an extra square metre of floor space does.
1. Distance from the engine room
Engine rooms sit low and usually toward the stern (back) or midship. Cabins directly above or beside the engine room will carry more noise and vibration overnight, especially while the boat is running between anchorages. If the plan marks the engine room, check which cabins sit closest to it and treat those as your last choice for light sleepers.
2. Deck level
Lower-deck cabins sit closer to the boat's centre of gravity, so they roll less in choppy water, useful for anyone prone to seasickness. Upper-deck cabins trade a bit of that stability for natural light, often a window or porthole, and quicker access up to the sundeck for sunrise coffee or a sunset briefing.
3. Forward versus aft
Forward cabins feel the pitch of the boat (front-to-back rocking) more than aft cabins do, particularly at anchor in open water. Aft cabins sit closer to the engine but usually experience a smoother ride.
4. Bathroom ratio
Check whether each cabin has an ensuite WC or whether several cabins share one. This single detail explains more about a boat's comfort level, and its price bracket, than almost any other line on the plan.
Building on that bathroom-and-engine detail, the next question worth asking is how much shared space the boat actually offers once cabins are accounted for.
How Do You Judge Whether a Boat Has Enough Shared Space?
Shared space is whatever is left over on the plan once cabins, bathrooms, and crew areas are marked off, and it's usually the saloon, the dining area, the dive deck, and the sundeck. Most Komodo liveaboards carry between 8 and 24 passengers. The more passengers a boat carries, the more shared square footage it needs to avoid feeling crowded at meal times or during a dive briefing.
A practical way to judge this from a plan: count the total cabins, multiply by average occupancy, then look at how large the saloon and sundeck are relative to that number. A 12-passenger boat with a generous sundeck spanning most of the top deck will feel roomier than a 20-passenger boat with a sundeck half that size, even if the second boat has larger cabins. This is the trade-off worth flagging for groups of friends and families who plan to spend most of the day on deck between activities: prioritise the sundeck and saloon dimensions over cabin size.
Solo travellers and couples booking a shared cabin trip should look instead at cabin count and bathroom ratio, since you'll be sharing communal space with other guests you haven't met yet, and a boat with more private ensuite cabins tends to run quieter and less congested at the two bathrooms-per-corridor style layout some older boats still use.
What Should You Check Before Booking a Private Charter vs a Shared Cabin?
The core difference is who else is on the deck plan with you: a private charter's plan is entirely your group's, while a shared cabin trip's plan includes cabins booked by other travellers. On a private charter, the deck plan becomes a planning tool for room assignments, useful for families deciding who gets the cabin nearest the stairs, or couples wanting the ensuite cabin with a private balcony for a Komodo national park cruise built around a honeymoon or anniversary.
On a shared liveaboard, the deck plan tells you how many strangers you'll be sharing bathrooms, the saloon, and meal seating with, which is worth knowing in advance rather than discovering on day one. There are no strict Indonesian regulatory minimums on cabin size or amenity level, so a "budget" and "luxury komodo liveaboard" of similar length can have very different plans: the budget boat may pack in more bunks with shared WCs, while the luxury boat dedicates more of the same hull length to fewer, larger, ensuite cabins with air conditioning throughout.
Verdict: for solo travellers and couples on a budget, a shared boat with a strong cabin-to-bathroom ratio beats a boat with more decoration but shared facilities. For families and groups of friends, a private charter's deck plan is worth reviewing room by room before anyone picks a cabin, so nobody ends up next to the engine room by accident.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Fwd" and "Aft" mean on a boat deck plan?
Fwd means forward, the front of the boat toward the bow. Aft means the rear of the boat, toward the stern. These terms are used consistently across every deck plan regardless of boat size.
Why do some cabins cost more than others on the same boat?
Cabin price usually reflects deck level, position relative to the engine room, and whether the bathroom is ensuite or shared. Upper-deck cabins with private facilities and natural light typically sit at the top of the price range; lower-deck or shared-bathroom cabins sit at the bottom.
Is a bigger boat always more comfortable?
Not necessarily. A larger boat carrying more passengers needs proportionally more shared space, saloon, sundeck, and dive deck, to feel as comfortable as a smaller boat with fewer guests. Check passenger capacity against shared space, not just hull length.
What does "sundeck" mean on a Komodo liveaboard plan?
The sundeck is the open upper deck used for lounging, sunbathing, and evening briefings. It's usually the top level on the plan and one of the main shared spaces on any Komodo national park cruise.
Do all Komodo liveaboards meet the same safety standards?
Every boat booked through Hello Flores is contractually required to hold valid insurance and current certification. Documentation for a specific boat can be requested from the operator on a guest's behalf, and the harbourmaster (KSOP Labuan Bajo) issues a Sailing Approval Letter for each departure as an independent check.
How many cabins should I expect on a typical Komodo boat?
Cabin count varies by boat size, but most Komodo liveaboards fall within the 8 to 24 passenger range, translating to roughly 4 to 12 cabins depending on configuration.
Can I request a specific cabin when booking?
Yes, on both shared and private charter bookings, cabin preference can be requested at the time of booking, subject to availability and the boat's existing plan.
About Hello Flores
Hello Flores has spent 8 years matching travellers to Komodo boats, from affordable shared cabins for solo travellers to private phinisi charters for families and groups of friends, with more than 12,500 guests booked since 2018. Every partner boat in the collection comes with a deck plan reviewed as part of the booking process, so guests know exactly what they're getting before they commit, not after boarding. Whether the goal is a quiet ensuite cabin on a luxury komodo liveaboard or a budget-friendly shared bunk for a solo trip, Hello Flores matches the boat to the traveller rather than the other way around. Reach out through helloflores.com to compare deck plans across the current boat selection and find the layout that actually fits your group.
Ready to see how a specific boat's deck plan stacks up for your trip? Get in touch with Hello Flores to compare layouts, cabin types, and availability before you book.
