Maldives liveaboard · Vessel guide · Checked 8 November 2026 · By Abdulla Maseeh
Princess Maani Liveaboard, Maldives
Princess Maani is a 42-metre dive liveaboard launched in November 2024, with 14 cabins for 28 guests, two jacuzzis, free nitrox and a 19-metre diving dhoni. She runs seven routes from the classic Best of Central Atolls week to the 11-night 10 Atolls crossing, with 7-night retail rates from about US$2,688 per person before fees. Below: every cabin, the deck plans, each itinerary, the full cost and live cabin availability.
Princess Maani in brief
She is the newest of the three boats run by the Italian-Maldivian team behind Top Class Cruising, and the one we send guests to when they ask for a modern boat without paying luxury-yacht prices. Four decks, a 1,000 hp Cummins engine good for 12 knots, five dive guides and a chef team of two. Cabins are on three decks, the lounge and bar on the upper deck, and the sundeck has loungers, bean bags, kayaks and paddleboards.
What sets her apart on the central-atoll routes is space: Deluxe I cabins on the main deck are the size of a small resort room, and the dive dhoni Ruby is big enough that 28 divers kit up without queueing. The flip side is that she is a large boat, so if you want a six-cabin charter with your own friends, look at Noah or Emperor Virgo instead.
Cabins on Princess Maani
Fourteen cabins in three types, all en suite with air conditioning, a safe and daily housekeeping. Every Deluxe bed splits into twins, so couples and buddy pairs can take any cabin.
| Cabin | Count | Deck | Beds | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superior | 6 (101 to 106) | Lower deck | Double, twin or single use; 101 and 106 take a third bed; 103 and 104 are twin only | Opening window and porthole, safe, wardrobe, large shower box |
| Deluxe I | 4 (201 to 204) | Main deck, restaurant level | Separable king-size twin | Three forward-facing windows, the most spacious cabins on board |
| Deluxe II | 4 (301 to 304) | Upper deck | Separable king-size twin | Very large panoramic windows, slightly smaller than Deluxe I |
Families: cabin 101 (and 106 on request) takes a third bed; a third adult pays 20 percent less and a child under 12 pays half. Solo divers: a single-use cabin carries a 60 percent supplement, or book a shared same-sex berth in a Superior twin at the normal per-person rate.
Deck plans
Reading from the bottom up. Lower deck: the six Superior cabins (101 to 106) either side of a central corridor, with the crew quarters and engine room aft. Main deck: four Deluxe I cabins (201 to 204) forward, then the galley, the air-conditioned saloon and the al fresco dining area at the stern, with the dive deck and dhoni boarding platform behind. Upper deck: four Deluxe II cabins (301 to 304) forward of the lounge and cocktail bar, with the wheelhouse ahead. Sundeck: the bow jacuzzi, loungers and the observation area.
Diving from Princess Maani
All diving is from the dhoni Ruby, a 19-metre, 360 hp fibreglass dive tender that stays alongside the mothership and carries the tanks, so the main deck of Princess Maani never smells of neoprene. Three dives a day are the norm, with one or two night dives per trip depending on length, and a fourth dive when the cruise director can fit it in.
Central-atoll weeks suit any certified diver with a few logged dives, since the channels of Vaavu and South Ari can be drifted gently or hard depending on the tide. The southern routes are different: Fuvahmulah’s tiger sharks, Huvadhoo’s channel mouths and the open crossings on 10 Atolls want Advanced Open Water and recent current experience. We check the minimum for your departure with the cruise director before you commit. Read our Fuvahmulah shark diving guide and the Maldives dive sites guide for what each atoll delivers.
