Most modern liveaboards have en-suite cabins with private shower and toilet. Budget boats and some older wooden vessels use shared bathrooms — always check the cabin plan.
En-suite is the standard on the modern fleet
The great majority of liveaboards built or refitted in the last 15 years offer cabins with a private bathroom containing a toilet, a shower and a small sink, with air conditioning in the cabin itself.
Where shared bathrooms still appear: budget vessels in Egypt and Thailand, older wooden phinisi in Indonesia, and the lowest cabin category on some otherwise well-equipped boats. Shared usually means two cabins to one bathroom rather than a dormitory arrangement, and boats that do this are typically priced accordingly.
What to expect from a boat bathroom regardless of category: it is compact, the shower is usually over the toilet, water pressure is moderate, and hot water is produced by the engine so it can be limited during long anchor stops. Marine toilets need care — nothing goes in that you have not eaten, paper included, and the crew will explain the flush system on day one.
Cabin position affects comfort more than the bathroom does
Lower deck cabins are cooler and move less but can be noisier near the engine; upper deck cabins are quieter and brighter but pitch more at sea. Every vessel page lists cabin categories, deck level and bathroom arrangement.
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