Princess Dhonkamana, Maldives

Name: Classic Maldives (Male - Male)
Start: 2027-01-03
End: 2027-01-10
Location: Maldives

9.5 Exceptional

Nitrox available
Naturalist Guide
En-Suite bathrooms
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly

from $ 228 / day Check dates

En-Suite bathrooms - Princess Dhonkamana

“It was again a great experience with a perfect crew and fantastic divers - Thank you!”
Ulf H, Germany

Highlights

Flexible itineraries to showcase the best diving depending on season
Ample social areas and 3 sun decks
Large cabins with canopy beds

Join the MY Princess Dhonkamana yacht for a luxury dive or snorkel trip in the Maldives. Offering week-long itineraries, she caters to 20 guests in 9 comfortable cabins. Guests have the choice of double, twin or triple cabins, each with canopy beds, private bathroom facilities and individually controlled AC units. Spread around the yacht is ample room for rest, relaxation and socialising. There is a large indoor salon and bar where snacks are served in the evening to accompany the aperitif, and the large covered al fresco dining area is where a variety of delicious cuisine and chef-prepared dishes are served. There are also 3 sun decks and terraces with loungers and sofas spread around the boat for further relaxation.

Maldives dive itineraries with the M/Y Princess Dhonkamana explore the Central, Southern and Northern Atolls. The itineraries are flexible and are designed day by day depending on the season and what guests want to see, to be able to offer the best possible diving. Expect to see large pelagic life, lots of sharks, turtles and stunning reefs. The MY Princess Dhonkamana is accompanied by a separate diving dhoni, giving more space on board and making the dive experience much smoother.

To reserve your space aboard the MY Princess Dhonkamana yacht, call us or book online today.

Choose your departure date

Date

Itinerary

Price

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18 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 1,850

Select Cabin only 3 spaces left

25 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,080

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01 Nov

8 Days / 7 Nights

Last space for women only.

$ 2,080

Select Cabin only 1 space left

08 Nov

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,080

FULL

15 Nov

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,080

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

22 Nov

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,080

FULL

29 Nov

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,080

Select Cabin available

06 Dec

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,080

Select Cabin only 4 spaces left

13 Dec

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 1,850

FULL

20 Dec

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,293

Select Cabin available

27 Dec

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,949

Select Cabin only 4 spaces left

03 Jan

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 2,512

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

Included: VAT, Environment Tax, Airport Transfer, Drinking Water, Tea & Coffee, Welcome Cocktails, Beach BBQ, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Fishing, Land Excursions, Naturalist Guide, Snorkeling Guide, Beach Towels, Cabin Towels, Deck Towels.

Required Extras: Fuel Surcharge (€120 / week), Mandatory Service Charge (€90-128 / trip).

Optional Extras: Gratuities, National Park Fees (€3-11 / trip), Rental Gear.

Book now, pay later: You can easily place your booking online. We will then hold the spaces for you and you can confirm with a payment later.

* Extra fees are shown per person.

Pay by bank transfer or online with

Best Price Guaranteed

Boat features

Naturalist Guide
En-Suite bathrooms
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Air Conditioned saloon
Sun Deck
Nearly 1:1 Crew-to-Guest Ratio
Seaview Cabins
Naturalist Itineraries
Paid Internet
Non-Smoking Rooms
Custom built for diving
Charging stations
Indoor Saloon
Library
Outdoor Dining
Audio & video entertainment
Observation Deck
Fishing
Available for Charter
Local & International Crew
Separate Rinse for u/w Camera
Outside Showers
Leisure Deck
Daily housekeeping
Bar
Naturalist Guide

Food & Drinks

Fine Cuisine
Al Fresco Dining
Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Beer available
Wine Available
Full-board Option
Beach BBQ
Welcome Cocktails
Snacks All Day
Western Food
Set Menu Dinner

If you have any specific dietary requirements whilst on-board your cruise, you can add this to your special requests on step 2 of the booking form. We advise limiting these requests to religious beliefs or food allergies.

Diving

Nitrox available
Shaded Diving Area
DIN Adaptors
Rinse Hoses
Dive deck
Tenders for diving

Languages Spoken

The crew speaks English, French, Spanish, and Italian.

