Cruise line · Expedition

Aqua Expeditions: Our Cruise Line Guide

Six intimate vessels, from a 16-guest Galápagos superyacht to river ships on the Amazon and the Mekong, with celebrated chefs, a crew member for almost every guest and excursions twice a day.

Plan your trip:Official website

The back story

Fleet: Aqua Mare, Aqua Lares, Aqua Blu, Aqua Mekong, Aqua Nera, Aria Amazon (aquaexpeditions.com, Oct 2026) · Guests per ship: 16 (Aqua Mare), 30 (Aqua Lares); river ships of 16–20 suites (aquaexpeditions.com) · Since: 2007, Peru (aquaexpeditions.com) · Sails to: Amazon, Mekong, Galápagos, Indonesia, Seychelles & Tanzania, Svalbard · Group: Majority-owned by PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP (aquaexpeditions.com)

Aqua Expeditions: the back story

Aqua Expeditions·

A small-ship company founded in Peru in 2007 that now sails six intimate vessels on the Amazon and the Mekong, in the Galápagos, Indonesia, the Seychelles and the Arctic.

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The fleet

Who it suits. On a budget: Aria Amazon, the original river ship, on a shorter Amazon voyage, or an early-booking offer. Mid-range: A Design Suite on Aqua Mekong or Aqua Nera, with twice-daily excursions and a celebrated chef. Luxury: The 80 m² Owner’s Suite on Aqua Mare in the Galápagos, or a whole-yacht charter of Aqua Lares in the Seychelles.

16 guests

Aqua Mare

Aqua Expeditions·Galápagos superyacht·€€€€

A 50-metre CRN superyacht in the Galápagos for just 16 guests, with an 80 m² Owner’s Suite.

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30 guests

Aqua Lares

Aqua Expeditions·Expedition superyacht·€€€€

A superyacht for 30 guests in the Seychelles and Tanzania, and in summer the Norwegian Arctic.

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15 cabins

Aqua Blu

Aqua Expeditions·Explorer yacht·€€€€

A five-deck explorer yacht with 15 cabins, refitted in 2019 by Cor D. Rover, sailing eastern Indonesia.

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20 suites

Aqua Mekong

Aqua Expeditions·River ship·€€€€

A river ship on the Mekong in Cambodia and Vietnam, with 20 suites and its own fleet of four tenders.

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20 suites

Aqua Nera

Aqua Expeditions·River ship·€€€€

The newer of Aqua’s two ships in the Peruvian Amazon, joining Aria Amazon in 2021.

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16 suites

Aria Amazon

Aqua Expeditions·River ship·€€€

Aqua’s first ship, custom-built for the Peruvian Amazon and sailing since 2011.

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The suites

80 m²

Owner’s Suite, Aqua Mare

Aqua Expeditions·Signature suite·€€€€

An 861 sq ft (80 m²) suite that Aqua calls the largest of its kind in the Galápagos.

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39–66 m²

Owner’s Suites, Aqua Lares

Aqua Expeditions·Signature suites·€€€€

Three Owner’s Suites of 419–710 sq ft (39–66 m²).

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30 m²

Design Suites, Aqua Mekong

Aqua Expeditions·Signature suites·€€€€

Twenty suites of 322 sq ft (30 m²) with full-length windows, ten on each of two decks.

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Dining on board

Peruvian Amazon

Pedro Miguel Schiaffino on Aqua Nera

Aqua Expeditions·Chef partnership · Amazon·€€€€

Peruvian cuisine built on Amazonian ingredients: plantain and yucca gnocchi, escolar in aji panka adobo, grilled paiche.

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Nikkei style

Pedro Miguel Schiaffino on Aqua Mare

Aqua Expeditions·Chef partnership · Galápagos·€€€€

A Galápagos menu inspired by the islands’ landscapes and the Peruvian Nikkei style, sourced from local farmers and fishermen.

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Spice route

Benjamin Cross on Aqua Blu

Aqua Expeditions·Chef partnership · Indonesia·€€€€

The flavours of the East Indonesian spice route, with the freshest sustainably sourced seafood.

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Cambodia and Vietnam

David Thompson on Aqua Mekong

Aqua Expeditions·Chef partnership · Mekong·€€€€

Menus by the consulting chef David Thompson, with a bar list from Proof & Co.

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East Africa and the Arctic

Karime López on Aqua Lares

Aqua Expeditions·Chef partnership · Seychelles and Arctic·€€€€

Destination menus from Zanzibar-spiced ribeye to Norwegian scallops and king crab.

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Spa and wellness

Small-ship spas

Aqua spa and wellness

Aqua Expeditions·Spa·€€€€

Spas on Aqua Mekong and Aqua Nera, a sauna, massage room and gym on Aqua Lares, and a massage room on Aria Amazon.

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Life on board

1:1 crew to guests

Twice-daily excursions

Aqua Expeditions·Expeditions

Small-group excursions twice a day, led by naturalists and local guides.

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Whole ship

Private charters

Aqua Expeditions·Charter

Every Aqua vessel can be chartered whole, from the Galápagos to the Arctic.

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Where it sails

Six regions

Where Aqua sails

Aqua Expeditions·Itineraries

The Peruvian Amazon, the Mekong, the Galápagos, eastern Indonesia, the Seychelles and Tanzania, and Svalbard.

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What’s included and how to book

Aqua Lares

What the Aqua Lares fare includes

Aqua Expeditions·Inclusions

All meals, soft drinks, house wine and beer, guided excursions, kayaks, national park fees, internet and laundry.

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Official policy

Booking with Aqua

Aqua Expeditions·Booking terms

Change your departure date without penalty up to 181 days ahead; name changes up to 30 days before.

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Share your Aqua Expeditions tips

Sailed with them? Share your ships, cabins and tips with other cruisers.

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