Routes and itineraries, 2026 to 2028
Seven itineraries. The 7-night Best of Central Atolls runs most weeks of the year; the rest slot into their seasons. Deep South, South Atolls and 10 Atolls trips start or end at Gan in Addu, so budget a domestic flight.
| Route | Atolls | Length | When it runs | Retail from, per person | Service fee / Green Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best of Central Atolls | North Malé, South Malé, Vaavu and Ari | 7 nights | Year round | US$2,675 | US$150 / US$84 |
| Best of Central Atolls XL | Malé atolls, Vaavu, South and North Ari, Rasdhoo | 10 nights | Dec to Feb, Aug to Sep | US$4,463 | US$215 / US$120 |
| Manta Madness | North Malé, Baa (Hanifaru, snorkel only) and North Ari | 7 nights | Aug to Oct | US$2,750 | US$150 / US$84 |
| Northern Highlights | North Malé, Baa, Raa and North Ari | 10 nights | Oct, Aug | US$4,463 | US$215 / US$120 |
| Wild Deep South | Addu, Fuvahmulah and Huvadhoo | 9 nights (also 9 to 11) | Feb to Apr | US$3,856 | US$190 / US$108 |
| South Atolls | Addu to Huvadhoo one way | 8 nights | Mar | US$4,000 | US$172 / US$96 |
| 10 Atolls, 2 Hemispheres | Malé to Addu or Addu to Malé, across the equator | 11 nights | Feb to Apr | US$4,713 | US$235 / US$132 |
See what a full week really costs, fees included, with our liveaboard price calculator. Service fee and Green Tax are paid on board in cash. Park fees: US$20 per person in Baa Atoll (Manta Madness, Northern Highlights) and a Tiger Zoo dive fee at Fuvahmulah on southern routes. Hanifaru Bay in Baa is snorkel only by law, so the manta encounters there are from the surface.
Two routes are worth singling out. Manta Madness (August to October) is the one to take if mantas are the point: Hanifaru snorkelling in the morning, cleaning-station dives in North Ari in the afternoon. Wild Deep South (February to April) is the Fuvahmulah and Huvadhoo trip for sharks, with 9 or 10 nights because the distances are long. See our Fuvahmulah liveaboard guide.
Life on board
Two chefs, one European, cook buffet style in the saloon or at the stern table, with Western, Maldivian, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes and a sandbank barbecue once a week. The upper-deck bar does cocktails, beer and wine (paid), and the two jacuzzis are where most surface intervals end up.
Wi-Fi is paid (US$50 per person for a week), laundry is available, and a massage can be booked ahead. Cabins are no smoking; the sundeck is not.
Prices and what is included
Liveaboard pricing in the Maldives has two layers: the cruise rate, which includes diving, meals and T-GST, and the on-board extras that every boat charges. Here is the full list for Princess Maani so there are no surprises at check-out.
Included in the cruise rate
- Three dives a day, 16 to 18 on a 7-night trip, one night dive included
- Nitrox free of charge
- Diving dhoni and dinghy, 13 litre aluminium tanks, weights and belts
- Full board buffet, drinking water, tea and coffee
- Airport transfers on scheduled cruise dates
- One beach barbecue, weather permitting
- Daily snorkelling, island and sandbank visits, fishing from the boat where allowed
- Maldivian T-GST at 17 percent
Paid on board or separately
- Green Tax, US$12 per person per night, paid on board
- Mandatory service fee, US$150 per person for 7 nights, rising to US$255 for 12 nights, cash on board
- Fuel surcharge, only if unavoidable
- Flights, including domestic flights to Gan for Deep South and 10 Atolls departures
- Dive insurance (DAN temporary cover can be bought on board)
- Equipment rental, 15 litre tanks, courses and extra dives
- Baa Atoll park fee of US$20 on Manta Madness and Northern Highlights; Fuvahmulah Tiger Zoo dive fee on southern routes
- Wi-Fi, US$50 per person for 7 nights up to US$110 for 12 nights
- Soft drinks and alcohol
Groups: 9 paying guests get a 10th place free, 14 get two free, and a full charter of Princess Maani gets three free places. Full-charter rates are quoted on request. Prices on this page are indicative, taken from the operator’s published retail sheet, and are not a HolidayVibe rate; ask us for a quote and the cost calculator for your dates.
