Vinca
Vinca Deluxe Phinisi
Phone signal and power on a Komodo boat: plan to be mostly offline
Updated 10 October 2026
Vinca Deluxe Phinisi has local Wi-Fi, a hotspot off the crew's mobile signal, and no satellite internet. It works near Labuan Bajo, at the start and end of a route, and in patches between islands. Cabins are air-conditioned and the boat runs a generator, but the brochure does not list socket numbers, so bring a power bank. Tell family your dates before you board.
What works, and where
At sea, connection comes and goes. The boat's Wi-Fi is a local hotspot running off the crew's mobile signal, with no satellite link, so it works only where a phone would. That is the honest answer, and it applies on every route.
Where it works: near Labuan Bajo, and in patches between islands. In practice that means the first hour of day one, if your phone picks up a tower before the boat clears the harbour, and the last hour of the final morning, when the route runs back to the harbour. On the 3D2N that is Kelor and the sail home; on the 2D1N it is the final leg.
Where it dies: wherever the mobile signal does, which is much of the open water between islands. Some islands may give a bar or two. We do not plan around that, and neither should you. The practical rule is to treat the days at sea as mostly offline. Send what you need to send before you board.
If you must be reachable for work, this is the wrong boat, and the corporate page says the same thing in different words.
| System | Status | |
|---|---|---|
| Air conditioning (all cabins) | Fitted | Fully air-conditioned private cabins; indoor lounge also air-conditioned |
| Hot water | Fitted | Hot shower in every ensuite |
| Ensuite bathrooms | Fitted | 6 ensuite bathrooms, one per cabin |
| Bathtub | Fitted | Western rooms only |
| Snorkelling gear | Fitted | Included |
| Stand up paddleboards | Fitted | 2 boards |
| Tender speedboat | Fitted | Fibreglass, Yamaha 40 hp |
| Navigation & radio | Fitted | GPS, compass, map, VHF radio, handy talky |
| Life raft & life jackets | Fitted | Life raft for 25 persons, life buoys, life jackets, fire extinguisher, flare gun |
| Karaoke & TV lounge | Fitted | Sofa, TV and karaoke set in the indoor lounge |
| Open galley with chefs | Fitted | In-house chefs |
| Drone, GoPro & mirrorless documentation | Fitted | included on the open trip; on private charters on request, quoted separately |
| Local Wi-Fi on board | Fitted | Hotspot from the crew's mobile signal: usable near Labuan Bajo and in patches between islands; not satellite |
| Satellite internet | Not fitted | No Starlink or other satellite link published by the operator |
| Dive compressor & tanks | Not fitted | Snorkel boat; no diving equipment listed |
| Stabilisers | Not fitted | Not listed in the brochure |
| Jacuzzi | Not fitted | Not listed in the brochure |
| Elevator | Not fitted | Three decks reached by stairs |
| Beach dinner | On request | Included on private 4D3N+; otherwise an add-on (from IDR 2,950,000 per couple) |
| Birthday / honeymoon set-up | On request | Birthday package IDR 2,000,000; honeymoon package IDR 3,900,000 per couple |
Power on board
The boat has a Yanmar generator and a fresh-water tank, and every cabin is air-conditioned. The indoor lounge has a TV and a karaoke set. Nothing in the brochure says how many sockets each cabin has or which type they are.
Indonesia uses 230 volts, with two-pin round sockets. Bring a universal adapter and ask the desk what the cabins offer. So we admit the gap instead of guessing a number. A power bank is the safe answer: charge it the night before and again at the hotel.
Plan for the heavy users. Camera batteries, a drone, a laptop and a hair dryer are not the same demand as a phone. The crew documents the trip with GoPro, mirrorless camera and drone on the open trip, and on request on a private charter, so you may not need to fly your own.
- Bring: a power bank, a universal adapter, spare camera batteries.
- Do not count on: a socket beside your pillow, or a dryer.
