Lamima's crew welcomed guests back with an epic beach set up.
It’s been over two years since the world shut down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Indonesia was one of the many countries that restricted border movements in order to halt the spread of the virus.
For a region very used to welcoming a host of clients from all over the world, it was strange indeed to see all charter activity cease overnight. However, thanks to an influx of vaccines throughout the country (and the world), the Indonesian government reopened the borders to international guests in May 2022. With a focus on the future, yachts and their crew are ecstatic to be able to welcome you on board once again!
While lockdown may have begun abruptly here in March 2020, as of July, many yachts started offering domestic charters once again to those eager for respite at sea. Komodo National Park was truly magical to see with her lush green mountains towering over crystalline seas, and only one yacht at anchor at a time. As crews welcomed guests for the first time in months, it was hard not to be emotional as we all got back to doing what we love: sharing this beautiful part of the world with our valued guests.
Many locals, used to traveling internationally, took the opportunity to explore the wonder of their own country. Yacht calendars started filling up once again with groups of friends taking advantage of the deserted islands and quiet bays. Avid divers had no shortage of marine life to greet them, or natural wonders to behold. The buzz of booking guests onboard again carried us through, while the task of rescheduling our international guests kept us focused on borders reopening.
Without such resilient owners operating out of Indonesia, our time during the pandemic would have looked very different. From crews being kept onboard and available for domestic charters to an extensive refit by Dunia Baru’s new owners, and Rebel being launched amidst the pandemic, speaks volumes as to the tenacity and fervor of our owners.
Dunia Baru’s extensive 10-month refit saw a complete overhaul of her finishes without losing the traditional feel of this classic phinisi yacht. A refit of this size takes painstaking attention to detail, with the yacht now offering a more high-end appeal to those accustomed to the “white boats” of the Caribbean and Med. Even with the uncertainty of the pandemic, her new owners kept the entire crew onboard for the refit period, truly emphasizing family comes first with this yacht.
Launching a boat during a pandemic wasn’t easy, but we were honored to be a part of the very first charter onboard Rebel. Not only did we have guests discovering Komodo on this brand new, tastefully designed yacht, but her sister yacht, Rascal also had a full charter underway in Raja Ampat, starting the trend of these sister ships becoming a two vessel operation. To play even a small role in this historic moment was a true privilege we won’t soon forget.
As vaccine rates climbed around the globe, countries soon began to return to a “new normal.” Indonesia followed suit in May 2022 when the government announced the borders would reopen once again to foreign travelers and lift all COVID-19 restrictions. To say there was renewed interest in chartering here would be an understatement.
While we never want to create a false sense of urgency, we are contending with plenty of pent-up demand for the region, so we recommend booking early to ensure your preferred dates are still available in the calendar. There has never been a better time to charter here and be welcomed by the familiar warmth of the locals!
If you'd like more information on any of the yachts we have available or travel in Indonesia, please contact us at: info@indoyachts.com or +62 811 88 22 82 by phone or Whatsapp. We look forward to hearing from you.
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