Gear Rental

Equipment is available for rent on this boat. Please provide your rental needs on the booking form. If the rental gear is not included in the price, you will need to pay for it on board the boat. Show prices

Drawings & Vessel Layouts

Cabin Types

Boat Specifications

Year built: 2008

Length: 31 meters

Beam: 10 meters

Cruising speed: 10 knots

Max guests: 18

Number of cabins: 10

Number of bathrooms: 9

Tenders: 1 Dhoni and 1 dive tender

Water capacity: 400 liters per hour

Princess Dhonkamana Reviews

9.5 Exceptional

Vessel

9.2
Crew

9.5
Food

9.8
Diving

9.5
Value

9.4

10 Exceptional
Patricia V
Switzerland

Magical
It was magical with lots of sharks, manta rays etc coming to the Maldives for many years and it's just a brilliant ambience - heartfelt thanks to Martina & the crew ❤️
Recommended for
Dive guide. Food. Ambiance.
20 Sep, 2026

Translated from German

10 Exceptional
Ronald W
Netherlands

Perfect and unforgettable experience in the Maldives on the Princess Dhonkamana
Well where will I start; It was my first liveaboard and my first time in the Maldives together with my 2 sons. The experience on and with the people of the Princess Dhonkamana was amazing! The stay on board is very comfortable and well equipped. We had a triple room with the three of us and we slept comfortably. The staff under guidance of the very friendly Martina was super. As you can read in the many reviews the food is amazing and very fresh. The divesites we have visited with our very nice and experienced divequide Ali where very good and sometimes because of weather conditions where easely and flexible adjusted. We have seen a lot of big and small animals; different (many) sharks, manta's, tuna, rays, turtles, coral, etc. We are spoiled now...The night dives where one of a kind. The route of the Central or Best of Maldives is beautiful. If you have any hesitations to book the Princess Dhonkamana don't! You will not regret it. Also thanks to the LiveAboard staff that responded always fast and very good. We will come back!
Recommended for
Perfect dive sites in the Maldives. Great boat with perfect food. Super friendly and experienced staff.
22 Sep, 2026

10 Exceptional
Agnes H
Austria

Couldn't have been better
Awesome dive sites, perfect food, very well managed, very nice and helpful crew. We loved it!
Recommended for
The diving, the food, the guides
23 Sep, 2022

10 Exceptional
Océane F
France

UNBELIEVABLE!
This cruise aboard the Princess Dhonkamana was one of our most beautiful experiences thanks to the whole crew. They are kind, helpful, and do everything to make you feel good. Thanks to Martina, who was our guide. Fortunately she spoke French and always took the time to brief us. We felt confident and well supported thanks to her. In addition, he is a smiling, very friendly and passionate person. The food was just amazing, varied, the only downside is... that you will gain 3kg! Congratulations to the cooks, whether it was savory or sweet it was extremely good!The small stops on the deserted beaches were very popular as well as on the local islands to buy souvenirs. The dives were superb and above all varied. We were able to live several experiences that will remain engraved in our memory.In summary... We were afraid to embark on our first cruise, and finally we are already ready to leave! Thank you all, you have contributed to this wonderful memory.Special mention to Marion working at Liveabord who made this stay possible and who was very kind in following up on our file.
Recommended for
Various dives. Perfect crew. Excellent food.
02 Aug, 2026

Translated from French

10 Exceptional
Lena R
Germany

Perfect Safari
We had a fantastic safari. The planning, the staff, the dives, the food, the boat, everything was great. We were particularly impressed that individual wishes were also taken into account during the dives. We will come back.
Recommended for
Selection of dives. Italian and Maldivian cuisine. Friendliness of all the staff.
05 Nov, 2024

Translated from German

10 Exceptional
Ana Sofia H
Portugal

Great week! Amazing dives, with very happy and helpful crew!
Excellent trip!
Recommended for
Dives-Food-Friendship
09 May, 2015

10 Exceptional
Bea G
Switzerland

perfect dive boad offers everything you need
great dive spots and amazing food
Recommended for
friendly and helpfull team, great dive spots, amazing food
18 Sep, 2023

