The ship will be sailing around the Galapagos islands from May 2022, offering a choice of seven or 14-night itineraries exploring the archipelago’s eastern and western regions.

Aqua Mare will be the company’s fifth vessel and takes Aqua Expeditions’ founder Francesco Galli Zugaro back to the islands where he started his career in travel.

The ship can host up to 16 guests in seven suites, including the owner’s suite offering 80 square metres of space and is being billed as the “largest suite in the Galapagos”.

Aqua Mare offers four decks for passengers to use with facilities such as a six-person Jacuzzi, outdoor barbecue area and early morning workout zone.

There are both indoor and outdoor dining venues, with Peruvian chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino acting as consulting chef, as well as a beach club featuring a hydraulic opening panoramic window.

Galli Zugaro said: “Ever since I left Ecuador in 2006 with the clarity to build my own business, I have wanted to return to the Galapagos with our very own luxury expedition ship.

“It has been 15 years since we ventured to Peru as a family and then onward to Asia to finally come full circle back to where it all started. There are some nice ships in the Galapagos islands, but there is nothing like our Aqua Mare.”

The ship will be staffed by 16 crew including two naturalist guides offering a “one-to-one” crew to guest ratio.

A seven-night itinerary on the ship starts from £6,908pp, while a seven-night charter for 16 passengers is priced from £143,305.