Aqua Expeditions

Five-star luxury meets genuine exploration on the world’s most extraordinary waterways. Aqua Expeditions takes you deep into the Amazon, along the Mekong, through Indonesia’s remote archipelago, and into the Galapagos – aboard intimate, design-forward vessels with world-class cuisine and expert-led excursions at every turn.

Viking Expeditions logo

Boutique Expedition Cruising, Redefined

Founded by Francesco Galli Zugaro, Aqua Expeditions was born from a simple idea: that adventure and luxury don’t have to be mutually exclusive. What started in 2007 with a single vessel on the Peruvian Amazon has grown into an award-winning fleet operating across some of the planet’s most remarkable waterways. These are small ships – deliberately so. With no more than 40 guests on their river vessels, every voyage feels personal. The cuisine is overseen by celebrated chefs, the naturalist guides know their regions with an intimacy that only comes from living there, and the design of each vessel is crafted to immerse you in the landscape rather than insulate you from it. If you’ve been searching for something beyond the typical cruise experience – something that genuinely puts you in the heart of the world’s wildest places without asking you to rough it – Aqua Expeditions is worth a serious look.

At a Glance

Cruise Line: Aqua Expeditions – Boutique Luxury Expedition Cruises. Fleet: Intimate fleet of luxury vessels accommodating approximately 16-40 guests on river ships and up to 16 guests on ocean-going yachts. Destinations: Peruvian Amazon, Mekong River (Vietnam & Cambodia), Indonesian Archipelago, and Galapagos Islands. Signature Feature: World-renowned guest chef partnerships, expert naturalist-led excursions, and design-forward vessels crafted for remote exploration. Philosophy: Luxury exploration that immerses you in the natural world without compromising on comfort, cuisine, or personal attention.

Luxury accommodation in beautifully designed suites and cabins. All gourmet meals prepared under the direction of celebrated guest chefs. Daily guided excursions led by expert naturalists and local guides. House wines, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages. Use of expedition equipment including kayaks and skiffs. Onboard lectures and enrichment presentations by naturalist guides. Complimentary Wi-Fi (where satellite connectivity permits). Airport transfers on embarkation and disembarkation days (select itineraries). Gratuities are not included and are at your discretion.

Ultra-intimate vessels with no more than 40 guests on river ships – you won’t feel like a tourist. Cuisine created in partnership with world-class chefs, tailored to each destination. Expert naturalist guides with deep local knowledge lead every excursion. Access to remote waterways and coastlines unreachable by larger vessels. Beautifully crafted ships that blend contemporary luxury with expedition capability. Strong commitment to sustainable tourism and local community engagement. Small-group excursions that immerse you in wildlife and culture without the crowds. Four distinct destinations – Amazon, Mekong, Indonesia, and Galapagos – each offering a completely different experience.

Guest Chef Program: Aqua Expeditions partners with internationally acclaimed chefs to design menus that reflect each region’s culinary traditions using locally sourced ingredients. Amazon Vessels: Menus inspired by Peruvian cuisine, drawing on the extraordinary biodiversity of Amazonian ingredients. Mekong Vessel: Vietnamese and Cambodian flavors prepared with regional produce and traditional techniques. Indonesian & Galapagos Vessels: Menus celebrating local seafood, tropical produce, and regional cooking traditions. All meals are included, with house wines, beer, and soft drinks complimentary throughout every voyage.

Aqua Expeditions’ vessels feature spacious suites designed with floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that bring the landscape right into your room. On the Amazon river vessels, suites range from approximately 235 to 300 square feet with outdoor viewing areas. The Aqua Mekong offers generous suites with private balconies and indoor-outdoor living spaces. All accommodations feature premium bedding, en-suite bathrooms with luxury amenities, individually controlled climate systems, and thoughtful design elements reflecting each destination’s character.

Why Choose Aqua Expeditions

Boutique Expedition Ultra-Luxury Small-ship exploration at its finest

  • All gourmet meals by celebrated chefs
  • Daily expert-led excursions
  • Naturalist guides & onboard lectures
  • House wines, beer & soft drinks
  • Kayaks, skiffs & expedition gear
  • Airport transfers (select itineraries)
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi (satellite permitting)

Expert-Led Excursions and Wildlife Encounters

Penguin colony on snowy Antarctic landscape with mountain in background

Four Regions, One Uncompromising Standard

Aqua Expeditions operates in destinations most cruise lines wouldn’t attempt. Deep in the Peruvian Amazon, you’ll navigate tributaries teeming with wildlife alongside expert naturalists who know the rainforest intimately. On the Mekong, you’ll drift between floating markets and ancient temples in Vietnam and Cambodia. In Indonesia, the Aqua Blu explores the remote islands of Raja Ampat and Komodo National Park – some of the most biodiverse marine environments on Earth. And in the Galapagos, you’ll encounter wildlife so fearless it practically invites you to sit down and stay awhile. Each region is served by a vessel specifically designed for its waters, and the small guest counts mean you access places that simply aren’t available to larger ships.

