Personalized Service and Ultimate Luxury

Tailored to your desires

Bespoke and genuine service is part of our DNA. Did you enjoy the passion fruit mascarpone you had for dessert? We’ll share the recipe! How about booking out our private cinema room for a family movie night? Consider the popcorn made. Don’t want to exert yourself on a hike? We’ll clear our massage room just for you. We serve to exceed all expectations. An intimate experience is guaranteed aboard our expedition ships, which only accommodate between 16-40 guests and feature a 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio.

1:1 Crew-to-Guest Ratio

When sailing with Aqua, our staff will know your name before you even step on board. Our boutique size and talented crew allow us to create tailored experiences that match your abilities and interests, ensuring that each day of your voyage leaves you with memories that last a lifetime. As far as dining goes, our carefully curated menu – which draws inspiration from each region we sail – can be tailored to your culinary preferences or dietary requirements as well. 

Excursions for everyone

Whether you're seeking adventure or relaxation, we have excursions to satisfy everyone’s interests. It could be an active day of hiking up a dormant volcano and swimming with whale sharks or on the flip side, you can opt for a serene tender ride and soak in the breathtaking scenery at your own pace. For those looking for absolute relaxation, stay on board for cocktails at the lounge and a blissful spa retreat. At Aqua, we ensure that our expeditions are everything you want them to be.

No stone left unturned

One of the advantages of our small-ship expeditions is the level of creativity and flexibility they afford us. Nature can often be full of surprises and when it presents us with extraordinary opportunities, we have the freedom to make the most of them. Picture navigating the pristine waters of Indonesia and chancing upon whale sharks and manta rays. You can bet we’re going to jump into the ocean for a closer look! We understand that these encounters are what make a journey truly exceptional, and we're committed to delivering rare moments that will stay with you long after your voyage.

Wildlife Encounters and Active Adventures

Into the wild

Picture yourself floating serenely in a mystical jellyfish lake or walking among ancient Galapagos tortoises – it’s these one-of-a-kind moments which we love to offer guests across all of our destinations.

Wildlife spotting

Watching animals in their natural habitat is an experience unlike any other. Our expeditions are designed to offer some of the world’s most extraordinary wildlife encounters. Spot Komodo dragons in Indonesia, go birdwatching along the Mekong, find caiman in the Peruvian Amazon, observe blue-footed boobies in Galapagos, walk among giant tortoises in Seychelles, and encounter polar bears in the Arctic Circle. Wherever you venture, extraordinary wildlife awaits to inspire your curiosity. During expert-led excursions on private skiffs, our naturalist guides share their insights to help you gain a deeper appreciation of each destination's unique ecosystem. 

Active adventures

Break away from your usual holiday spots and discover exciting adventures in some of the world’s most remote destinations. Those out for an adrenaline rush can dive with sharks and manta rays in Galapagos, snorkel alongside endangered hawksbill turtles in Seychelles, swim with piranhas in the Amazon, or venture through icy Arctic fjords to spot walruses basking on secluded beaches. Over in East Indonesia, come face-to-face with Komodo dragons or spend your time biking through rice fields along the most picturesque trails of the Mekong. With Aqua, unlock each destination's true essence, whether it's through hikes, bike rides, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, or skiff excursions.

Expert guides

Enjoy a guide-to-guest ratio of 1:12 on our excursions, ensuring a truly immersive journey. All of our guides are highly trained locals with a great deal of expertise surrounding the regions we explore. Whether you're strolling through ancient Cambodian ruins, venturing into uncharted rainforest trails, or delving into vibrant local communities, our guides will accompany you every step of the way to enrich your adventure.

Heritage and Cultural Experiences

In authentic fashion

Soft but thrilling adventures combined with a cultural immersion into the regions’ rich heritage, ensure once-in-a-lifetime, meaningful experiences on every journey with Aqua Expeditions.

