Lightfoot’s Senior Sales Consultant Diana shares highlights from her recent voyage through Raja Ampat aboard Rebel, from extraordinary diving and hidden lagoons to life on board with her young son.
When people see photos of Raja Ampat, it almost looks unreal. Turquoise lagoons, limestone islands rising out of the sea, empty beaches everywhere you look, and the most colourful underwater world, teeming with life. The marketing images make it look incredible – and honestly, it is. The best way to experience the remote islands of Raja Ampat is by staying on a liveaboard. I spent a week onboard one of the Rascal Voyages boats, Rebel. Before this trip I’d done a few liveaboards already – one in Komodo on a traditional phinisi and another on a catamaran. Rebel felt completely different from those. The best way I can describe it is a floating villa.
- 01. First impressions: a boat that feels like a villa
- 02. Travelling with a three-year-old
- 03. Is Rascal safe for children?
- 04. What the days actually look like
- 05. The underwater world of Raja Ampat
- 06. Private voyages vs shared departures
- 07. Why Rascal works so well for families
- 08. Why this kind of trip feels so special
One of the things that surprised me most was how spacious Rebel feels. Sometimes when people imagine a liveaboard, they worry about small cabins or feeling confined. I’m actually someone who doesn’t love small enclosed spaces, so that was something I was aware of before boarding. But Rebel really doesn’t feel like that at all. The cabins are huge, and every single one has a massive window looking out to the ocean. When you wake up in the morning you are greeted by a completely new view, as the boat travels at night. This really adds to the sense of discovery, as you’re constantly moving through the islands rather than staying in one place.
The bathrooms are another surprise. Normally on boats they’re quite small, but here they feel like hotel bathrooms. There’s strong water pressure, everyone can shower at the same time with hot water, and you don’t have to worry about things like not flushing when the boat is docked. That sounds like a small detail, but if you’ve travelled on boats before you’ll know how unusual that is.
The crew are incredibly attentive, and their hospitality feels warm and genuine. Every time we stepped out of our cabin and came back later, the room had been tidied again. It happened at least twice a day, and they were always leaving little surprises or thoughtful touches. You really feel looked after.
First impressions: a boat that feels like a villa
Travelling with a three-year-old
I travelled with my husband and our three-year-old son, Asher. My husband and I love diving, so Asher was slightly dragged along on this adventure with us! He’s not really interested in sea swimming yet, but the crew completely embraced him from the first day. Whenever we came back from an excursion, whether it was a dive or a beach visit, the crew would welcome us back with so much energy. There would always be a welcome drink waiting for us, and Asher had his own version too.
He would get so excited every time we returned from a dive, waving from the boat and eagerly asking what we had seen underwater. We’d open the identification book together and point out the different fish. I loved how genuinely curious and interested he was. Every day, the crew left him a small surprise in the cabin. One day it might be crayons and ocean-themed colouring activities, another day a little toy boat. He would rush back to the room every afternoon just to see what was waiting for him.
The crew also made things for him using traditional materials. At one point they made a little toy car out of pomelo skin because he loves cars. Another day they created one using woven coconut leaves. These are small things, but they’re the ones he remembers most and still talks about.
In the mornings, he loved going up to the bridge. The captain would say hello, invite him to sit in the chair, and once they even let him press the horn. He thought that was the best thing in the world.
This is one of the biggest questions parents ask. Before travelling, I also wondered whether being on a boat with a young child would feel stressful. But Rascal Voyages has clearly thought about families in the way everything is designed.
There are safety nets around the outer decks and on the rooftop deck where sunset drinks are served, so even if a child trips or leans too far, there’s protection in place. Certain ladders and areas are also blocked off, so children can’t slip through.
When we went snorkelling, there was always a crew member in the water carrying a life buoy. Children can hold onto it while floating and looking at the reef, so there’s always supervision and support.
In my view, Rascal is suitable for guests of almost any age because of the safety measures in place, the attentive crew, and the spacious decks. However, to really get the most out of the experience, I would say children aged four and above are ideal, especially if they’re comfortable in the water. At that age, they can fully join in with the activities and will absolutely love it.