Cuisine That Belongs to the Destination

Food is a serious matter on Aqua Expeditions. Each vessel’s menu is developed in partnership with internationally celebrated guest chefs who design dishes around locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. On the Amazon, expect Peruvian flavors that showcase Amazonian produce you’ve likely never encountered before. Along the Mekong, the cuisine draws from Vietnamese and Cambodian traditions with fresh herbs, river fish, and spices gathered from nearby markets. In Indonesia and the Galapagos, seafood and tropical produce take center stage. Every meal is included, and house wines, beer, and soft drinks flow throughout the voyage. This isn’t standard cruise dining – it’s culinary storytelling rooted in the places you’re exploring.

Viking expedition cruise ship navigating through Antarctic waters with glaciers in background
Viking Octantis expedition ship navigating pristine Antarctic waters among massive icebergs

Where the Map Gets Interesting

The excursions are the reason most people choose Aqua Expeditions. Every departure includes daily guided outings led by naturalists who actually live in these regions – people who can spot a pink river dolphin before you’ve even thought to look. In the Amazon, you might kayak through flooded forest canopies one morning and visit a remote indigenous community the next. On the Mekong, it could be a sunrise visit to a floating market followed by a guided walk through ancient Khmer ruins. In Indonesia, you’ll snorkel over coral reefs in Raja Ampat that marine biologists consider among the richest on Earth. And in the Galapagos, you’ll walk among wildlife that has no fear of humans – an experience that genuinely changes how you see the natural world.

Experience

The Aqua Expeditions Difference

World-Class Guest Chefs Aqua Expeditions collaborates with internationally renowned chefs to create menus rooted in each destination’s culinary heritage. Locally sourced ingredients, regional techniques, and a commitment to freshness mean every meal genuinely reflects where you are – not a generic cruise menu shipped in from elsewhere. It’s one of those details that sounds like a marketing line until you sit down to your first dinner and realize they actually mean it.

Sustainability at the Core Aqua Expeditions takes responsible travel seriously. From supporting local communities in the Amazon to minimizing environmental impact in fragile marine ecosystems like Raja Ampat, the company builds sustainability into its operations. Traveling with them means your presence contributes positively to the places you visit – not just as a spectator, but as a guest who leaves things better than you found them.

Scandinavian-Inspired Design Meets Expedition Spirit Every detail of Aqua Expeditions’ vessels reflects a commitment to contemporary elegance that connects you to your surroundings. Floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows in every suite mean the rainforest, riverbank, or volcanic coastline is always part of the experience. The interiors are clean and sophisticated – designed to let the destination take center stage while ensuring you never want for comfort.

Design-Forward Suites and Cabins

Frequently Asked Questions

A few things set them apart. The ships are small – really small – which means they can navigate waterways that bigger vessels can’t reach. The cuisine is developed in collaboration with internationally acclaimed chefs and built around local ingredients, not standard cruise fare. Every excursion is led by expert naturalists who live in the regions you’re exploring, so the knowledge is firsthand. And the design of the ships themselves is striking – contemporary, elegant, and built to connect you visually with the landscapes outside. It’s a fundamentally different approach to expedition cruising: luxury that doesn’t compromise on authenticity, and exploration that doesn’t sacrifice comfort.

Aqua Expeditions offers a comprehensive all-inclusive experience. Your cruise fare covers luxury suite accommodation, all gourmet meals designed by celebrated guest chefs, house wines, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages, daily guided excursions led by expert naturalists, use of expedition equipment such as kayaks and skiffs, onboard lectures and enrichment programs, and complimentary Wi-Fi where satellite coverage allows. Select itineraries also include airport transfers on embarkation and disembarkation days. Gratuities are not included and are left to your discretion. Your Harr Travel advisor can provide a full breakdown of inclusions for your specific voyage.

It depends on the vessel. The Amazon river ships carry approximately 16 to 40 guests. The Aqua Mekong accommodates up to 40 guests. The Aqua Blu in Indonesia carries around 15 guests. And the Aqua Mare in the Galapagos holds up to 16 guests. These deliberately small capacities ensure personalized attention from both the crew and the naturalist guides, and they allow the ships to access places that are off-limits to larger vessels.

