Over the years, Aqua Expeditions has garnered a reputation for transporting guests — in absolute luxury — to some of the world’s most remote destinations. Its ships travel down the vast Mekong River and delta, visit the hugely significant Galapagos islands, chart Peru’s Amazon River, and stop at various incredible locations across Indonesia, from Raja Ampat to Komodo National Park in Bali. Following the success of these global adventures, the luxury cruise company is now expanding to a continent it has thus far left untouched. From December 2025 Aqua Expeditions will begin taking guests to East Africa.
“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 Aqua Expeditions founder and CEO, Francesco Galli Zugaro. “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 travelers 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.”
Alongside these new destinations, Aqua Expeditions is launching a new series of itineraries allowing guests to delve into the wonders of the Indian Ocean. Those visiting the Seychelles can select either a five or nine-night trip exploring either the inner or outer islands of the archipelago, the truly adventurous can combine the two into an all-encompassing 14-night trip. There will also be 10- and 11-night trips that cover both the Seychelles and the islands of Tanzania, each a bucket list destination in its own right.
As this will be an Aqua Expedition, travelers can expect service of the highest order. A one-to-one crew-to-guest ratio ensures an elevated level of personalization, in addition to smaller groups for any off-ship excursions. The food served throughout the expedition is prepared by top chefs who deliver flavorful dishes utilizing local produce.
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“East Africa presents a compelling blend of familiar sights and unexplored frontiers,” said Galli Zugaro. “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.”
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To facilitate these new East Africa voyages, Aqua Expeditions will also add a sixth vessel to its fleet as the company looks to deliver the same exceptional standard of experience, on a new continent. Those visiting the Seychelles and Tanzania will get the opportunity to explore the biodiverse sites of Aldabra, the Furquhar atoll and the rarely visited African Banks.
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