Aqua Nera
Peruvian Amazon · river expeditionBrand-new river ship with Shipibo-inspired interiors by Saigon-based Studio NOOR. 20 design suites, plunge pool, indoor cinema and spa.
- Guests
- 40
- Year
- 2020
- Length
- 62.4 m
All cruises · Aqua Expeditions
Aqua Expeditions
One operator, six vessels, five iconic waterways
Founded in 2007 by Italian-American Francesco Galli Zugaro, Aqua Expeditions runs six luxury small ships across some of the world's most coveted waterways: Aria Amazon and Aqua Nera on the Peruvian Amazon, Aqua Mekong on the Cambodia-Vietnam Mekong, Aqua Mare in the Galápagos, Aqua Blu through Indonesia's Komodo, Raja Ampat and Spice Islands, and Aqua Lares from East Africa to the Arctic Circle. A near-unrivalled 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio, cuisine by renowned chefs Pedro Miguel Schiaffino and Benjamin Cross, and the small-ship advantage that unlocks atolls, tributaries and fjords the big ships simply cannot reach.
6
Luxury small ships
5
Iconic waterways
1 : 1
Crew-to-guest ratio
16-40
Guests per ship
2007
Founded
£££
All-inclusive luxury
Where they sail
Five iconic waterways, one operator
From the Peruvian Amazon to the Arctic Circle — every itinerary is purpose-designed for its region, and every ship is purpose-built for the waters it sails.
See it in motion
Inside Aqua Expeditions
Two short films that capture the on-board world and the itineraries beyond the ship.
Inside Aqua Expeditions
Aboard the Aqua fleet
Why book Aqua Expeditions
Why a Aqua Expeditions voyage?
Six reasons we recommend this line to the right kind of traveller.
The luxury small-ship benchmark
Aqua Expeditions essentially defined modern luxury small-ship cruising on the Peruvian Amazon and the Mekong, then carried the same standard into the Galápagos, Indonesia, East Africa and the Arctic. Six vessels, one operator, one extraordinarily consistent product.
1:1 crew-to-guest, across the fleet
Whether it is the 16-guest Aqua Mare in the Galápagos or the 40-guest Aqua Nera on the Amazon, the crew matches guests one-for-one. Service that feels genuinely private.
World-class cuisine, designed by named chefs
Peruvian chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino designs menus for the Amazon ships and Aqua Mare; Australian chef Benjamin Cross designs for Aqua Blu in Indonesia. Both menus draw heavily on regional ingredients.
Access big ships cannot reach
Maximum 8-10 guests per guide. Aqua sails into atolls, tributaries and fjords closed to larger vessels — wet landings on Galápagos beaches, skiff excursions deep into the flooded forest, ice-class navigation past the pack.
The Aqua way
Five brand pillars, fleet-wide
Whether you board the 16-guest superyacht in the Galápagos or the 40-guest river ship on the Amazon, these five promises are consistent across the fleet.
Tailor-Made Service
A near-unrivalled crew-to-guest ratio of up to 1:1 across the entire fleet. Service feels private, even with a full ship.
Contemporary Design
Each vessel draws its design language from the region it sails. Luxurious homes away from home with striking interiors and generous social spaces.
Wildlife & Cultural Excursions
Expert-led, small-group excursions guided by regional specialists who offer deep insight into each destination.
Cuisine by World-Renowned Chefs
Menus designed by Peruvian chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino (Amazon, Galápagos) and Australian chef Benjamin Cross (Indonesia), drawing on regional ingredients.
Sustainable & Meaningful Exploration
Active conservation partnerships with the Charles Darwin Foundation, Indonesian Manta Project, Wildlife Conservation Society and 4Ocean.
The honest version
Might not be for you if…
No cruise line is for everyone. Here's where Aqua Expeditions might not fit. We'll point you elsewhere if so.
You want a cruise-ship experience
These are 16-40 guest boutique vessels. Tiny by cruise-line standards. For mid-size luxury, Silversea, Seabourn or Crystal. For big-ship, the major lines.