Remote destinations

Aqua Expeditions journeys to the world’s most ecologically and culturally significant regions aboard small expedition vessels, offering unparalleled access to remote destinations far from crowded ports and conventional tourist routes. Our voyages immerse guests in the soul of each destination — from the floating villages and riverside artisans of the Mekong, the ribereños of the Amazon, and the tribal traditions of the Asmat, to historic Dutch forts in the Coral Triangle, Svalbard’s Arctic whaling legacy, and Zanzibar’s storied spice-trade heritage. We deliver authentic, one-of-a-kind experiences that redefine exploration across the planet’s most extraordinary frontiers.

Travel with experts

Our expeditions are all led by expert local guides who know the region like the back of their hand. As you embark on twice-daily excursions, they’ll shed light on the best-kept secrets and help you gain a nuanced understanding of what makes these destinations unlike any other in the world. 

Highly tailored excursions

We offer plenty of opportunities for you to shape your own day of adventure and discovery. Whether you’re in the mood for long bike rides and challenging hikes or a relaxing tender excursion followed by some time at the spa, we offer the flexibility to switch around parts of our itinerary to best fit your interests.

Contemporary Design at its Finest

From the rivers of the Peruvian Amazon and the Mekong to the oceans surrounding East Indonesia, Galapagos, East Africa, and the Arctic Circle, our elegantly designed vessels reflect the unique character of the regions they sail. Each of our river ships and superyachts feature an immaculate attention to detail with boutique suites and cabins, alongside a wide variety of social spaces. Experience the perfect blend of comfort and luxury as you set sail on the voyage of your dreams.

Capturing essence

Every ship in Aqua Expeditions’ fleet tastefully integrates its destination’s history, arts, and culture into its designs through the use of locally sourced fabrics, refined materials, custom-made porcelain, and unique objets d’art. Our ships have been custom-designed by renowned specialists including Cor D. Rover, Jordi Puig and Studio Noor in collaboration with Aqua's Guest Experience Director Birgit Galli Zugaro. Every cabin and social space onboard is conceptualized with modern luxury and comfort in mind.

Luxury of space

Spacious, thoughtfully-designed cabins are a signature of every Aqua Expeditions vessel. Aqua Nera, Aqua Mekong, and Aria Amazon feature river-facing suites with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows – providing the ideal retreat between adventures. In Galapagos, Aqua Mare offers seven luxurious cabins including the archipelago's largest Owner's Suite at 861 sqft. In Indonesia, Aqua Blu hosts three categories of elegant design cabins ranging from 130 to 366 sqft. Finally, Aqua Lares – East Africa and the Arctic Circle’s only superyacht – features 15 bespoke cabins, including three Owner’s Suites sized up to 710 sqft. Across the fleet, guests enjoy a variety of social spaces, including jacuzzis, spas, indoor and outdoor lounges, and games rooms.

Worldwide acclaim

Aqua Expeditions has won prestigious awards including being ranked among Travel+Leisure's World's Top 3 Best River Cruise for three consecutive years since 2023, winning the Aspire Awards Luxury Brand of the Year 2024, and receiving Virtuoso’s Best Small Ship Cruise Line award in 2024.

Aqua has also received global recognition as part of Travel+Leisure's World's Best Intimate Cruise Ship Line category, Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards Best Expedition Cruises category, and Luxury Lifestyle Magazine's Travel Awards Best Ocean Cruise Line and Best River Cruise Line categories. Along with this, Aqua Mekong was recognized for its design with the coveted Gold Award in the Architecture/New Build category in the 2015 Asia Hotel Design Awards.

World-Class Cuisine

An appetite for adventure

At Aqua Expeditions, we work with award-winning chefs to elevate the onboard experience and take guests on world-class culinary journeys. Our menus are authentic to each destination and each dish uses freshly sourced local ingredients. Our expert chefs are able to cater to a variety of dietary preferences, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the finest tastes of the region. While sailing with us, you’ll have the opportunity to attend cooking demonstrations and embark on guided market visits with our chefs. 

East Africa and the Arctic Circle

Michelin-starred Chef Karime López presents her culinary vision aboard Aqua Lares, our newest luxury expedition yacht.