Is Rascal safe for children?
What the days actually look like
One of the things I enjoyed most about my time on board was the rhythm of each day. Typically the divers would go out in the morning while the sea is calm. Then in the afternoon the focus might shift more towards beach visits, kayaking, paddleboarding or snorkelling. One day we snorkelled off a completely empty beach. Another day we climbed up to a viewpoint overlooking a lagoon shaped like a heart.
In the evenings there were sunset drinks on the rooftop deck, and one night the crew organised a pop-up dinner on a beach under the stars. You’re constantly moving through different islands and lagoons, so every morning you wake up somewhere new.
The five-night voyage I joined explored the southern part of Raja Ampat around Misool. The route changes depending on weather and conditions, but typically includes reef snorkelling, lagoon exploration, village visits and hidden beaches. It feels very adventurous, but also very relaxed.
I’ve dived in quite a few places, but Raja Ampat really is something else. The reefs are unbelievably colourful, and the scale of them is huge. Some of the sea fans are bigger than I am. When you realise that corals only grow centimetres each year, you suddenly understand how ancient these ecosystems are. There’s also just an overwhelming amount of life.
At one point we were diving and suddenly a shoal of fish surrounded us completely. Everyone wanted to shout or laugh but obviously we were underwater so no one could say anything. When we surfaced afterwards everyone was just like, “Oh my god, did you see that?”
Even the snorkelling is incredible. One of my favourite moments wasn’t actually a dive, it was snorkelling off a quiet beach where the reef was absolutely packed with fish. You genuinely don’t know where to look. So even if you’re not a diver, you won’t miss out at all.
The underwater world of Raja Ampat
Private voyages vs shared departures
One of the things I think people find confusing about Rascal Voyages is how the bookings work. There are two ways to travel.
Private charter:
If you charter the entire boat, it becomes your own floating villa. There are five cabins, so it’s ideal for families travelling together or a group of friends. Before the trip you’ll have a call with the voyage manager who plans everything with you – whether you want specific dive sites, more beach time for children, or particular wildlife you hope to see. Then the captain and crew shape the itinerary around that.
Cabin voyages (shared trips):
If you don’t want to charter the whole boat, you can book individual cabins on a scheduled voyage. There are only five cabins in total, so even on a shared departure there are usually around ten guests on board. What’s nice is that the crew actually review the guest profiles beforehand. If most guests are divers they might prioritise dive sites. If more people on board prefer snorkelling, the team will adapt the schedule accordingly. But honestly, no diver or snorkeller will ever miss out – with two dinghies available, the day can easily be planned to accommodate both activities.
And because everyone has chosen this kind of trip, the atmosphere tends to be very friendly. After a dive everyone gathers around talking about what they saw underwater. It’s very easy to connect with people.
Rascal Voyages offers shared journeys to Komodo, Spice Islands and Ring of Fire, but of course, if you charter the boat privately, you can build your own journey. Some of the shared cabin voyages are family oriented and some are focused on sustainability, where you will have the chance to take part in coral restoration.
I think Rascal is especially good for families travelling together. Two families can easily charter the whole boat and have a fantastic time.
There’s also the option of hiring a babysitter for the week if parents want extra help, which only costs US$1,500. And because there are always crew members around, you never feel like you’re managing everything alone. There are also lots of simple activities for children – beach games, treasure hunts, snorkelling, kayaking, and arts and crafts inspired by the ocean.
Why Rascal works so well for families
Why this kind of trip feels so special
What I loved most about Rascal is the sense of being completely removed from everything. There are no crowds, no beach clubs, no traffic. Just islands, reefs, and open ocean. In the evenings you sit on the deck looking at the stars, and the only sound is the water moving past the boat. Right now, when the world often feels quite chaotic, there’s something very special about that. It really does feel like a Robinson Crusoe escape.
And the best part is that every day brings something new – another island, another reef, another moment where you look around and think: I can’t believe this place exists.
Considering a liveaboard journey through Indonesia? Our specialists can help you plan a Rascal voyage through Raja Ampat, tailored around diving, snorkelling, and family exploration.
Photography credits: Rascal Voyages, Diana's own
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