A day on board, from the first tea to the last meal

Take the second day of the 3D2N route as an example. It begins before sunrise with a cup of tea or coffee, then the climb up Padar in the half-light. By the time the sun is up, you are back on board and breakfast is served.

The morning moves between Pink Beach and Komodo Island, with a walk led by a ranger. Lunch is served on board, then the afternoon belongs to the reefs at Taka Makassar and Manta Point, where you swim with the snorkelling gear and life vest that come with the boat.

The evening is quiet. Dinner is served in the dining room or at a table on deck, and the night is spent on board. The clock times are not fixed, because the tide and the weather set them, and the captain decides on the day.

Meals on board are included in the fare, and so are drinking water, coffee and tea. Meals are set by the boat's kitchen, so the dishes are not printed here.

If you or anyone in your party has a dietary need, tell us before departure, whether it comes from religion, health or taste. We pass it to the kitchen and reply in writing with what can be done. Please do not assume a particular dish, a particular tea or a particular style of cooking until we have confirmed it.

Advisor's note. Water, coffee and tea cost nothing extra, so nobody needs to carry water to the boat. Other drinks are not in the fare, so bring any you want, or ask us beforehand whether any are sold on board.

Each of the six cabins has an ensuite bathroom and air conditioning. No cabin shares a bathroom. Families, older guests and anyone who hates a queue notice that difference first.

The Master cabin is on the main deck, the Deluxe cabins on the upper deck and the Superior cabins on the lower deck. The Family cabin takes four. Cabin sizes and bathroom fittings are confirmed in writing before you pay.

The dining room is indoors with a view, and a second table stands outdoors on deck. The sundeck sits on the upper deck.

Seasickness is personal, and nothing here is medical advice. Ask your own doctor or pharmacist what suits you, and start any remedy before the boat sails, not after the first wave.

A few habits help most people. Eat lightly before the sail. Drink water. Look at the horizon rather than at a book or a phone. Stay in the open air when the boat moves, and lie down in the cabin if you feel unwell. Fresh air and a fixed point on the horizon do more than worrying ever will.

The calmest water comes from April into June and from October into November. July and August bring wind, and January and February bring rain and rougher water. These are seasonal patterns, not a forecast for your date.

We do not rank Elrora's decks by how much they move, because we have no measurement for this hull. What we can say is where things are: the sundeck and open air on the upper deck, the two Superior cabins with portholes on the lower deck, the Master cabin on the main deck.

If seasickness worries you, say so when you book. We put your cabin choice in writing before the cabins are fixed, and we suggest a calm month for your dates.

Many guests find that fresh air and a clear view of the horizon help most. Choose for the person who worries, and bring the remedy they already trust.

Pack lightly. Take shoes with a firm sole for Kelor and Padar, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen that is safe for reefs. Add swimwear, a light layer for the evening and a small backpack for the walks, and keep any personal medicines in your hand luggage.

Take some cash for tips and small expenses in town. Other drinks are not in the fare, so pack any you want.

Leave the hard suitcase at the hotel if you can. A soft bag fits a cabin better and is easier on the stairs between decks. Pack your passport and your phone in a waterproof pouch for the pier and the snorkel stops.