Drawing inspiration from the regions Aqua Lares explores, Chef López’s menus balance Mediterranean influences with coastal Creole flavors, while honoring Aqua’s sustainability ethos through the use of locally sourced ingredients. Guests will savor ocean-fresh seafood and regional delicacies such as the Zanzibar-spiced ribeye and Creole shrimp curry with fried plantain. Additional highlights include glazed short ribs with smoked carrot puree and lobster tagliatelle finished with caviar.

Chef López has built a decorated career leading kitchens in restaurants across Italy, Spain, Mexico, Peru, and Japan, and became the first Mexican woman to earn a Michelin star at Gucci Osteria Florence in 2018. Her accolades also include Chef of the Year in Italy (2018), the Best Chef Art Award (2022), and Best Outstanding Chef Abroad by CANIRAC (2023).

Galapagos and the Peruvian Amazon

A pioneer of rainforest-to-table cuisine, renowned Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino delivers the exceptional menus on our Galapagos and Amazon expeditions.

On Aqua Mare, Chef Schiaffino presents a dining experience inspired by the region’s dramatic landscapes and the Peruvian Nikkei style. Aboard Aqua Nera and Aria Amazon, the dishes make use of native Amazonian ingredients and showcase the best of Peruvian cuisine using a sustainable rainforest-to-table approach. 

Pedro Miguel Schiaffino was the chef and previous owner of Malabar and ámaZ, which used to be two of Lima’s most cutting edge and innovative restaurants prior to their closure. He is also part of the Executive Committee of the CIA’s Latin Cuisines Advisory Council and founder of the catering company Schiaffino Gastronomika.

East Indonesia

Guests onboard Aqua Blu are treated to an immersive dining experience designed by award-winning Australian Chef Benjamin Cross, showcasing a rendition of flavors from across Indonesia’s fabled sea spice trade route.

Drawing inspiration from Indonesian, European, and Mediterranean cuisines, Chef Cross presents dishes made using the freshest, sustainably sourced seafood and local produce which Indonesia has to offer. 

Hailing from a small village in Australia, Chef Benjamin Cross began his career over 20 years ago at the award-winning Byron Bay boutique hotel and restaurant Rae’s on Watego’s. He honed his craft under some of the top icons of Australian cuisine: Janni Kyritsis from the former MG Garage, and Neil Perry as part of the re-opening team of XO.

Over the years, Cross has also made his presence felt in the USA and Spain at Tom Colicchio’s Craft in New York, Seamus Mullen’s Tertullia New York, and Santi Santamaria’s three-Michelin star restaurant Can Fabes in Sant Celoni, Catalonia.

The Mekong Delta

Guests experience dishes made using fresh ingredients sourced from the Mekong’s bustling local markets.

Aboard Aqua Mekong, explore a full repertoire of flavors from Vietnam and Cambodia, with a menu designed by Michelin-starred Chef David Thompson. Aside from fine dining and on-board cooking demonstrations, guests can follow our chefs to bustling local markets as they procure the finest produce, from freshly-caught Mekong river catfish to newly-harvested Asian greens, for the day’s meals. Coconut, lemongrass, coriander and turmeric are just a few of the most recognizable flavors our guests can expect on the inventive yet authentic seasonal menus.

Some of the signature creations include lamb curry with Khmer spices and Vietnamese sugar cane prawns, most of which are served in a communal dining style authentic to the region’s traditions.

Circolo Aqua

Why stop at once-in-a-lifetime?

Every one of our expeditions is an invitation to see the world differently—slowing down to discover remote landscapes and cultures with care and curiosity, from the tributaries of the Mekong and Peruvian Amazon to far-flung islands scattered across the Indian, Arctic, and Pacific Oceans.

Circolo Aqua is where these experiences continue. Become part of our global community of Voyagers, Explorers, Navigators, and Aqua Legends, all brought together by a shared vision of meaningful travel. Unlock privileges across our global fleet, including special rates, priority access to upcoming voyages, personalized onboard experiences, and more.  Join now.

How to join Circolo Aqua

You are eligible upon completing your first voyage - create an account and link your past sailings, or inform your travel advisor, to enjoy exclusive benefits for your next expedition.

Learn more about tiers and benefits here.