Before you board: the offline checklist
Do the digital chores in Labuan Bajo, on the hotel's Wi-Fi, not on the quay or the boat's hotspot. Download offline maps, boarding passes, the trip confirmation and the desk's contact details. Save the WhatsApp numbers as contacts, since a message sent from the dock may not leave.
Tell family and work the day you board and the day you land. Give them the desk number, not the boat's, and tell them that silence for two or three days is normal. Set an out-of-office message that says the same.
Buy a local eSIM or SIM if you want signal on the ground in Labuan Bajo. We cannot promise a signal, or the boat's Wi-Fi, anywhere else on the route.
Bring offline entertainment. A book, a downloaded film for the lounge TV and a deck of cards work better than a plan to catch up on messages.
Fixed dates, mostly Mondays and Fridays. Not every Monday or Friday runs.
If something goes wrong
The boat carries a VHF radio and a handy talky for communication, plus GPS, a compass and a map for navigation. Safety equipment includes a life raft for 25 people, life buoys, life jackets, fire extinguishers and a flare gun. The crew of 7 runs the boat.
We have not published a satellite phone. If a family member needs to reach you, a message to the desk may wait until the boat is back in signal, or the captain relays by radio. That is a limit, and we state it before the deposit.
Travel insurance is recommended. Check that your policy covers boat trips and medical evacuation from Labuan Bajo, and carry your policy number on paper as well as on your phone.
Who this boat suits
- Couples who want a bathtub at sea: the Western rooms on the main deck.
- Guests who want a tatami table, big sea windows and a balcony strip: the Japanese rooms on the upper deck.
- Families sharing a Balinese room with an extra bed, with children under 3 travelling free.
- Groups of up to 18 who want a whole 31 m phinisi with 6 ensuite air-conditioned cabins and 7 crew.
- Snorkellers and paddleboarders who want sunset on the sundeck and a fixed 3D2N departure on Monday & Friday.
Who it does not suit
- Divers who need a compressor and tanks aboard: this is a snorkel boat.
- Anyone who needs reliable internet at sea: Wi-Fi is local only, no satellite link.
- Guests who need a stabilised steel hull, stabilisers or a lift between the three decks.
- Anyone expecting a jacuzzi on deck.
When this is the wrong boat
- You have one night and want the whole park: the 2D1N puts Kelor and Kalong on day one and Padar and Komodo on day two, with only one of Manta Point or Taka Makassar.
- You book a Balinese room expecting a balcony or sea-view windows: it has portholes on the lower deck.
- You are a light sleeper on the lower deck: engine noise is strongest there.
FAQ
Is there Wi-Fi on the boat?
Yes, local Wi-Fi only: a hotspot off the crew's mobile signal, with no satellite internet on board. It works near Labuan Bajo, at the start and end of the route, for example the sail home from Kelor of 50 to 70 minutes, and in patches between islands. Plan to be mostly offline for the days between.
Can I charge my phone and camera in the cabin?
Probably, but the brochure does not list socket counts or types, so ask the desk before you board. Bring a power bank and a universal adapter, since Indonesia runs on 230 volts. Charge everything the night before at the hotel, and carry spare batteries for the 3 days.
What if my family needs to reach me in an emergency?
Give them the desk's WhatsApp number. The boat carries a VHF radio and handy talky, but we have not published a satellite phone, so a message may wait until the boat has signal. Tell them your boat dates and expected landing time, for example 11:00 to 12:00 on the 3D2N.
Where is signal best on the route?
Near Labuan Bajo: the first stretch after pickup at 09:30, and the last stretch of the final morning, for example the sail from Kelor, 50 to 70 minutes from the harbour. Some islands may give a bar, but do not plan on it. The boat's hotspot follows the same map.
Can I work remotely from the boat?
Not reliably. Patchy local Wi-Fi with no satellite link means no reliable video calls, uploads or cloud sync on the days between boarding at 09:30 and the drop-off. If work needs a day of connection, take it at the hotel before boarding and after landing, and tell your team the dates in writing.
Check availability — Vinca
Vinca is owner-held and run by its own dedicated charter desk.