Komodo Specifically with Oceania

[2552phxcrzr]

I understand that some cruise lines allow passengers who book private excursions (with local guides) to tender to Komodo Island, while others "require" passengers to book a ship-sponsored excursion if they want to tender into port. Can anyone enlighten me as to Oceania's specific rules re: Komodo.

[Paulchili]

When we visited Komodo with Oceania (several years ago), you had to book with them to go ashore.

Are there enough guides to book private tours when ships are in port?

[RJB]

I understand that some cruise lines allow passengers who book private excursions (with local guides) to tender to Komodo Island, while others "require" passengers to book a ship-sponsored excursion if they want to tender into port. Can anyone enlighten me as to Oceania's specific rules re: Komodo.

Where is Komodo? What cruises go there? Guess I do not know as much as I thought I did.

[2552phxcrzr]

When we visited Komodo with Oceania (several years ago), you had to book with them to go ashore.

Are there enough guides to book private tours when ships are in port?

 

There must be as several cruise lines do allow passengers who book with local tour guides to tender ashore. From what I have read, the guides provide the park rangers with a list of booked passengers, and the park rangers then submit a list to the cruise line listing the names of people who are booked privately so that they too can be tendered ashore.

 

I'll eventually get around to asking O, but I wanted to see what others sailing O might have experienced in the past.

[2552phxcrzr]

Where is Komodo? What cruises go there? Guess I do not know as much as I thought I did.

 

It's an Indonesian Island. Many of the world cruises stop there ... I imagine some of the other cruise lines that include Indonesia on their itinerary may also stop at the island. The primary attraction is seeing Komodo Dragons in the wild.

[LHT28]

Our friends went there & had to do the O tour in order to go ashore

[RJB]

It's an Indonesian Island. Many of the world cruises stop there ... I imagine some of the other cruise lines that include Indonesia on their itinerary may also stop at the island. The primary attraction is seeing Komodo Dragons in the wild.

Hope I am able to get there one day. Sounds interesting.

[Waynetor]

We have a group doing a private tour on the upcoming world cruise. We supplied our names and cabin number to the guide and were told the guide will use this to get us clearance. Hoping it all works out.

[Travelcat2]

We visited Komoto Island with Regent. Since it is a sister company to Oceania, I would assume that you need to book with Oceania in order to visit the island (I could be wrong but this is a very small island - I cannot imagine them having "tour companies" there -- only ranger type people that escort you through the area).

[2552phxcrzr]

We have a group doing a private tour on the upcoming world cruise. We supplied our names and cabin number to the guide and were told the guide will use this to get us clearance. Hoping it all works out.

 

I'll keep my fingers crossed that it works out.

[bronte2]

Quite a lot of cruise ships sail to Komodo Is especially those that cruise from Australia.

 

We have been twice, on two different lines. The last time we didn't bother going ashore as once you have seen the dragons you've seen them :)

You shouldn't have any trouble arranging a private excursion as a number of people on our last cruise did just that.

 

One of the rangers informed us that most of them travel over to Komodo from the nearby island of Flores especially to guide the cruise ship passengers. I would imagine that the other tour operators also travel over from Flores as there are diving snorkelling tours run from Flores to Komodo and surrounding islands so you shouldn't have any trouble finding a tour operator.

 

We went with a ship's excursion the first time we went and the rangers were very good. We were divided into small groups and the ranger also pointed out various trees and shrubs as we walked and of course provided details of the lives of the dragons. (interestingly, we found out the young dragons live in the trees to avoid getting eaten by the adults :eek:)

 

Just be aware that Komodo is a national park and as such there is (or was) an entrance fee payable so just check that this is included in whatever is the cost of the excursion - assuming of course, that the fee is still in operation. As far as I recall, it was in March 2015.

 

It will also be very hot so make sure you have a hat and sunscreen and water. It would also pay to apply insect repellent before going ashore.

 

Enjoy your time on Komodo whatever you choose to do.

[2552phxcrzr]

Quite a lot of cruise ships sail to Komodo Is especially those that cruise from Australia.

 

We have been twice, on two different lines. The last time we didn't bother going ashore as once you have seen the dragons you've seen them :)

You shouldn't have any trouble arranging a private excursion as a number of people on our last cruise did just that.

 

One of the rangers informed us that most of them travel over to Komodo from the nearby island of Flores especially to guide the cruise ship passengers. I would imagine that the other tour operators also travel over from Flores as there are diving snorkelling tours run from Flores to Komodo and surrounding islands so you shouldn't have any trouble finding a tour operator.

 

We went with a ship's excursion the first time we went and the rangers were very good. We were divided into small groups and the ranger also pointed out various trees and shrubs as we walked and of course provided details of the lives of the dragons. (interestingly, we found out the young dragons live in the trees to avoid getting eaten by the adults :eek:)

 

Just be aware that Komodo is a national park and as such there is (or was) an entrance fee payable so just check that this is included in whatever is the cost of the excursion - assuming of course, that the fee is still in operation. As far as I recall, it was in March 2015.

 

It will also be very hot so make sure you have a hat and sunscreen and water. It would also pay to apply insect repellent before going ashore.

 

Enjoy your time on Komodo whatever you choose to do.

 

Thanks, bronte2 ... I've already made note of the NP entrance fee ... we'll be ready with cash should the fee not be included. If the O groups are small (under 20), then I might consider a ship's excursion ... otherwise ... well, let's just say large groups and wildlife viewing don't always go hand-in-hand ;-)

[zoncom]

Was there on O late Spring. National Park with a pier. Only Park Rangers allowed as guides.The tab was $148 which I thought excessive. CD Andy got me some dragon magnets, which I really appreciated. Just a bunch of trees to me. One lady saw several dragons, another saw none.

[bronte2]

The National Park fee is quite expensive which is one of the reasons we didn't go ashore the second time we were there as apart from the dragons there isn't a lot to see and you can't go ashore without a tour organised. The dragons just roam around so for starters it isn't safe to wander around by yourself.:D

 

Some of the tours also include a tour to Pink Beach (both private and some ship tours) and most people who included this seemed to enjoy it.

 

We saw heaps of dragons on our trip - there was even one 'resting' under the ranger's house when we returned to the pier. They are huge beasts so if you are interested in seeing the dragons in their natural habitat, it's worth going ashore. If you aren't interested in the dragons then clearly, it isn't worth it.

 

in days gone by, prior to cruise ships visiting Komodo, tourists would buy a goat and travel over from a nearby island to see the dragons and feed them. This no longer happens and the dragons are not fed but instead are left to fend for themselves. We were surprised to find deer wandering around among the dragons although some of the dragons were snoozing but one in particular was eyeing off our group :eek:

 

I thoroughly enjoyed our time ashore and everyone I spoke to on both our trips to Komodo saw dragons. This doesn't mean that perhaps there were those who didn't which would be very disappointing. I have some great photos of the dragons (they are so ugly only their mothers could love them), but I'm not technologically adept enough to upload them here.

 

BTW I thought the scenery sailing in and out from the anchorage was quite beautiful especially at sunset. One time was in November and Komodo Is was very dry, the second time was in March and it was a lot greener.

 

h2so4 - may your see lots of dragons (reasonably) up close!