Aqua Expeditions is set to launch a new ship in 2025, marking the sixth addition to its fleet of small luxury vessels.
The Peruvian-based cruise line will also introduce four itineraries in Seychelles and Zanzibar, Tanzania, as part of its first-ever venture into Africa. Inaugural departures are scheduled for December 2025 and information on how agents can book will soon be released.
The expeditions will offer shorter journeys of five and nine-night sailings to Seychelles’ inner islands, which are famous for their rugged terrain, as well as its outer islands, where passengers will discover white sandy beaches and world-class tidal flats.
Guests can book a 14-night itinerary exploring the entire Seychelles archipelago, and there will also be 10 and 11-night cruises covering islands across Seychelles and Tanzania.
Aqua Expeditions is best known for its cruises on the Pekong and Amazon rivers, as well as its ocean cruises to Indonesia and the Galapagos Islands.
It currently has five ships; three of which travel to river destinations and two of which are dedicated to ocean cruising. None of its vessels carry more than 40 passengers, with its smallest one, super-yacht Aqua Mare, hosting just 16 guests.
In keeping with all Aqua Expedition voyages, its new cruises will have a 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio to ensure high standards of personalised service.
There will also be gourmet cuisine onboard and expert-guided excursions, which have been carefully selected by the company’s team of expedition specialists. Guests can expect to explore biodiverse hotspots such as Aldabra, Cosmoledo, Astove, Furquhar Atoll, Kilwa Kisiwani, and Pemba, along with the uninhabited African Banks, which are only visible at low tide.
“East Africa presents a compelling blend of familiar sights and unexplored frontiers,” said Francesco Galli Zugaro, founder of Aqua Expeditions. “We find giant tortoises roaming the beaches, similar to in the Galapagos which we sail with Aqua Mare. Diving into history, we see remnants of a centuries-old spice trade, much like the Spice Islands that Aqua Blu explores in Indonesia. At the same time, we are treated to sights never seen before, from the raised coral atoll of Aldabra to marine life unique to Seychelles and reef walls akin to the Grand Canyon.”
