Duke of York, 36 metres and four decks. Photo: Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Luxury Yacht Maldives · Italian-run since 1990 · Updated 8 November 2026 · By Abdulla Maseeh

Duke of York Liveaboard, Maldives

Duke of York is a 36-metre wooden liveaboard built in 2010, the larger of Luxury Yacht Maldives’s two Italian-run yachts, with 11 en-suite cabins for 22 guests (26 in triples), a massage room and free nitrox. She cruises Sunday to Sunday from Malé through the central atolls most of the year, runs the Deep South and Fuvahmulah from January to April, and goes to Baa for the mantas in autumn. 2027 rack rates are US$330 to US$480 a night including GST, so a 7-night week costs US$2,450 to US$3,500 before the Green Tax.

Check dates See 2027 dates

36 mwood, 4 decks, built 2010

22 guests11 cabins, up to 26 in triples

17 divesa week, nitrox free

39departures with places to Dec 2027

Duke of York in short

The Duke of York and Conte Max liveaboards side by side at sea with a tender in front, Maldives — Duke of York and her sister ship Conte Max. Photo: Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Duke of York is the flagship of Luxury Yacht Maldives, the Maldives brand of the Italian company Albatros Top Boat, which has run liveaboards here since 1990. Her sister ship is the smaller Conte Max, and the two often sail the same week. Expect an Italian cruise director, Italian and international cooking, and a crew of 9 or 10 with four dive guides and a dedicated snorkelling guide.

Four decks give a lot of space for 22 people: a shaded lounge at the bow of the first deck, a covered lounge on the second, a sun deck on top, an air-conditioned saloon with a library and bar, and a covered outdoor restaurant at the stern that seats 24. The boat is wood, with teak on the main deck and parquet inside, and goes into dry dock every year.

Who she suits

Divers who want three dives a day with nitrox, couples where one partner snorkels, and groups: the yacht takes requests for a custom route and runs themed weeks such as a manta expedition with a biologist and a freediving week. Families are welcome; children aged 2 to 11 pay 30 percent of the adult rate, without diving.

Where Duke of York goes through the year

Central Atolls

Most of the year, 7 nights

Malé, Ari, Vaavu and Rasdhoo: manta stations, Fish Head, Maaya Thila, South Ari whale sharks and the Alimatha night dive. See our Central Atolls guide.

Deep South

Late January to mid April

One-week legs between Laamu, Huvadhoo, Fuvahmulah and Addu with domestic flights at each end, then a 14-night run back to Malé. Tiger sharks at Fuvahmulah. Read the Deep South guide.

Baa and the manta expedition

September and October

A Malé to Baa week in September, then two October weeks with a manta biologist on board between Malé and Dharavandhoo. Hanifaru is snorkel only; see the Baa Atoll guide.

Duke of York dates, places and prices

The next twelve months of departures, read daily from the operator’s own schedule, with the shared places left out of 22 and the rack price per person for the trip, including the service charge. No departures are listed from June to late July. 2026 weeks are sold at offer rates (20 percent off in November); we quote those on request.

November 2026

15 NovCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · Ask us9 places
22 NovCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · Ask us7 places
29 NovCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · Ask us4 left

December 2026

6 DecCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · Ask us3 left
13 DecCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · Ask usOn option
20 DecCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · Ask us20 places
27 DecCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · Ask us18 places

January 2027

3 JanCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · Ask us2 left
10 JanCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$3,2208 places
17 JanCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$3,220All 22 places
24 JanDeep South, Malé to Kooddoo7 nights · Malé to Kooddoo · US$3,2204 left
31 JanDeep South, Kooddoo to Kaadedhdhoo7 nights · Kooddoo to Kaadedhdhoo · US$3,2206 places

February 2027

7 FebDeep South, Kaadedhdhoo to Fuvahmulah7 nights · Kaadedhdhoo to Fuvahmulah · US$3,2204 left
14 FebDeep South, Fuvahmulah to Kaadedhdhoo7 nights · Fuvahmulah to Kaadedhdhoo · US$3,2205 places
21 FebDeep South, round trip from Kaadedhdhoo7 nights · Kaadedhdhoo to Kaadedhdhoo · US$3,220Full
28 FebDeep South, Kaadedhdhoo to Fuvahmulah7 nights · Kaadedhdhoo to Fuvahmulah · US$3,220Full