Departures and cabin availability
Taken from the operator’s cabin-by-cabin sheet and refreshed every day (last check shown under the table). “Cabins available” means at least one whole cabin is open; “shared places only” means a single bed in a same-sex twin; “on option” means a group is holding it and we can ask for release.
| Departs | Nights | Route | Cabins | Retail from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Nov 2026 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Full | US$2,688 |
| 21 Nov 2026 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Full | US$2,750 |
| 28 Nov 2026 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Full | US$2,750 |
| 5 Dec 2026 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Full | US$2,750 |
| 12 Dec 2026 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Full | US$2,750 |
| 19 Dec 2026 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Full | US$2,688 |
| 26 Dec 2026 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Cabins available | US$3,000 |
| 2 Jan 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Full | US$2,688 |
| 9 Jan 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Full | US$2,750 |
| 16 Jan 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Cabins available | US$2,688 |
| 23 Jan 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Full | US$3,000 |
| 30 Jan 2027 | 11 | 10 Atolls 2 Hemispheres - way down 11-N | Cabins available | US$4,713 |
| 10 Feb 2027 | 9 | Wild Deep South - 9-N | Cabins available | US$3,856 |
| 19 Feb 2027 | 10 | Wild Deep South - 10-N | Cabins available | US$4,285 |
| 1 Mar 2027 | 10 | Wild Deep South - 10-N | Full | US$4,285 |
| 11 Mar 2027 | 9 | Wild Deep South - 9-N | Full | US$3,856 |
| 20 Mar 2027 | 11 | 10 Atolls 2 Hemispheres - way up 11-N | Shared places only | US$4,713 |
| 3 Apr 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Full | US$3,000 |
| 10 Apr 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Cabins available | US$3,000 |
| 17 Apr 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Full | US$2,750 |
| 24 Apr 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Full | US$2,750 |
| 1 May 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Full | US$2,750 |
| 8 May 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | On option, ask us | US$2,750 |
| 15 May 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Full | US$2,750 |
| 22 May 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Cabins available | US$2,750 |
| 31 Jul 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Cabins available | US$3,125 |
| 7 Aug 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Cabins available | US$3,125 |
| 14 Aug 2027 | 7 | Manta Madness | Cabins available | US$3,125 |
| 21 Aug 2027 | 11 | Northern Highlights - 11 nights | Cabins available | US$4,900 |
| 1 Sep 2027 | 10 | Best of Central XL - 10 nights | Cabins available | US$4,463 |
| 11 Sep 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Cabins available | US$3,125 |
| 18 Sep 2027 | 7 | Manta Madness | Full | US$3,125 |
| 25 Sep 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Cabins available | US$3,125 |
| 2 Oct 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Full | US$3,125 |
| 9 Oct 2027 | 7 | Manta Madness | Cabins available | US$3,125 |
| 16 Oct 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Cabins available | US$3,125 |
| 23 Oct 2027 | 7 | Manta Madness | Full | US$2,750 (Early Bird Booking) |
| 30 Oct 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Cabins available | US$3,125 |
| 6 Nov 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Cabins available | US$3,125 |
| 13 Nov 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Cabins available | US$3,125 |
| 20 Nov 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Cabins available | US$3,125 |
| 27 Nov 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Cabins available | US$3,125 |
| 4 Dec 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Cabins available | US$3,125 |
| 11 Dec 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Cabins available | US$3,125 |
| 19 Dec 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Cabins available | US$3,125 |
| 26 Dec 2027 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Cabins available | US$3,500 |
| 2 Jan 2028 | 6 | Best of Central Atolls - 6 NIGHTS | Cabins available | US$2,675 |
| 8 Jan 2028 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Cabins available | US$3,125 |
| 15 Jan 2028 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | On option, ask us | US$2,875 (Early Bird Booking) |
| 22 Jan 2028 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Full | US$2,875 (Early Bird Booking) |
| 29 Jan 2028 | 7 | Best of Central Atolls | Full | US$3,063 (Early Bird Booking) |
Retail from-prices are per person for the lowest cabin on that departure, published by the operator. Availability changes daily; we reconfirm before taking a deposit. Last checked 12 Nov 2026.
Who Princess Maani suits, and who should look elsewhere
Book her if you want
- A boat built in 2024 with suite-sized Deluxe cabins and big windows.
- Free nitrox and three dives a day with a large, fast dhoni.
- The widest route choice in the fleet, including Deep South and 10 Atolls.
- A non-diving partner kept happy: jacuzzis, kayaks, island stops.
- A full charter for a dive club of 20 to 28.
Look elsewhere if you want
- A small boat with six to eight cabins and a private feel.