Excursions vary by destination but are always led by expert naturalist guides. On the Amazon, expect skiff rides through flooded forests, piranha fishing, pink dolphin spotting, visits to indigenous communities, and guided rainforest walks. The Mekong itineraries include floating market visits, temple tours, cooking demonstrations, and village visits. In Indonesia, activities focus on snorkeling, diving, kayaking, and island exploration. In the Galapagos, expect wildlife walks, snorkeling with marine iguanas and sea lions, and Zodiac cruises along volcanic coastlines. Every excursion is included in the fare and designed to immerse you in the region’s wildlife and culture.

Aqua Expeditions operates in four distinct regions. In Peru, they cruise the Amazon River and its tributaries aboard the Aria Amazon and Aqua Nera. The Aqua Mekong explores Vietnam and Cambodia along the Mekong River. In Indonesia, the Aqua Blu – a long-range explorer yacht – navigates the remote islands of Raja Ampat, Komodo National Park, and the Spice Islands. Their newest destination is the Galapagos Islands aboard the Aqua Mare. Each region offers completely different wildlife, culture, and landscapes, and your Harr Travel advisor can help you determine which destination aligns with what you’re looking for.

Each vessel in the Aqua Expeditions fleet features spacious suites designed with floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows. On the Amazon vessels, suites range from approximately 235 to 300 square feet, with the Aqua Nera featuring suites up to 345 square feet including a private outdoor terrace. The Aqua Mekong offers suites of around 320 square feet with private balconies. The Aqua Blu provides cabins and suites with outdoor spaces and spa access. All accommodations include premium bedding, en-suite bathrooms with luxury amenities, individually controlled climate systems, and thoughtful design elements that reflect each destination. Your Harr Travel advisor can walk you through the differences between vessels and help you select the suite that’s the right fit for your preferences and budget.

All meals are included and served in a single elegant open-seating dining venue on each vessel. The menus are crafted in partnership with celebrated guest chefs and change daily based on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. In the Amazon, expect Peruvian-inspired dishes using Amazonian produce. On the Mekong, the cuisine celebrates Vietnamese and Cambodian traditions. House wines, beer, and soft drinks are complimentary throughout the voyage. Special dietary requirements are happily accommodated with advance notice. There are no surcharges, no reservation fees, and no formal dress codes – just exceptional food that genuinely reflects where you are.

Aqua Expeditions can be a wonderful choice for families with older children and teenagers who are curious about nature and wildlife. The small-group excursions and expert naturalist guides make every outing educational and engaging. That said, these are expedition-style cruises focused on wildlife encounters and cultural immersion rather than family entertainment programs. There are no kids’ clubs or dedicated children’s activities, so it works best for families who enjoy exploring together. The intimate ship size means everyone bonds quickly, and the naturalist guides are skilled at making excursions fascinating for younger travelers. Your Harr Travel advisor can help you determine whether a particular vessel and itinerary is the right fit for your family’s ages and interests.

Gratuities are not included in the cruise fare and are left to your discretion. Aqua Expeditions provides guidelines for suggested amounts, which typically cover the ship’s crew and the naturalist guides. Tips can usually be paid in cash or added to your onboard account at the end of the voyage. Your Harr Travel advisor can provide specific guidance on suggested gratuity amounts for your particular itinerary.

The dress code is relaxed and comfortable. For excursions, lightweight, breathable clothing in neutral colors works best – long sleeves and pants are recommended for jungle walks. Sturdy walking shoes, a rain jacket, insect repellent, and sunscreen are essential. Binoculars are a must for wildlife spotting (though guides carry them too). Onboard, smart casual attire is the norm for dining. No formal nights. A light fleece or jacket is useful for air-conditioned indoor areas. Your Aqua Expeditions packing list will vary by destination, and your Harr Travel advisor can provide specific recommendations based on your itinerary and the time of year you’re traveling.

When you book Aqua Expeditions through Harr Travel, you get access to exclusive group rates with savings of up to 50% off published fares – with just one room. Our team of expert advisors provides personalized guidance on choosing the right vessel, suite, and itinerary for your interests. We perform weekly price monitoring on every booking and automatically adjust your rate if the price drops. We never charge booking, consultation, or change fees. And with 365-day support, you’ll have a dedicated advisor in your corner before, during, and after your voyage. From your first inquiry through your welcome home call, we advise, assist, and advocate for you at every step.

Ready to Explore the Extraordinary?

Aqua Expeditions takes you to places that feel genuinely untouched – the kind of destinations you’ve read about but never imagined you could experience in this level of comfort. When you’re ready to plan your expedition cruise, our expert advisors at Harr Travel are here to guide you. With exclusive group rates, weekly price monitoring, and no booking or consultation fees, your adventure starts with a conversation. Call us at 1-888-871-4233 or reach out online.