Looking for your next adventure? How about a luxury expedition cruise through Indonesia’s famed Spice Islands or the pristine islands of remote Raja Ampat? You’ll want to keep your eye out for the new Aqua Expeditions Aqua Blu coastal ship.
You may be familiar with Aqua Expeditions. We’re already fans, having covered their Mekong and Amazon experiences first hand, and now the company has set its eyes on Indonesia’s far east, with a new addition to its fleet.
Aqua Expeditions will launch Aqua Blu, its first coastal ship, this November. The first ever long-range expedition-class vessel to be based in eastern Indonesia year-round, the former British Naval Explorer HMS Beagle has been lovingly re-envisioned by yacht designer Cor D. Rover and will offer fascinating journeys to three of the region’s most alluring destinations: Raja Ampat (December through to January); Komodo National Park (April to September); and the Spice Islands (October to November) on 7-night itineraries.
In addition, the adventure cruise company will offer four exclusive 12-night Limited Cross-Destination Voyages each year, each sailing a different route and combining rarely visited locales like the Forgotten Islands, a 1,000 km long chain of archipelagos stretching from Timor to West Papua on the island of New Guinea.
Following the traditional spice routes that once crisscrossed this remote region, itineraries will cover tropical islands where wildlife, culture and age-old traditions reside, in addition to the world’s best diving and snorkeling sites. Featuring technologically-advanced stabilisers for ultimate guest comfort while navigating or at rest, the high-performance vessel is also RINA- and SOLAS-certified.
With 15 individually-designed sea-facing suites in three cabin categories, Aqua Blu will boast the same contemporary, elegant interiors of Aqua’s other vessels. In addition, it will welcome guests with on-board certified dive guides and a range of best-in-class cruise amenities, including an outdoor plunge pool, spa and top-of-the-line non-motorised watersports equipment ranging from diving rigs to kayaks and standup paddleboards.
You’ll hit terra firma on daily excursions via Aqua Blu’s two high-powered tenders for sea excursions, visiting remote bays, isolated villages and some of Asia’s most stunning volcanic landscapes.
In addition to the Aqua Blu, Aqua Expeditions will add a second river cruising vessel to the Peruvian Amazon. Setting a new standard of luxury on the world’s greatest river, the new-build Aqua Nera will feature luxuriously-appointed interiors by Noor Design inspired by the blackwater lagoons and tributaries of the Amazon River and Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve and incorporating intricate accents from the rubber boom era and the colorful cultures of Portugal, Spain and Peru.
In addition to 20 spacious, river-facing suites, Aqua Nera will boast a rooftop plunge pool and gym, as well as sustainable locally-inspired cuisine by award-winning Peruvian culinarian Pedro Miguel Schiaffino. The Aqua Nera will launch in August 2020 on 3, 4 and 7-night itineraries.