10 Exceptional
sonia M
Germany

Unforgettable
Loved every single day. The will of the guides to make us have an amazing experience, adapting to our diving experience and to the daily conditions so that we can maximize the ocean experience. BRAVO!
Recommended for
Companionship, discovering, immensity of the ocean
02 May, 2021

9.6 Exceptional
Nicolas D
Switzerland

Beautiful boat with incredible dives and wonderfull crew and dive guide
everything was equally beautiful and nice
Recommended for
dives, island excursions, cabin
31 Oct, 2022

10 Exceptional
xiaobo H
China

Amazing dive trip
We saw the manta, white tips shark, nurse shark, Eagle rayan so on. Very very very good.
Recommended for
Delicious food, amazing dive point, friendly staff.
13 Sep, 2018

88 reviews

9.5 Exceptional
88 Verified Reviews

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10 Exceptional
Michael B
Switzerland

A great experience!
A great week with a very familiar atmosphere on the boat. The diving program has been adapted to the respective conditions - very flexible. Rental equipment: I was lucky and got a brand new BCD. Recommended: Nitrox. All the diving equipment stays on the dhoni (support boat) - that's great. Professional crew. Culinary top - a big compliment to the kitchen!
Recommended for
Night diving with manta rays. Eagle rays and various sharks. Atmosphere on the boat.
27 Dec, 2024

10 Exceptional
Zorian C
Poland

Perfect! Will be back soon! Grazie Mille!!!
Amazing trip. Ornella and entire crew: guides, captains, chefs, cleaning staff, biologist, technicians, all crew are fantastic people and great professionals. We had fantastic dives in some of the most iconic spots in Maldives. Entire organisation from the very beginning at the airport pick to until the very end was spotless. Food quality is just amazing, lots of delicious Italian dishes, Maldivian buffet, fresh fish… every meal was adventure. The MV Princes Dhonkamana is specious and comfortable boat with all you need for beautiful scuba adventure. Big thanks to Macana Dive and all crew members, and also other divers for unforgettable experiences. We will dive together again for sure. I can only highly recommend Macana Dive as operator and the MV Princess Dhonkamana boat. Everything was perfect!
Recommended for
Exceptional Crew. Great Diving. Amazing Food.
03 Dec, 2024

10 Exceptional
Stephanie S
Germany

Fantastic!!! I'll be back, next year :)
It was probably the best vacation of my life from start to finish, and I will never go on vacation in a hotel again,,, I discovered this way of vacationing ,,, on a dive boat ,,,, for myself and have already told the crew that I am planning my vacation with them again next year.
Recommended for
Manta diving, night dive, super nice crew
16 Sep, 2015

9.6 Exceptional
Johnathon W
United States

Worth it!
Excellent diving safari. Crew and Guides were exceptional and were safe, friendly, and fun. Food was great.
Recommended for
Sea life. Boat crew. Price.
02 Dec, 2025

10 Exceptional
Kelsey W
United States

Perfect trip every time with the mantas, turtles, and whale sharks!
I am so grateful for my experience on the Macana boats. This was my fifth time, and I could not be happier. The food, the staff, and the beautiful sea life make my heart happy. I truly love experiencing the manta rays, turtles, and whale sharks each time I come. I highly recommend every single time!
Recommended for
Snorkeling with manta rays, turtles, and a baby whale shark. Amazing food. Wonderful staff.
05 Oct, 2025

10 Exceptional
Hoyoung A
South Korea

Very good, esp. if your an italian!!
Pros and cons... Pros 1) Food was awesome, delicious italian cuisine in the middle of the ocean every single day!! 2) Large rooms!! 3) Friendly and helpful staff, accomodated all our needs!! 4) WHALE SHARKS (more than one) and DOLPHINS!!! Cons... If you're from italy, or are fluent in italian(which I'm not), then definitely recommended. If not, some consideration may be needed, as most of the guides are italian and are not completely fluent in english (except Ali, who is a native and speaks english well enough). Overall, we had a great time!!
Recommended for
Great food, friendly staff, WHALE SHARKS!!!!
17 Feb, 2016

