Usually not. On most Raja Ampat cruises the two government charges sit outside the cruise fare: the Marine Park Conservation Card and the Raja Ampat Regency visitor ticket, paid via SIPARI. The current rates are set by the authorities and confirmed at booking, so confirm the invoice line before paying.
A cruise quote can look complete and still leave these two items out. They are public charges set by government, not by the boat, so many operators treat them as separate costs. The money is modest. The hassle is not: a missing card or ticket at a ranger-controlled landing in Wayag is a problem nobody wants on day two.
What are the two Raja Ampat fees in 2026?
Two separate charges apply, issued at two different levels of government, with different validity rules. Rates are set by the authorities and can change, so confirm the current figures at booking.
| Marine Park Conservation Card | Raja Ampat Regency visitor ticket | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | West Papua Governor’s Regulation No. 4 of 2019 | Regency visitor ticket, collected through SIPARI |
| Foreign guest | Confirmed at booking | Confirmed at booking |
| Indonesian guest | Confirmed at booking | IDR 300,000 |
| Validity | 12 months | Per visit |
| Children | Under 12 exempt | Confirm with your operator |
| Where to pay | Counters in Sorong and Waisai, or arranged by your operator | SIPARI, or arranged by your operator |
| Current rate | Confirmed at booking | Confirmed at booking |
The validity gap matters more than most guests expect. Cruise Dampier Strait in November, return for Misool in March, and the card still covers you. The regency ticket does not, so you pay it again.
Is the marine park fee included in a Raja Ampat cruise price?
It depends on the format and the contract wording, not on the price level. A cheaper share trip is not automatically more likely to exclude it, and an ultra-luxury flagship is not automatically more likely to include it.
Read the inclusions clause before the headline number. Our breakdown of all inclusive cruise inclusions shows what an all-in phinisi fare should cover, from meals and diving to transfers, and where government charges tend to sit.
For scale: shared luxury phinisi cabins and private Raja Ampat charters are quoted on request for the specific vessel, dates, duration, guest count and inclusions. Against a full cruise fare, the per-person government fees look minor. On a private charter with several foreign guests they add up, which is worth knowing before the final payment.
Independent listings show the same separation. LASHA Phinisi, for example, sets a 5-night minimum, with rates quoted on request, and lists a per-person, per-night entrance fee on top. That per-night line is the operator’s own presentation, not the government’s structure, which is exactly why two quotes need comparing line by line.
How do operators show the fees on an invoice?
You will usually see one of three patterns:
- Excluded. The fees appear under “not included”. You buy the card at the counter and the regency ticket through SIPARI yourself.
- Collected separately. The operator adds a line in IDR for the conservation card and regency ticket, buys both on your behalf, and hands over the card or receipts.
- Bundled. The fare is described as all-inclusive and the fees sit inside it. Ask for this in writing, with the rates used.
Two cautions. An invoice line is not the permit itself: a ranger wants the card or the SIPARI proof, not a booking confirmation. And if rates change between booking and departure, agree in advance who carries the difference. Komodo Luxury’s reservations team can confirm which pattern applies to a specific 2026 or 2027 departure.
Where and when do you actually pay?
All cruises start and end in Sorong, at Domine Eduard Osok airport (SOQ), reached via Jakarta or Bali. There are no direct international flights, and that shapes the timing:
- Regency ticket (SIPARI): complete it before you fly, so proof is saved on your phone.
- Conservation card: buy it at the Sorong or Waisai counter, or have the operator arrange it before you board. Every guest needs a passport on hand.
- Children: bring proof of age for anyone under 12 claiming the card exemption.
Do not leave both to departure morning. Flights into Sorong connect through other airports, delays happen, and a cruise schedule rarely waits for a counter queue.
How much should you budget for your group?
Government fees are charged per person, so multiply the per-guest rates confirmed at booking by the number of guests, allowing for child exemptions and any Indonesian guests paying domestic rates. The exchange rate on the day changes what you pay in other currencies.
What documents should you carry on board?
Keep a paper copy and an offline phone copy of each:
- Passport for every guest, with names matching the SIPARI ticket
- Marine Park Conservation Card, or the operator’s purchase receipt
- SIPARI regency ticket proof for this visit
- Indonesian ID (KTP) for any guest paying the domestic rate
- Proof of age for children under 12
- Booking confirmation stating whether fees are included, excluded or collected
- Flight itinerary into and out of Sorong (SOQ)
- Travel insurance, plus dive insurance if you plan to dive
- Visa documentation where applicable
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I pay both Raja Ampat fees again on a second cruise in the same year?
Not both. The Marine Park Conservation Card stays valid for 12 months, so a second trip inside that window needs no new card. The Raja Ampat Regency visitor ticket is charged per visit through SIPARI, so a foreign guest pays it again each time. Keep the original card with your passport.
Does a private charter rate per yacht per night already cover the marine park fees?
Do not assume so. A private Raja Ampat charter is quoted on request for the whole vessel, based on dates, duration, guest count and inclusions, which makes it a vessel rate. Government fees are charged per person, so check whether your contract lists them as excluded, collected separately or included, and ask for the IDR rates in writing.
Do children and Indonesian guests pay the same Raja Ampat fees as foreign adults?
No. Children under 12 are exempt from the Marine Park Conservation Card. Indonesian guests pay domestic rates, which differ from the foreign-guest rates; confirm the current figures at booking. Carry ID, and confirm with your operator how the regency ticket treats children.