You're strictly budget-led
Aqua sits at the top of the luxury small-ship tier. The 1:1 crew ratio, named chefs and exclusive itineraries are reflected in the price.
You want kids' programming
No kids' clubs. Children are welcome but the vibe is adult — couples, friends groups, repeat luxury travellers. School-age kids with experienced traveller parents tend to enjoy it; younger children won't find peers.
The fleet
Meet the Aqua Expeditions ships
The Aqua Expeditions fleet at a glance.
Aria Amazon
Peruvian Amazon · river explorerClassic Amazon explorer designed by Peruvian architect Jordi Puig. 16 design suites, outdoor jacuzzi and panoramic observation deck.
- Guests
- 32
- Year
- 2011
- Length
- 45 m
Aqua Mekong
Cambodia & Vietnam · river expeditionStudio NOOR design. 20 design suites (eight with private balconies), outdoor plunge pool, screening room, gym and spa.
- Guests
- 40
- Year
- 2014
- Length
- 62.4 m
Aqua Mare
Galápagos · superyachtThe first true superyacht to sail the Galápagos. Italian CRN build by Francois Zuretti. 80 sqm Owner's Suite — the largest in the archipelago.
- Guests
- 16
- Year
- 2022
- Length
- 50 m
Aqua Blu
East Indonesia · expedition yachtBuilt on the legacy of the 1968 Royal British Naval Explorer HMS Beagle. Sails Komodo, Raja Ampat and the Spice Islands. RINA + SOLAS classified.
- Guests
- 30
- Year
- 1968
- Length
- 60 m
Aqua Lares
East Africa & Arctic Circle · ice-classIce-class superyacht with three Owner's Suites up to 66 sqm. Sails Seychelles, Tanzania, Svalbard, the Norwegian Arctic and the Scottish Isles.
- Guests
- 30
- Year
- 2024
- Length
- 77.4 m
Glimpses
See Aqua Expeditions for yourself
A glance at the on-board experience and the destinations beyond the ship.
Dining
Cuisine by named, world-renowned chefs
Peruvian-Japanese chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino designs the Amazon and Galápagos menus, drawing on indigenous river ingredients. Australian chef Benjamin Cross designs the Indonesian menu for Aqua Blu, journeying through the flavours of the ancient Spice Route.
Indoor dining room
Refined river-, jungle- or ocean-view dining on every vessel. Tasting menus and wine pairings on selected nights.
Outdoor dining & top-deck panoramic
Open-air dining under the stars or under a sun canopy — sundeck barbecues, beach-club lunches, white-tablecloth dinners on deck.
Bar & lounge
Indoor and outdoor bars with house wines, beers and signature cocktails. Pisco classes on the Amazon, rum tastings in Indonesia.
Private dining
Owner's Suite guests can request in-suite meals. Wine cellar dinners available by arrangement on selected vessels.
On board
What you actually do all day
Wildlife excursions
Twice-daily skiff trips, jungle walks, snorkelling, diving, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding — led by expert local naturalists with max 8-10 guests per guide.
Cultural immersion
Village visits, temple stops, local market tours, artisan workshops and meaningful encounters with the communities that call each region home.
On-board wellness
Spa treatments, massage rooms, sauna (Aqua Lares), indoor and outdoor jacuzzis, plunge pools, gyms with Technogym equipment. Yoga and morning meditation on selected sailings.
Gourmet experiences
Cooking masterclasses, chef-hosted dinners, mixology classes, kitchen tours and wine tastings — culinary depth that turns guests into ambassadors.
No surprises
What's included in your fare
Every Aqua Expeditions fare bakes these in.
All meals + drinks
House wines, beers and non-alcoholic drinks fleet-wide; premium spirits on selected charters
All shore excursions
Skiff trips, kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear; diving included on Aqua Blu
Expert naturalist team
Biologists, ornithologists and cultural specialists on every voyage
Park & reserve fees
Pacaya-Samiria, Galápagos National Park and equivalent entrance fees included
WiFi, laundry, transfers
High-speed Wi-Fi, laundry and group airport transfers on recommended flights
Practical
Good to know
- Best time to sail
- Peruvian Amazon: year-round (high water Dec-May, low water Jun-Nov). Mekong: Aug-Jan (low) / Apr-Aug (high). Galápagos: year-round. Indonesia: dry season Apr-Nov. East Africa: Nov-Apr. Arctic: May-Sep only.