8.8 Fabulous
Matthew W
United States

A beautiful, friendly, feel-good experience with amazing dives
Dhonkamana has visiting the islands down a rhythm. The core is based around about three dives a day, and three square Italian style meals a day. Each day we jump to a new location such as an atoll and get in between 2-4 dives from her support dhoni, Savari. Dives are amazing, including pinnacles, coral reefs, cleaning stations, and much more. Maldives still have an abundance of color fish, sharks, mantas, and much more. Feasting from the on board chefs happen on the back deck, and we never wanted for ample good quality pasta, fish, meats, fruits and more. In between that we fit in some visits to tiny islands, beaches,sandbars, a local town, and a nighttime barbecue. The dive guides are capable and friendly and we even got some additional PADI training and certifications. The top dives were probably the night dive with a dozen car-sized mantas doing underwater flips to eat, and a pinnacle with thousands of yellow snappers. All this for a very competitive price too. No guarantees, but this trip the guests had a very friendly vibe and team spirit too. All told a Dhonkamana trip is an easy recommend.
Recommended for
The incredible dive sites and dive experiences. Relaxed and friendly atmosphere on board. The beauty of the islands and navigating between them (often on the sun deck).
24 Sep, 2024

9.6 Exceptional
Kristina G
Germany

Wonderful trip with wonderful crew
Amazing trip with amazing dive spots ( manta cleaning station with 4 mantas , lots of sharks and other beautiful spots) . Martina (marine biologist and manager of the trip) was a really friendly helpful and caring, she really did an amazing job
Recommended for
wellcoming and warm atmosphere. Amazing activities, very special dive spots. Extraordinary crew.
06 Oct, 2024

9.6 Exceptional
Damian B
Poland

Fantastic journey to the world of dreams
A fantastic journey created by a dedicated and over-sympathetic crew lead by Mistress ;) and her daughter and a service team dedicated to our passion - diving. Maybe not the newest boat and not the biggest, but I dare say the best in terms of care and atmosphere. You will feel at home there. Those who have already been at least once on a diving safari already know that the appearance of the cabins or bathrooms is secondary (which does not mean that they are bad) other things count, the most important of which is the knowledge and experience of the captain and dive leaders. This is what you will find on this boat and will make the dives the best under certain circumstances and weather conditions. And one more thing at the end, if you don't like to eat or something like that then maybe choose another boat, because on this one you will be treated royally. Really! Finally, greetings in Polish to the entire crew: Pozdrawiamy Was serdecznie, Kochamy i dziękujemy za wspaniałą podróż: Damian & Krzysztof
Recommended for
A family atmosphere. eating. full care.
12 Dec, 2024

10 Exceptional
Nicole M
Germany

Pleasure for the senses on board and under water
Great crew and dive guides. Excellent briefings and lots of additional information about the underwater world
Recommended for
Detailed briefings before the dives. Food, a dream. Crew - friendly and helpful.
18 Oct, 2025

10 Exceptional
Adam K
Poland

Even better the second time!
It was my second trip with Macana on Princess Dhokamana, and somehow I enjoyed it even more this time! As always, the boat and the crew were fantastic. This time we stayed in a cabin on the upper deck, which made the whole experience even more comfortable and enjoyable. I can totally understand why some people say they come to Macana mainly for the food — the authentic Italian cuisine is simply unbeatable. This trip, though, was all about diving for me. The entire dive team does an amazing job, but we were especially lucky to be in Aya’s group. He’s an incredible guide — calm, focused, always in a good mood, and with an unbelievable eye for marine life, especially sharks! We had such a great time, and I honestly wouldn’t hesitate to come back to Macana for a third trip.
Recommended for
Guide and dives. Crew and hospitality on boat. Value for money.
14 May, 2026

8.4 Very good
Yannick B
Belgium

Friendly adventure
Despite bad weather at the start of the stay, the sharks and the food were very good and a excellent night dive with manta ray.
Recommended for
the crew. food. shark and manta.
13 Dec, 2024

10 Exceptional
Bruce K
United States

Great Trip
This was a fabulous trip with a great crew and great diving. Highly recommend.
Recommended for
Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, Amazing Night Dive
13 Sep, 2018

