Full boat guide
Emperor Serenity
40 m, 13 cabins for 26 guests. 4 suites (2 upper, 2 main deck), 9 cabins. Rebuilt and relaunched in December 2024.
Operator guide · 5 boats · Updated 8 November 2026 · By Abdulla Maseeh
Emperor Maldives Liveaboards
Emperor Divers, diving since 1992, runs five liveaboards in the Maldives: Emperor Explorer II, Emperor Serenity, Emperor Leo, Emperor Voyager and Emperor Virgo, taking 18 to 26 guests each. Published 7-night prices for 2026/27 run from about US$2,560 to US$4,114 per person, and Emperor’s “No Hidden Extras” policy puts the Green Tax, port and park fees, fuel and nitrox inside that price. Routes run from the year-round Best of Maldives to Deep South shark trips from December to March.
The five boats
On published prices, Emperor Serenity and Emperor Explorer II are the dearest and Emperor Voyager the cheapest. The two fibreglass boats are the newest and roomiest; the three wooden-hulled boats are older, simpler and cheaper, and Virgo keeps the group to 18.
| Boat | Length, hull | Cabins / guests | Diving | 7 nights from | Stands out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emperor Serenity | 40 m, fibreglass | 13 / 26 | Up to 4 guides, 24 m dhoni | US$3,175 to US$3,947 | Rebuilt and relaunched in December 2024 |
| Emperor Explorer II | 44 m, fibreglass | 13 / 26 | 4 guides, large dhoni | US$2,665 to US$4,114 | Flagship; three to four dives a day |
| Emperor Leo | 35 m, wood | 12 / 24 | 3 guides, 20 m dhoni | US$2,840 to US$3,175 | Jacuzzi on the main deck |
| Emperor Voyager | 30 m, wood | 10 / 20 | 3 guides, 20 m dhoni | US$2,560 to US$3,287 | Lowest-priced Emperor boat; al fresco dining |
| Emperor Virgo | 35 m, wood | 9 / 18 | 3 guides, 17 m dhoni | US$2,840 to US$3,175 | Smallest group in the fleet; upper-deck bar |
Full boat guide
Emperor Explorer II
44 m, 13 cabins for 26 guests. 6 suites (4 upper, 2 main deck), 7 cabins. Flagship; three to four dives a day.
Full boat guide
Emperor Leo
35 m, 12 cabins for 24 guests. 1 upper-deck suite, 11 cabins. Jacuzzi on the main deck.
Full boat guide
Emperor Voyager
30 m, 10 cabins for 20 guests. 7 twin and 3 double cabins. Lowest-priced Emperor boat; al fresco dining.
Full boat guide
Emperor Virgo
35 m, 9 cabins for 18 guests. 8 twin/double cabins and 1 family cabin. Smallest group in the fleet; upper-deck bar.
How Emperor dives
Every dive from a dhoni
Each boat has its own diving dhoni with the compressors, tanks and gear, so you kit up once and the dhoni drops you on the exact entry point.
What the price includes
Included
- Green Tax, bed taxes, port and marine park fees, fuel surcharges
- Nitrox (up to 32 percent) for certified divers
- Full board in a shared cabin, water, tea and coffee, wine with dinner
- Standard dive package, tanks, weights and guides, dives from the dhoni
- Airport-to-boat transfer on the day you board (Malé or Gan)
- Local island visits where the route allows
Not included
- International and domestic flights
- Wi-Fi data (sold on board) and drinks other than dinner wine
- Rental equipment, 15-litre tanks, courses (16 percent sales tax on board)
- Hotel transfers before or after the trip, and transfers from the boat to a resort
- Crew tips and travel insurance with dive cover
That makes Emperor, with Dune, one of the two all-inclusive operators we book. Top Class Cruising boats such as Princess Maani quote lower headline rates but add a service fee, Green Tax and park fees on board; our liveaboard prices page lines them up like for like. Bar prices on Emperor boats are about US$5 for a beer and US$6 to US$10 for spirits, and Maldives Customs needs your passport and flight details before the boat can sell you alcohol.
Routes and seasons
| Route | Length | Season | Atolls | Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best of Maldives | 7 nights, Malé to Malé | All year | Rasdhoo, North and South Ari, Vaavu, North and South Malé | No minimum; comfortable with drift dives |
| Hanifaru & North | 7 nights | July to October | Baa (Hanifaru Bay snorkel), North Malé, Lhaviyani, Raa | No minimum |
| Northern Highlights | 7 nights | July to October | North Malé, Lhaviyani, Baa, Rasdhoo, North Ari | No minimum |
| Sharktastic | 7 nights | January to April | South Malé, Vaavu, South Ari, Meemu | 30 logged dives recommended; Advanced Open Water |
| Deep South | 7 nights, Gan to Kooddoo or reverse | December to March | Addu, Fuvahmulah, Huvadhoo | 100 logged dives; Advanced Open Water |
| Southern Shark Adventure | 14 nights, Malé to Gan or reverse | December to March | South Malé, Vaavu, Meemu, Thaa, Laamu, Huvadhoo, Fuvahmulah | 100 logged dives; Advanced Open Water |
| Pelagic Magic | 7 nights, on request | April to July | North and South Ari | No minimum |
The northeast monsoon (roughly November to April) clears the water on the eastern side of the atolls and pushes the mantas west; the southwest monsoon (May to November) does the opposite. Emperor schedules its shark routes in the south from December to April and its Baa routes, with the Hanifaru Bay snorkel, from July to October. Read more on our Deep South route page and in the liveaboard diving guide.