- Children & families
- Minimum age 5 on all vessels. Children 5-11 receive a 15-20% discount depending on cabin and itinerary. No dedicated kids' clubs — the experience is adult-pitched.
- Accessibility
- The ships are small expedition vessels — some itineraries involve wet landings, zodiac transfers and steep gangways. We can advise on which sailings best suit guests with limited mobility.
- Single travellers
- Single supplement is typically 25% above the per-person rate. Selected sailings each year run a "single traveller special" with the supplement waived — ask us for current dates.
- Tipping
- Tipping is not included in fares and is at guest discretion. Aqua provides discreet guidance on board for those who ask.
- Booking with Travelisto
- We book Aqua directly with the line — same rates as booking the line yourself, with the added benefit of UK consumer protection (ATOL where flights are packaged), pre/post-cruise hotel coordination, and a Travel Designer who knows the fleet first-hand.
FAQ
Quick answers about Aqua Expeditions
How does Aqua compare to other Amazon and Mekong operators?
On the Peruvian Amazon, Aqua's Aria Amazon and Aqua Nera are the luxury benchmark, with Delfin Amazon Cruises as the closest peer. On the Mekong, Aqua Mekong leads the luxury tier with AmaWaterways and Pandaw at different price points. Aqua wins on suite size, food and naturalist programme almost everywhere it sails.
Which Aqua vessel suits which destination?
Amazon: Aqua Nera for newest/most spacious, Aria Amazon for the classic. Galápagos: Aqua Mare (16 guests, true superyacht). Mekong: Aqua Mekong (the only Aqua river ship outside the Amazon). Indonesia: Aqua Blu sails Komodo, Raja Ampat and the Spice Islands on rotation. East Africa & Arctic: Aqua Lares (ice-class superyacht, Seychelles in winter, Svalbard in summer).
What's the best season for each region?
Peruvian Amazon: year-round, high water Dec-May for deeper-forest skiff access, low water June-Nov for wildlife on exposed beaches. Mekong: low water Aug-Jan, high water Apr-Aug. Galápagos: year-round. Indonesia: dry season Apr-Nov in Komodo; Raja Ampat best Oct-Apr. East Africa: Nov-Apr (dry season). Arctic Circle: May-Sep only.
Is the food really as good as people say?
Yes. Peruvian-Japanese chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino designs the Amazon and Galápagos menus; Australian chef Benjamin Cross designs the Indonesian menu. Both menus draw on regional ingredients sourced along the route. Aqua consistently wins "best food at sea" categories in independent rankings.
Can I charter an Aqua vessel privately?
Yes — every Aqua vessel is available for private charter. Popular for milestone birthdays, multigenerational family trips, corporate incentives and very-special-client groups. We can quote charter rates on request.
Loyalty
Circolo Aqua
Aqua's guest loyalty programme spans four tiers — Voyagers, Explorers, Navigators and Aqua Legends — recognising returning guests with curated on-board experiences, savings on future expeditions and priority access to exclusive sailings.
Voyager
First sailing
5% saving when re-booking within 30 days of disembarkation, plus curated on-board experiences.
Explorer
Two sailings
Repeat-guest welcome amenity, complimentary spa treatment and Circolo Aqua sailing previews.
Navigator
Four sailings
Priority access to new itineraries and inaugural voyages, plus dedicated Voyage Concierge.
Aqua Legend
Six+ sailings
Bespoke recognition on board, invitation-only experiences and the highest tier of guest savings.
Ready to sail with Aqua Expeditions?
A Travel Designer who knows Aqua Expeditions will pick the right ship, the right itinerary, and the right cabin tier for you. No call centres.