The Arenui is a traditional Indonesian Phinisi made to the most exacting standards in South Sulawesi in 2007 and fitted out in Bali and Java. Over 12 different kinds of wood were utilised to craft the boat, and the decor and carvings sourced from old Javanese houses have been used to provide a unique Indonesian experience to the vessel.

140ft in length, the Arenui boasts 8 sumptuous suites for just 16 guests, 4 deluxe cabins on the lower deck and 2 master suites and 2 deluxe twin cabins on the upper deck. All cabins have been luxuriously furnished in a tasteful and individual manner, evoking Gods from the Hindu religion. Each cabin has a private en-suite bathroom and individual air conditioning. A king-size bed or over large single beds and a separate lounge area provide space and comfort.

The Rama & Shinta Master Suites are on the upper deck and perfect for couples – especially honeymooners!! - looking for something extra special, with stunning sea views though the 7 large windows. 20sq metres in area with king-size beds, daybed and private balcony with loungers, individual air conditioning, minibar and safety deposit box.

The Barong and Ganesh Deluxe cabins are also located on the upper deck. Perfect for individuals of friends who don’t wish to “co-sleep!” each cabin is 19 sq metres in size with 2 single beds, a writing desk, en-suite bathroom, 2 large windows, individual air conditioning, minibar and safety deposit box.

The Legong, Garuda, Toraja and Dayak Deluxe double cabins are almost identical in shape and area and can be found on the lower deck. Suitable for couples or individuals each cabin has either a king-size or queen-size bed, 1 single-bed, en-suite bathroom, large portholes, individual air conditioning, minibar and safety deposit box.

Each cabin is decorated with handicrafts collected from across the country, and give them a truly Indonesian flavour.

One of the key features of the Arenui is the huge restaurant and lounge area, which takes up the entire central space on the main deck and reaches across the full width of the vessel. The design is not only practical - to offer the most relaxing environment for guests, but also decorative - in keeping with the traditional Indonesian theme of the boat.

At one end is a large counter for buffets and snacks, as well as tea and coffee facilities. Below this are fridges stocked with wine, cold soft drinks and juices. Above the counter are 2 LCD screens for showing movies, slideshows and also displaying dive briefings. Behind the counter is the galley, from where a delicious array of haut cuisine appears at regular intervals throughout the day. In the centre is a wooden stairwell leading down to the lower deck cabins, featuring an exquisite locally-crafted panel depicting the traditional Ramayana story. Either side of this you’ll find long tables, each designed to accommodate 6 to 8 guests comfortably. With an open bench on one side, this design allows freedom of movement for guests. It avoids the usual problem on liveaboards, where a row of diners get stuck in the middle of the bench and can’t easily move without disturbing other diners.

Opposite the long tables, again on both sides, are 2 smaller tables – ideal for couples – with uninterrupted views out across the ocean. The windows are a key feature, that run along the full length of the room on both sides, offering not only great light throughout the day but also panoramic views of the Indonesian islands as we sail through the picturesque landscapes.

At the front end of the saloon are 2 over-sized, curved sofas – one in each corner. With a table in front they are ideal for 2 or 3 diners, a group of divers writing up log-books, or a relaxing place for flicking through photos on your laptop, or just a spacious day-bed for reclining with a book or a movie.
In addition, there are 2 workstations with iMacs (equipped with both windows and mac operating systems and software), 2 charging stations with shelves for storing your equipment and the entire space is kept at a comfortable temperature with 3 air-con units and 2 swinging fans.

The Arenui has 3 main outdoor areas, including the largest deck you’re likely to find on an Indonesian liveaboard. The dive deck is in front of the restaurant, on the main deck. As wide as the boat, this area has plenty of space for guests to kit-up and personal dive equipment storage areas. There are wooden counters for camera equipment, with drawers below for pelican cases, masks, snorkels, rash-guards, SMBs and other small items, plus 2 rinse tanks. In the centre is a comfortable sofa bench, which makes putting on a wet suit wetsuit much easier.
The Sky Restaurant, on the upper deck above the indoor restaurant, is a perfect place for al fresco meals and watching the changing landscapes. There are 2 large tables in the centre, which can accommodate up to 20 people. At the front are 2 special “double” sun-beds – space enough for 4 guests to sun bathe or just relax in the evening. There is a telescope for those keen on a session of star-gazing, and 2 large antique spotlights which were salvaged in Jakarta from an old, sunken French ship. The area has a moveable canopy for shade.

Behind the Sky Restaurant is the Sky Lounge – a favourite spot with most guests. In addition to an outdoor shower for cooling off and a wooden bar for drinks, the area features daybeds and benches all fitted with thick comfy mattresses. You can relax up there with a book or some music, chat with fellow guests or get an outdoor massage. There are spaces open to the elements for the sun-lovers among you but also a large canopy for shade.

Arenui has a complement of 22 crew members; 3 divemasters, 2 chefs, 2 cruise directors, skipper, engineers, boat boys, stewards and masseurs.  
Between dives you can, if you wish just relax on the boat, but if you’re feeling a little more energetic, then there are 2 man kayaks for exploring uninhabited coves and islands, visits to local villages and trekking across the island wilderness. If even relaxing sounds too much like hard work, then you could completely unwind with a massage to sooth those aching bones.

For photographers there are charging stations for all your equipment, extension cords and adaptors to cater to different systems and plenty of table space for using your own laptop; the experienced cruise directors are always happy to assist with most of your photo and computer needs during the cruise.
Arenui has an exceedingly extensive range of cruises on offer, travelling around Indonesia to catch the best weather and diving conditions. From May to October Arenui generally stays near Komodo National Park, taking in dive sites and landscapes from Bali right across to Flores and Alor. In November the boat move towards Ambon in Maluku and the Spice Islands in the Banda Sea, working its way north east to the Raja Ampat area of Western Papua to continue dive cruises from December through until April.

If you are looking for a fantastic liveaboard experience then you will be hard pressed to find one as life changing as that to be had on Arenui. She has limited space for 2012 so you will probably have to consider 2013 or later to get the cruise area or time of year that suits you best. Please click the schedule link above for a full list of trips on offer.