Deposits and cancellation on Sulawesi liveaboards: two published sets of terms, compared

By Sulawesi Liveaboard Editorial Desk

Sourced figures: prices in the table carry their source and check month. Published fares are not our offers, and fees change.

Yes, both Sulawesi operators whose terms we compared ask for a deposit. White Manta wants a non-refundable 50% on booking, and Mermaid wants 30% within 10 days of booking on parties under 7 guests. Balance dates and cancellation outcomes differ as well. This is two operators and not a market norm, and booking through an agent can change the terms.

How much deposit do operators ask for?

Two published sets of terms are compared below. Other operators will have their own, and we do not extend these figures to them.

The size of the deposit tells you how much cash leaves your account early, not how much risk you carry. A smaller deposit that is refundable for a time and a larger one that converts only into credit are different products, even when the percentages sit side by side. The fee and deduction amounts behind that comparison sit in this page's price table.

When is the balance due?

Earlier on Mermaid than on White Manta: 60 days against 6 weeks. Take a published date as an example. Mermaid's Lembeh and Togian sailing begins on 16 February 2027, so a final payment 60 days ahead falls around 18 December 2026, which is easy to miss over the year-end holidays. Put the date in your calendar on the day you book.

The balance may not be your last payment either. White Manta asks for its fuel surcharge and marine park fee to be settled before the trip. La Galigo keeps the option of asking for a fuel allowance as late as 30 days out, so a further charge can still arrive close to sailing. Ask for a dated list of everything you will be asked to pay, and when, rather than one balance date.

What happens if you cancel?

The outcome depends on how far out you are, and the two operators give you different things back.

White Manta offers credit and not cash. On a direct booking, cancelling more than 6 months out gets you future trip credit less a fee, and cancelling at 3 to 6 months gets you the same credit less a higher fee. Credit only has value if you can use it, so before relying on it ask how long it lasts, whether it transfers to another person, and whether it applies to a higher fare on a later sailing.

Mermaid refunds the deposit less a per-person deduction if you cancel more than 90 days out, and gives no refund inside 60 days. Notice how that lines up with the final payment date. Inside 60 days you will have paid in full, and nothing comes back, so the whole fare is exposed from that point. Those terms do not describe the period between 90 and 60 days, so read the policy page itself or ask.

Missing the boat is a separate problem from cancelling. One operator's cut-off for late arrivals is in the guide to getting to the boat, and neither set of terms above promises money back in that case. Assume a missed departure costs you the trip until someone tells you otherwise in writing.

Does travel insurance help?

Yes, if the policy has a cancellation section that fits your reason for cancelling. Mermaid's policy urges guests to carry both travel and cancellation insurance, which is a fair signal of how much of this it expects you to carry yourself.

Do not confuse that with the insurance operators require for boarding. White Manta insists on dive and travel cover, and every La Galigo guest must show valid travel cover. Those rules are conditions of coming on board, and meeting them does not tell you your deposit is protected. What a given policy pays lies in its wording, so read the wording for three points: which reasons for cancelling count, whether a non-refundable deposit is covered, and how soon after booking you must buy. Evacuation is a separate subject, with its own page on dive insurance and evacuation cover.

What should your booking terms say?

Before you send a deposit, the document in front of you should answer each of these. If one is missing, ask, and keep the reply.

• Who is the contracting party, by legal name, and which document governs if an agent is involved?
• What is the deposit, what is its due date, and in what currency?
• What are the exact dates for the balance and for any fuel or park fee payments?
• What do you get back at each stage, in money or in credit?
• Can a confirmed price change after booking? White Manta says it added an amount to its fuel surcharge for existing bookings on 20 March 2026, so this is a live question.
• What happens if the operator cancels, moves the date or substitutes a vessel?
• Do the terms change for a group? Mermaid's stated terms are for bookings under 7 guests.

Booking through an agent adds a layer. White Manta's credit terms are stated for direct bookings, so an agent's booking may run on different ones. Ask the agent for the terms that actually bind you, not the operator's public page.

We have a stake here too. This site signs nothing itself and publishes no departures of its own; any fee and payment terms are stated in the offer, and our disclaimer names the companies that issue contracts. A request through the desk can become a contract with one of them, so read it as sceptically as any other set of terms on this page. The broader checklist is on how to choose a Sulawesi liveaboard.

Which questions come up about deposits and refunds?

Do Sulawesi liveaboards require a deposit?

Yes, at both operators compared here. White Manta asks for 50% on booking and Mermaid asks for 30% within 10 days of booking on parties under 7 guests. We do not extend those figures to other boats.

Is a liveaboard deposit refundable?

It depends on the operator and the timing. White Manta states its deposit is non-refundable, though it offers future trip credit on direct bookings. Mermaid refunds its deposit less a deduction if you cancel more than 90 days out.

When is the final payment due?

White Manta asks for full payment 6 weeks before departure. Mermaid asks for final payment 60 days before departure on bookings under 7 guests.

Can I move my trip instead of cancelling?

Yes at White Manta on a direct booking, through future trip credit less a fee, when you are more than 3 months out. Ask Mermaid directly, since the terms we compared describe a refund and not a credit.

Do agent bookings follow the same terms?

Not always. White Manta's credit terms are stated for direct bookings, so an agent's booking may differ. Ask the agent which document governs and get a copy before paying.

Which sources support this page?

• White Manta: booking information
• Mermaid Liveaboards: booking policy
• White Manta: Lembeh and North Manado trip
• La Galigo: frequently asked questions
• La Galigo: Bangka, Lembeh and Sangihe trip
• Mermaid Liveaboards: Mermaid I schedule and rates

How do I reach the desk?

Send the operator's terms or the sailing you are weighing, along with any clause you want to understand before paying. Please do not send card details. WhatsApp +62 811-3941-4563 or email bd@juaraholding.com.