For many, the pandemic made distance feel physical, like an ocean you could not cross. For siblings Jasmine Chong and Jason Tabalujan, that separation was truly an ocean. It also turned into a dream that became a clear design brief: create a way for family to gather again, meaningfully. The result is Celestia, their custom yacht rooted in Indonesian heritage and made to host shared meals, long conversations, and multi-generational memories.
This is not a typical luxury-yacht story, though. It’s not even a yacht story, period. This episode of Inside the Owner’s Suite is about belonging. It’s about every nautical mile amid 17,000 islands feel like home—and inviting others to experience it, too.
The spark for the yacht Celestia originated with Tabalujan’s exploration of Indonesia when international borders closed. As he began seeing more particularly of East Indonesia, he realized something. No other country rivaled it for marine life, color, coral diversity, and raw beauty. That insight challenged his usual thinking: Why chase more famous destinations when Indonesia’s underwater world and island culture are even richer? Better yet, he found a community with a five-generation tradition of building ironwood phinisis, a UNESCO-recognized practice. Furthermore, the community was on the same island as where his grandparents had lived.
Chong, watching from New York, felt the emotional pull immediately. Traditional boatbuilding and the idea that beauty can be functional spoke to her, as a designer who values the touch of the hand. The creative challenge became both deeply practical and personal. Instead of adding everything, she and her brother choose what matters most. Generous, private outdoor terraces make the yacht Celestia feel open and social. Simultaneously, from tiles to furnishings, everything has a story related to their upbringing.
Perhaps most importantly, building Celestia changed their sibling dynamic. They already shared trust, but the project demanded a professional rhythm. They faced deadlines, decisions, logistics, sales conversations, and the desire to deliver an immersive Indonesia yacht charter experience. Tabalujan discovered his little sister, seven years his junior, isn’t so little. Chong, meanwhile, discovered her finance-focused brother has a sharp eye for hospitality and detail.
What makes Chong and Tabalujan stand out as yacht owners is the way culture and care show up in the guest experience. The yacht Celestia launched with a time-honored ceremony that treats vessels as something alive, with a soul. The siblings extend that respect to people, handpicking their crew from across Indonesia and treating them like family. That changes the veritable fabric of service onboard. As Chong and Tabalujan frame their legacy, the goal is simple yet ambitious. They want more people to fall in love with Indonesia through slow exploration by yacht, from Komodo dragons to Birds of Paradise and the storied Spice Islands, one intimate voyage at a time.
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