Sea Safari, Luxury Pinisi Cruise Ship


Sea Safari Cruises special for Pinisi cruising to sailing in to Indonesia archipelago. We will aim to give you some history of the boat, also at the same time provide you the answers to the most commonly asked question about the boat, Sea Safari Cruises, and about the Pinisi design it is most commonly referenced too.

The Bugis people of south Sulawesi, once feared as pirates, have always been the most skilful ship builders and sailors of Indonesia. Their vessels, perahu and phinisi were and still are hand-crafted entirely from timber.

Phinisi or Bugis Schooners have been used for centuries as cargo-carriers, plying the ancient trade routes between the islands of the Malay Archipelago, carrying anything from lumber to coca-cola crates. The phinisi are elegant two-masted schooners with mainsails, top-sails and three jibs. Today, while still hand-built by native craftsmen and fully laid out in tropical hardwood with traditional rigging, they usually hold an engine in addition to the sails.

Reliability
Although Bugis people are famous for the skill to build vessels without the need of any paper or calculations, relying only on their ancestral knowledge, our vessels are the product of a joint effort between western naval architects and traditional Bugis skill, in keeping with the traditional design of the Phinisi vessels. Much attention is given to the vessel's maintenance, heeding to an annual docking period and periodical checks to the all major technical installations on board.

Comfort
Our spacious air-conditioned, en-suite cabins, the dining/recreational area and the large deck-space with comfortable deck chairs and sun benches make the Katharina perfectly suitable for extended exploration or leisure cruises.

Safety
Sea Safari Phinisi Cruises are fully equipped with the latest in navigational equipment: radar, depth sounder, GPS, VHS, all band radios and satellite telephones.

For personal safety, we carry life-jackets, inflatable life-rafts, buoys and for the communication of emergency conditions beacons, flares and IPIRB.

Sea Safari cruises offers you the opportunity to view and understand what each of the vessels in the Traditional Fleet of Indonesia, are capable of providing to the adventurous vacation traveler. Traditional Fleet vessels operate migratory Adventure Cruises to many different ports throughout the archipelago. These programs provide the traveler with rich cultural and natural science experiences, with accommodations aboard traditional Bugis Pinisi schooners.

The Traditional Fleet also provides a wide range of options for scuba divers and adventurous sailors. Our Live-Aboard Dive Boats operate short 2 and 10 night dive operations to most of the isolated parts of Indonesia's vast island paradise. Dive operations cover Komodo, Raja Ampat, Alor, Wakatobi, Selayar Island and frankly the list to long to cover in this introduction.

Our Wildlife Exploration Cruises provide the traveler with a scientific approach to the natural wonders of Indonesia, with visits to the Komodo National Park, Raja Ampat, Alor and even bird watching programs to Irian Jaya. Traditional Fleet vessels are always available for Private Charter for those who seek the ultimate in adventure cruising.