March 2027

7 MarDeep South, Fuvahmulah to Kaadedhdhoo7 nights · Fuvahmulah to Kaadedhdhoo · US$3,220Full
14 MarDeep South, Kaadedhdhoo to Kooddoo7 nights · Kaadedhdhoo to Kooddoo · US$3,220Full
21 MarDeep South, Kooddoo to Kaadedhdhoo7 nights · Kooddoo to Kaadedhdhoo · US$3,220Full
28 MarDeep South, Kaadedhdhoo to Gan7 nights · Kaadedhdhoo to Gan · US$3,220Full

April 2027

4 AprAddu to Malé, 500 miles14 nights · Gan to Malé · US$6,440Full
18 AprCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$3,220All 22 places
25 AprCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,83520 places

May 2027

2 MayCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,835All 22 places
9 MayCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,835All 22 places
16 MayCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,835All 22 places
23 MayCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,835All 22 places

July 2027

25 JulCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,835All 22 places

August 2027

1 AugCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,870Full
8 AugCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,87020 places
15 AugCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,87020 places
22 AugCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,87014 places
29 AugCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,630All 22 places

September 2027

5 SepCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,450Full
12 SepNorth: Baa and Hanifaru7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,450Full
19 SepCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,450All 22 places
26 SepCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,570All 22 places

October 2027

3 OctCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,870All 22 places
10 OctManta Expedition with a biologist (Malé, Ari, Baa)7 nights · Malé to Dharavandhoo · US$2,87018 places
17 OctManta Expedition with a biologist (Malé, Ari, Baa)7 nights · Dharavandhoo to Malé · US$2,870All 22 places
24 OctCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,870All 22 places
31 OctApnea (freediving) week7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,870All 22 places

November 2027

7 NovCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,870All 22 places
14 NovCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,870All 22 places
21 NovCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,870All 22 places
28 NovCentral Atolls7 nights · Malé to Malé · US$2,870All 22 places

Central AtollsDeep SouthBaa and mantasFreediving week

From the operator's live schedule, checked 12 Nov 2026. Places are shared places not yet confirmed or on option; a week on option may still open up. Prices are the operator's rack rate per person in a double cabin for the whole trip, with 17 percent GST and the US$140 weekly service charge; the Green Tax of US$12 a night is extra. "Ask us" means an offer rate applies.

What a week on Duke of York costs

Luxury Yacht Maldives published rack rates for Duke of York, per person in a double or twin cabin, US dollars, 17 percent GST included. The 7-night column adds the US$140 weekly service charge; the last column adds the Green Tax of US$12 a night, paid on board. From the 2027 and 2028 rate sheets.
Season	Per night	7 nights incl. service charge	With Green Tax
10 Jan to 24 Apr 2027	US$440	US$3,220	US$3,304
25 Apr to 31 Jul 2027	US$385	US$2,835	US$2,919
August 2027	US$390	US$2,870	US$2,954
September 2027	US$330	US$2,450	US$2,534
October to 18 Dec 2027	US$390	US$2,870	US$2,954
Christmas week, from 19 Dec 2027	US$410	US$3,010	US$3,094
New Year, 26 Dec 2027 to 8 Jan 2028	US$480	US$3,500	US$3,584
9 Jan to 29 Apr 2028	US$460	US$3,360	US$3,444
30 Apr to 31 Jul 2028	US$400	US$2,940	US$3,024
August, October, November 2028	US$410	US$3,010	US$3,094
September 2028	US$360	US$2,660	US$2,744

In the price

Cabin with en-suite bathroom, full board: three meals and an afternoon snack
Water, tea, American coffee and fruit
Up to 17 dives a week including night dives, with free nitrox
Guided snorkelling, two or three outings a day, and a free try-dive for non-divers
Airport transfers by dhoni, island visits, a beach dinner, sunset fishing, kayaks and SUPs
17 percent GST

On top

Service charge: US$140 per person per week
Green Tax: US$12 per person per night, paid on board
Drinks other than water, tea and coffee; Wi-Fi (Starlink) US$30 a week per device
Rental kit, courses, underwater scooters and 15-litre tanks
Domestic flights on southern and Baa trips; Hanifaru fee US$30; at Fuvahmulah, US$500 a night port fee shared by the group and a US$30 tiger shark dive fee
Tips, and a fuel surcharge if oil passes US$1.10 a litre

A worked example: a central week in October 2027 costs US$2,870 per person in a lower-deck cabin with the service charge, plus US$84 Green Tax, so US$2,954, or about US$422 a night. An upper-deck cabin adds US$400. Compare that with other boats in our liveaboard price guide.