9.6 Exceptional
Manuela H
Switzerland

Lovely crew, great food,
This was our first liveaboard in the Maldives and we were blown away. The service, attention and diving were fabulous. We are spoilt now, it will be hard to have such a great experience again. The boat has 3 decks and we enjoyed eating outside a lot. Unfortunately the weather wasn't the best but we still had a great time with the crew and the other divers. We would definitely come back, any time! It's been great that we had divers from so many countries (France, Italy, Spain, Canada, Switzerland, Poland, Luxembourg).
Recommended for
Ornella and the whole crew. Fantastic Diving. Great food.
12 Dec, 2024

8.4 Very good
Nathalie T
Belgium

We did great dives in a great atmosphere with great dives masters.
Fantastic dive with nurse sharks. All the dives were fantastic!
Recommended for
Conviviality - Excellent cuisine - professionalism
25 Apr, 2023

10 Exceptional
Ferdie R
Netherlands

An Unforgettable Maldives Liveaboard Experience
Honestly, this was one of the best experiences of my life. It was our first liveaboard, and we weren't quite sure what to expect, but Princess Dhonkamana exceeded all expectations. The crew made sure we enjoyed every moment of the trip. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, the dive sites were spectacular (with plenty of sharks, manta rays, and other marine life) and the food was outstanding. I would highly recommend this liveaboard to anyone visiting the Maldives
Recommended for
The crew. The dives. The food.
24 Sep, 2026

Experience of a Lifetime
I’ve been fortunate to experience both the Princess Dhonkamana and Princess Haleema. Both weeks were such a breathtaking experience. The staff and boat crew are simply amazing and do everything possible to ensure all guests are happy and comfortable. The food is wonderful, and the chef takes such pride in making sure every guest has something to enjoy. The diving/snorkeling guides are also incredible and take the time to bring the guests to the most beautiful sites to see an array of fish, mantas, turtles, and sharks. I can’t recommend these boats highly enough, and I will keep going back!
Recommended for
Diving/snorkel guides, amazing food, swimming with Manta rays
09 Oct, 2023

10 Exceptional
Pat H
Germany

Dream trip of life time
First: The boat is very beautiful, I have been on many Liveaboard and this one for the first time makes me feel really HOME. The wooden bed is in a twin cabin and I do feel super private in my own bed with a real mattress. Hot warm water for a shower after dive, a refrigerator that works very well in my cabin. A/C is work prefect also in the cabin. Second: The Food is just amazing every meal as we have three courses..starter main and dessert or fresh fruits. The food on this boat is truly excellent. Third: The Dive ..all I can say is just Wow ! our week is under the best weather in the Maldives, zero rain, best visibility underwater. I have seen the best version of diving in the Maldives on this trip I will forever remember manta madness hovering above my head at the cleaning station .. Sharks, baby sharks.. turtles .. countless blue line snappers, whale sharks, 20+ eagle rays at once schooling playing with the current. Giant moray eels of all kinds and giant sting rays etc. Forth: The Crews are the best all of them Team. Start from pick up and drop off, on the boat or during the dives. I can't thanks them the Team enough for offering me best experience of diving in Maldives. Thank you so much.
Recommended for
Food , Boat , Diving with 5 Mantas at once , Whale Sharks , Sharks and more
14 Oct, 2022

10 Exceptional
Gillian P
United States

Absolutely Fantastic!
Manta rays and sharks, sharks, sharks and a whale shark too. So many fish and sea life. Many different types of dives and dive conditions. Great Dive Masters and boat crew, fantastic food, daily stops to deserted islands. I had such a good time, can't wait to book again.
Recommended for
The diving, the crew and shipmates, the food.
24 Feb, 2020

10 Exceptional
Claudio S
Italy

Beyond expectations
Perfect diving cruise, beyond expectations from every point of view, touching 5 atolls with 18 dives all different from each other and well organized thanks to the team of dive guides and the ship's crew ... . Really good and plentiful cuisine on board. To be redone!
Recommended for
Diving, dive guide team, food on the boat
05 Aug, 2022

Translated from Italian