Aqua Expeditions has this evening revealed plans to expand its fleet in 2025, enabling the launch of new sailings in Seychelles and Zanzibar, Tanzania. Four itineraries are slated to debut from December next year.
“It has always been a dream of mine to venture into East Africa and explore this part of the world on a luxury expedition ship,” said Francesco Galli Zugaro, Founder and CEO, Aqua Expeditions.
In January 2023, while speaking exclusively with LATTE while in Sydney, Galli Zugaro flagged Africa as one of a handful of future destinations around the world being considered. During our interview, he noted that future fleet growth for his brand would almost certainly be with super yachts similar to Aqua Mare which operates in the Galapagos.
“I am so excited to finally be able to showcase to our past guests the beauty of the Indian Ocean and the famous Aldabra Atoll. Few travellers have heard of or even seen this magical atoll that is home to over 150,000 giant tortoises. Considered the Galapagos of Africa, this island group is home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna, and to some of the most amazing marine life in the world.”
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Expeditions on board the explorer yacht will range from 5- and 9-night itineraries exploring Seychelles’ inner and outer islands respectively. The itineraries can ne combined for a complete 14-night exploration of the Seychelles archipelago.
Aqua Expeditions will rotate the itineraries with comprehensive 10- and 11-night sailings exploring both Seychelles and the Tanzanian islands. Guests can expect a superyacht experience on par with standards now expected on an Aqua ship, with an exclusive 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio, personalised service, acclaimed cuisine helmed by world-renowned chefs, and small group expert-guided excursions that show off the best of each destination.
“East Africa presents a compelling blend of familiar sights and unexplored frontiers,” Galli Zugaro said, delving into the inspiration behind this destination.
“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.”
The luxury cruise operator said the connections to the Galapagos and the Spice Islands “provide a reassuring sense of continuity as Aqua Expeditions adds another bespoke vessel to its growing fleet”. Since its 2007 in the Peruvian Amazon, Aqua has grown to sail eight destinations with three river ships and two superyachts. This latest fleet expansion will see Aqua’s sixth vessel lead the company’s entry into Africa, with an aim to deliver a signature Aqua experience that has been carefully built and refined in the waters of South America and Southeast Asia.
“At Aqua, we’ve always been inspired to visit destinations that are off the beaten track. It was inevitable that our journey would eventually bring us to African shores,” Galli Zugaro adds.
“We are pleased to bring our unique brand of small-ship expeditions to a third continent, with a focus on travel that is both luxurious and sustainable.”
While sailing Seychelles and Tanzania with Aqua, guests will have the opportunity to visit biodiversity hotspots like, Aldabra, Cosmoledo, Astove, Furquhar Atol, Kilwa Kisiwani, and Pemba. In usual Aqua fashion, the expedition will also visit destinations such as the African Banks which are rarely explored by other cruises in the region.
The expansion of Aqua’s fleet is propelled by financing from the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group. Further details surrounding this expansion and Aqua Expeditions’ sixth vessel will follow in due course.