Cabins and deck plan

Duke of York cabins by deck, from Luxury Yacht Maldives’s deck plan and rate sheet. Every cabin has its own bathroom with a shower cubicle and individual air conditioning. Single occupancy of a double cabin is 80 percent extra; a third adult in a triple pays 20 percent less.
Cabins	Deck	Beds	Light	Rate
1, 2, 7, 8	Lower	Double + single (triple)	Portholes	Standard
3, 6	Lower	Two singles	Portholes	Standard
4	Lower	Two singles, sold as a single	Porthole	Ask us
9	Main	Two singles	Windows	+ US$400
10, 12	Upper	Two singles (12 can be a double)	Windows	+ US$400
11, 14	Upper	Two singles, doors to the stern deck	Windows	+ US$400

Lower deck triple cabin on Duke of York with a double bed and a single bed, wood panelling, Maldives — Cabins 1 and 8, a double and a single bed. Photo: Richy Maldives / Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Lower deck twin cabin on Duke of York with two single beds and towel animals, Maldives — Cabins 3 and 6, twin beds. Photo: Richy Maldives / Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Main deck twin cabin 9 on Duke of York with two beds and curtained windows, Maldives — Cabin 9, main deck. Photo: Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Upper deck twin cabin 10 on Duke of York with sea-view windows and air conditioning, Maldives — Cabin 10, upper deck. Photo: Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Upper deck cabin 11 on Duke of York with glass doors opening onto the stern deck, Maldives — Cabin 11, facing the stern deck. Photo: Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Upper deck twin cabin 14 on Duke of York with two single beds, Maldives — Cabin 14, upper deck. Photo: Luxury Yacht Maldives.

En-suite cabin bathroom on Duke of York with a basin, toilet and porthole, Maldives — Every cabin is en-suite. Photo: Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Which cabin? For the best light and the quietest nights, book cabin 11 or 14 on the upper deck, with doors to the stern deck, or cabin 12, which can be set up as a double. They cost US$400 more. The lower-deck triples, cabins 1, 2, 7 and 8, are the best value for three friends or a family, because the third adult pays 20 percent less.

Lower-deck cabins sit closer to the engine and have portholes rather than windows, which matters most on long crossings such as the Deep South. Bring a UK plug adaptor: sockets are UK type at 220 volts. Each cabin has its own air-conditioning control.

Travelling alone? A single guest in a double cabin pays 80 percent extra on the nightly rate. Wi-Fi on board is by Starlink, at US$30 a week per device, so you can stay in touch between dives if you need to.

Duke of York liveaboard deck plan showing the upper, main and lower decks with numbered cabins — Duke of York deck plan. Illustrative, not to scale. Photo: Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Life on board

Days follow the dives: an early first dive, breakfast, a late-morning dive, lunch, an afternoon dive and some evenings a night dive, with snorkellers out on the tender at the same sites when they suit. Meals are buffets of Italian, international and Maldivian food built around fresh fish, and the chefs handle dietary needs if you tell us when booking. Once a week, weather permitting, dinner moves to a beach.

Shaded teak deck lounge on Duke of York with a wide sofa and bean bags facing the sea, Maldives — The shaded lounge on the first deck. Photo: Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Covered upper deck lounge on Duke of York with sofas and a wooden table looking over the bow, Maldives — The covered lounge on the second deck. Photo: Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Top sun deck of Duke of York with loungers, bean bags and a shade canopy over blue sea, Maldives — The sun deck on the top level. Photo: Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Air-conditioned saloon on Duke of York with white sofas, wooden floor, library and bar, Maldives — The air-conditioned saloon. Photo: Richy Maldives / Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Curved wooden bar with glasses and spirits in the Duke of York saloon, Maldives — The bar in the saloon. Photo: Richy Maldives / Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Covered outdoor restaurant on the Duke of York first deck with wooden tables set for dinner, Maldives — The covered restaurant at the stern. Photo: Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Buffet of sushi, sashimi, cheese and fruit laid out on board Duke of York, Maldives — A buffet with fresh fish. Photo: Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Guest receiving a massage on the deck of Duke of York with the sea behind, Maldives — Massage on deck. Photo: Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Beach dinner on a sandbank with a whale shark drawn in the sand and lanterns, Duke of York offshore, Maldives — Beach barbecue night. Photo: Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Diving from the dhoni