Emperor prices month by month
The lowest 7-night price on sale for each boat in each month. Christmas, New Year and February to March are the dearest weeks; May to October, the southwest monsoon, is the cheapest.
| Month | Voyager | Virgo | Leo | Serenity | Explorer II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2026 | US$2,840 | US$3,007 | US$3,007 | US$3,399 | US$3,555 |
| Dec 2026 | US$2,840 | US$3,007 | US$3,007 | US$3,399 | US$3,723 |
| Jan 2027 | US$3,007 | US$3,175 | US$3,175 | US$3,622 | US$3,779 |
| Feb 2027 | US$3,007 | – | US$3,175 | US$3,779 | US$3,779 |
| Mar 2027 | US$3,007 | US$3,175 | US$3,175 | US$3,947 | US$3,779 |
| Apr 2027 | US$3,007 | US$3,175 | US$3,175 | US$3,622 | US$3,779 |
| May 2027 | – | US$2,840 | US$2,840 | – | US$2,799 |
| Jun 2027 | US$2,560 | US$2,840 | US$2,840 | – | – |
| Jul 2027 | US$2,560 | US$2,840 | US$2,616 | US$3,175 | – |
| Aug 2027 | US$2,560 | – | – | US$3,175 | US$2,799 |
| Sep 2027 | US$2,560 | US$2,840 | US$2,840 | US$3,175 | US$2,665 |
| Oct 2027 | US$2,560 | US$2,840 | US$2,840 | US$3,175 | US$2,799 |
Emperor runs promotions of 15 to 30 percent on selected departures, and sold-out departures are not shown. We check the live price and cabin plan with Emperor before quoting.
How booking works
- Deposit20 percent when you book at least two months ahead; balance 60 days before departure.
- InstalmentsBook six months or more ahead and you can pay monthly.
- Solo travellersSame-sex cabin share guaranteed, or the cabin to yourself at no supplement.
- Check-in and outBoarding from 13:00 on day one; check-out at 07:00 on the last morning.
- Check diveEveryone does a check dive first; dive computer, SMB and reef hook required on every dive.
- No-fly timeNo diving on the first and last day; leave 24 hours between your last dive and your flight.
Emperor Maldives: questions we get asked
What does “No Hidden Extras” mean on Emperor boats?
Emperor builds the Maldives environmental taxes (Green Tax), bed taxes, port fees, marine park fees, fuel surcharges and nitrox into the price you book. On board you pay only for drinks other than the wine served with dinner, Wi-Fi data, rental equipment, 15-litre tanks, courses and tips. Equipment rental and onboard purchases carry a 16 percent sales tax.
How much does an Emperor liveaboard cost?
Emperor’s published 7-night Best of Maldives prices for November 2026 to October 2027 run from about US$2,560 per person on Emperor Voyager to US$4,114 on Emperor Explorer II in early December. The 7-night Deep South costs US$3,332 to US$4,103 and the 14-night Southern Shark Adventure US$6,525 to US$6,809. Emperor also runs 15 to 30 percent promotions on selected dates.
Which Emperor boat should I choose?
Emperor Explorer II and Emperor Serenity are the newest and most spacious, with suites and four guides. Emperor Leo has a jacuzzi and takes 24. Emperor Voyager is the value choice for divers who care more about the diving than the cabin. Emperor Virgo takes only 18 guests, so groups in the water are small.
How experienced do I need to be?
Open Water is the minimum and Advanced Open Water is recommended, because many dives go below 18 metres and currents can be strong around new and full moon. Best of Maldives, Hanifaru & North, Northern Highlights and Pelagic Magic need no minimum dive count. Emperor recommends 30 logged dives for Sharktastic and asks for 100 on Deep South and Southern Shark Adventure.
How many dives are there in a week?
Two to three a day on most Emperor boats, and three to four on Emperor Explorer II, with no diving on the first or last day. One night dive is normally offered on each trip, except on southern routes. The legal maximum depth is 30 metres; decompression, solo and technical diving are not allowed.
How do I pay?
Emperor takes a 20 percent deposit when you book at least two months ahead, with the balance due 60 days before departure. Booking at least six months ahead allows monthly instalments. When you book through HolidayVibe we confirm the cabin with Emperor first and send a written quote in US dollars.
Can solo travellers book a single place?
Yes. Emperor guarantees a same-sex cabin share; if nobody else books, you get the cabin to yourself with no single supplement. If you want to be sure of the double bed in a twin cabin, Emperor charges a supplement of about €35 a week.
Can non-divers or children come?
Yes. Snorkellers are welcome where the itinerary allows, must wear a flotation aid and snorkel only when a guide is available. Children are welcome, but anyone aged 15 or under must be supervised by a parent or responsible adult at all times. See our snorkelling liveaboard guide for boats built around non-divers.
Why book Emperor 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
- Emperor SerenityCabins, deck plan, routes and dates
- All Maldives liveaboardsFinder, routes and how booking works
- Liveaboard operatorsWho runs the boats we book
- Every departureDates across the fleet
- Liveaboard pricesReal costs and a calculator
- Deep South routeFuvahmulah, Huvadhoo and Addu
Written by Abdulla Maseeh, HolidayVibe Maldives, Malé. Fleet facts from Emperor’s boat pages, Maldives FAQ and diving guidelines; prices and dates from Emperor’s published schedule, checked 8 November 2026. Photos: Emperor Divers (some by B. McAteer).