- The lowest possible price: sister boat Sachika is cheaper on the same routes.
- Guaranteed Hanifaru scuba: nobody can offer that, it is snorkel only.
- Included Wi-Fi and drinks.
| Princess Maani | Princess Haseena | Sachika | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built | 2024 | 2016, refitted 2026 | Sails to May 2027 |
| Length | 42 m | 32 m | Ask us |
| Cabins / guests | 14 / 28 | 12 / 26 | 10 / 25 |
| Jacuzzi | Two | No | No |
| Nitrox | Free | Free | Free |
| Routes | All seven | All except Wild Deep South | Central, XL, Deep South, 10 Atolls |
| 7-night retail from | US$2,688 | US$1,688 | US$2,500 |
Princess Maani: questions we get asked
How much does Princess Maani cost per person?
Published retail rates for a 7-night Best of Central Atolls cruise start around US$2,675 per person in a Superior cabin, with Deluxe suites higher and longer southern routes from about US$3,856. Add the service fee, Green Tax and park fees listed above. We quote the exact figure for your dates and cabin, and our rate is often below the published one.
How many dives do you get on Princess Maani?
Three a day, which works out at 16 to 18 dives on a 7-night cruise, 19 to 21 on 8 nights and up to 31 to 33 on a 12-night trip. One night dive is included on 7 to 9 night trips and two on 10 nights or more. There is no diving on check-in day or in the 24 hours before your flight home.
Is nitrox free on Princess Maani?
Yes. Nitrox fills are included for certified nitrox divers. If you are not yet certified, the crew can run the course on board for a fee.
Which cabin should I pick?
Deluxe I on the main deck if you want the largest cabin and a forward view; Deluxe II on the upper deck for the biggest windows; Superior on the lower deck for the best value, with cabins 103 and 104 as twins for buddies sharing. Solo divers can book a shared M or F berth in a Superior twin and avoid the 60 percent single supplement.
Can non-divers or snorkellers join?
Yes. The dhoni runs snorkel drops near most dive sites, the central-atoll routes include island and sandbank stops, and the boat carries kayaks and paddleboards. Two jacuzzis help too.
What experience do I need for the Deep South routes?
Wild Deep South, South Atolls and 10 Atolls cross open channels with current and include the Fuvahmulah tiger shark dives. Advanced Open Water with recent drift experience is the realistic minimum, and we confirm the logged-dive requirement with the cruise director for your departure before you book.
Where does Princess Maani depart from?
Central and northern routes start and end at Malé (Hulhulé), with transfers from the airport included on cruise dates. Deep South and 10 Atolls trips start or end at Gan in Addu, which needs a domestic flight that we add to your booking.
Is the availability on this page live?
The departure table is taken from the operator’s cabin-by-cabin availability sheet and was last checked on 8 November 2026. Cabins marked available can still sell between checks, so we reconfirm before taking a deposit.
Why book Princess Maani with HolidayVibe
- Trusted brandHolidayVibe is a trusted brand in the Maldives travel industry, licensed by the Ministry of Tourism (MOT.O1.RS.TA.25.RD9933) and based in Malé.
- We know the boatsWe work directly with the operators, hold their cabin-by-cabin availability and have walked the decks. No call centre in another time zone.
- Full-cost quotesEvery quote lists the cruise, service fee, Green Tax, park fees, nitrox, gear and transfers, so the price you see is the price you pay.
- Often better value than booking sitesOperators give local agents their best rates. We pass that on and still answer on WhatsApp within the hour.
- Fishing, surf and dive on one deskNeed a fishing charter before the dive week, or a resort night after? One team books all of it.
Keep planning
- All Maldives liveaboardsEvery boat we book, with filters for route, month and budget
- Liveaboard boats directoryCompare cabins, guests and from-prices side by side
- Maldives liveaboard cruises guideHow a dive safari week works, from check-in to the last no-fly day
- Diving in the MaldivesAtolls, seasons, marine life and dive resorts
Written by Abdulla Maseeh, HolidayVibe Maldives, Malé. Vessel facts from the operator’s 2026 specification and media kit; availability and retail rates from the operator’s agent sheet, checked 8 November 2026. Photos: Princess Maani / First Class Cruising.