Princess Ulua Liveaboard, Maldives

Princess Ulua is a 37.3-metre wooden motor yacht built in the Maldives in 2019, accommodating 22 guests in 11 cabins.

Boat Interior

The main deck includes an indoor lounge, restaurant, bar, and an outdoor area for dining and relaxing. Meals feature Asian, Indian, Maldivian, and European dishes. Vegan, vegetarian, lactose-free, and gluten-free menus can be arranged in advance, although additional fees may apply. Drinking water, tea, instant coffee, and hot chocolate are included, while alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, smoothies, juices, and other bar items are charged separately.

The vessel also has two outdoor lounges and a sun deck with loungers and a Jacuzzi. Foot-massage chairs are also available. Indoor entertainment includes a giant screen, music, and a home cinema. Wi-Fi includes 2 GB of data per cabin per week.

Cabin Types

All cabins have individual air conditioning, a private bathroom, television, minibar, safe, and hairdryer. Towels are refreshed daily.

Standard Cabin

Two Standard Cabins on the lower deck accommodate two guests with twin or double beds.

Family Cabin

Four Family Cabins on the lower deck accommodate up to three guests with a queen-size bed and a single bed.

Seaview Suite

Four Seaview Suites are located on the upper deck. Two can be arranged with twin beds or one double bed, while two have one double bed. A fifth Seaview Suite on the main deck has a king-size double bed.

Dive Deck

Diving operations use Ulua Hunter, a 37-foot dive dhoni that carries the diving equipment and accommodates up to 18 divers. It has a guest shower and toilet.

Each guide is responsible for four to five divers. Weekly cruises include up to 18 dives, including up to two night dives. Twelve-litre tanks and weights are included. Dive equipment can be rented onboard, but equipment rental and diving courses are not included in the cruise rate.

Divers set up their equipment on the first day and dismantle it on the last, while the crew takes care of it in between.

Safety and Navigation

Navigation and communication equipment includes GPS, a depth echo sounder, and a satellite phone. The fire-alarm system includes smoke detectors, alarm sounders, call points, and a remote indication panel.

Emergency oxygen and first-aid kits are carried aboard both the vessel and Ulua Hunter. The included diving programme is for certified divers, with dive briefings scheduled throughout the itinerary. Divers must have adequate dive-injury insurance, such as DAN or an equivalent policy.

Non-diving Activities

Non-divers can join activities such as kayaking, SUP, local-style fishing, beach and sandbank visits, uninhabited-island excursions, a beach barbecue, and a visit to Malé.

Surfing itineraries and a surfing guide can be arranged at an additional charge. Massage and spa treatments are also available on request for a surcharge.

Itineraries

The standard seven-night Best of Maldives itinerary begins and ends in Malé and explores central atolls including North and South Malé, Ari, and Vaavu, with Rasdhoo included on selected departures. The exact programme remains flexible and may be adjusted according to weather, marine-life movements, and decisions by the captain and cruise director.

Seasonal Hanifaru Bay itineraries travel from Malé through Lhaviyani and Baa atolls and are planned around the new moon between July and October. Selected departures also explore the Deep South.

When to Go

Hanifaru Bay departures are planned around the new moon between July and October. Best of Maldives operates through much of the season, with selected Deep South departures scheduled seasonally. Exact dates and route availability vary by departure