All diving runs from an 18-metre diving dhoni that follows the yacht, with three Coltri compressors and a nitrox system, so the yacht stays quiet and dry. Tanks are 12 and 13.6 litre aluminium with INT or DIN valves; 15-litre tanks cost US$100 a week extra and should be booked in advance. Up to three dives a day are planned, 17 in a week, with one dive on the first and last diving days to respect flight times. On arrival day the cruise director runs a check dive and sets the groups by experience and certification, so newer divers are not thrown straight into a fast channel.

The yacht is rebreather friendly, with assistance and refills for groups on request, and underwater scooters can be hired with a specialty course. A camera table in the saloon has 220-volt charging. Bring your own computer and SMB: both are compulsory, as is dive accident insurance, which the operator can arrange for US$25 for 7 days.

Not sure your skills are current? Our liveaboard diving guide covers check dives, currents and what to bring.

The Duke of York diving dhoni under way with divers on the stern, Maldives — The diving dhoni. Photo: Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Split-level photo of a whale shark below the surface with Duke of York and her dhoni above, Maldives — A whale shark under the dhoni. Photo: Franco Banfi / Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Group of reef manta rays gliding over a reef, Maldives — Mantas at a cleaning station. Photo: Xavier Safont / Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Tiger shark swimming over the reef with fish around it at Fuvahmulah, Maldives — A tiger shark at Fuvahmulah. Photo: Riccardo Sturla / Luxury Yacht Maldives.

Duke of York: questions we get asked

How much does Duke of York cost?

Luxury Yacht Maldives’s 2027 rack rate is US$330 to US$480 per person per night in a double or twin cabin, with GST included: US$2,450 for a 7-night September week and US$3,220 from January to April, including the US$140 weekly service charge. Add the Green Tax of US$12 a night on board. Cabins 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14 carry a US$400 supplement. 2026 departures are sold at offer rates; ask us.

How many guests does Duke of York take?

Up to 22 guests in double or twin cabins, or 26 when the four lower-deck triples are full. There are no bunk beds: lower-deck cabins have portholes, while cabin 9 on the main deck and cabins 10, 11, 12 and 14 on the upper deck have windows.

What diving experience do I need?

Open Water is the minimum. The cruise director runs a check dive on the first day and sets the groups by experience. Divers whose certification limits them to less than 18 metres need a private guide at extra cost, and a dive computer, an SMB and DAN or similar dive insurance are compulsory.

Is Duke of York good for non-divers?

Yes. Snorkellers get two or three guided outings a day from the dhoni or tender, a free try-dive in a lagoon, kayaks and SUPs, and island visits, and massages are available on board when the therapist is sailing. Children from 2 to 11 sharing with two adults get 70 percent off the rate, without diving.

Does Duke of York go to Fuvahmulah?

Yes. From late January to mid April 2027 she runs one-week Deep South legs between Laamu, Huvadhoo, Fuvahmulah and Addu, flying in and out of Kooddoo, Kaadedhdhoo, Fuvahmulah or Gan, then sails 14 nights back from Addu to Malé. A few places remain on the late January and early February legs; the weeks from 21 February are full, so ask early for 2028.

Who runs Duke of York?

Luxury Yacht Maldives, the brand of Albatros Top Boat, an Italian company that has cruised the Maldives since 1990. The cruise director is Italian, the diving is run by Island Cruises, and the crew of 9 or 10 includes four dive guides and a snorkelling guide.

What is the cancellation policy?

For 2026 and 2027 trips the operator keeps a 5 percent deposit, then charges 35 percent from 12 to 9 months before departure, 50 percent from 9 to 6 months and 100 percent inside 6 months. Travel insurance covering cancellation is compulsory, and divers need dive accident cover.

Why book Duke of York 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.

Ask about Duke of York

Keep planning

Written by Abdulla Maseeh, HolidayVibe Maldives, Malé. Boat facts, rates and terms from Luxury Yacht Maldives’s 2027 and 2028 rate sheets and website; dates and places from the Schedule and Availability tab on luxuryyachtmaldives.com, checked 9 November 2026. Photos and deck plan: Luxury Yacht Maldives.