Aqua Expeditions’ Founder and CEO, Francesco Galli Zugaro, has revealed the luxury small ship operator’s new superyacht destined to sail East African waters was signed only a few months ago from a private owner based in the US.Speaking exclusively with LATTEin Las Vegas at Virtuoso Travel Week, Galli Zugaro, said he was always confident he would find the right vessel for his cruise brand’s newest destination, despite teasing the future itineraries more than 12 months before it’s mooted launch. The strategy was centred on building awareness of the infrequently visited waters west of the Seychelles, particularly by a commercial cruise operator.Aqua Expeditions began spruiking the new program in September last year. At the time, the cruise operator was vague about its sixth ship, saying further details would be forthcoming. Earlier this month, those details were finally revealed after Galli Zugaro and his investors bedded down the new vessel, to be known as Aqua Lares. The 15-berth ship is slated to enter service in February 2026.
Aqua Lares will be Aqua’s largest vessel to date.With a gross tonnage of 2,400, it is by far the highest Gross Tonne-to-guest ratio in the Aqua Expeditions fleet. At 77-metres in length, it will be 40% larger than Aqua Blu which sails in open waters of Indonesia, and accommodates up to 32 guests.With two small ships on the Amazon, another on the Mekong, the former British Navy explorer yacht in Indonesia (Aqua Blu), and a 50 metre superyacht in the Galapagos, Galli Zugaro says the variety of vessel in Aqua Expeditions’ fleet excites the brand’s guests.
“People are just blown away by what we’veaccomplished in 18 years,” he tells us.
“Building the brand and developing it, and staying relevant and continuously pushing the envelope and delivering something unique,” the Italian-American who lives in Singapore said.
“I like the fact that they value that I haven’t gone out and secured massive financing to build cookie cutter, same ships. Every ship has a different story, and people like that.”
“Even though they know the brand pillars, the quality of the food, the guides, the activities, etc, the ships are different and the destinations varied. I think people like that, and it’s also exciting for me. I can’t get passionate about something unless I’m personally excited about it. So having that different ship, that different destination, also keeps me motivated.”Quizzed if Aqua Expeditions would consider adding additional capacity in some of its existing markets, such as the Amazon or Mekong, Galli Zugaro’s response was:“Right now, I think that I wouldn’t double up more than two. I’d rather just focus on developing a new destination. Whilst the Amazon is one of our biggest revenue generators, I also like to diversify and de-risk.”“I could put another ship in the Galapagos, for sure. Aqua Mare is going gangbusters and doing very well. But I think that I wouldn’t do myself justice. It’s not about just maximising revenue for a destination. It’s also about creating a brand, creating opportunities for the affluent to explore different biodiversity hot spots around the world. There’s so many more that I’d like to do, that I’d rather focus on building out that variety.”Galli Zugaro describes Aqua’s new destination off East Africa as “the perfect combination of Indonesia’s Raja Ampat meets the Galapagos.”“Whilst many have heard of the Seychelles, and maybe some have been to the Grand Anse and its iconic beach, I doubt many have heard of Aldabra and the group of outer islands from the Seychelles. The Seychelles spans over 1,000 nautical miles west, almost past Madagascar.”“This island is the Galapagos of East Africa – the second largest atoll in the world, has the largest population of giant tortoise in the world. One island has over 150,000 giant tortoises, with no human confrontation, incredible marine and endemic species.”And while his new vessel did have the option of including a Trident submarine onboard with two crew, Galli Zugaro admits “I didn’t want it. I just didn’t feel I wanted to provide that element. I didn’t feel that it added so much that it merited having that risk component.”Galli Zugaro explains that this region of the world is very difficult to access, “unless you’re on a super yacht or a charter or a unique itinerary”.“But there’s no scheduled FIT product for you to perfectly combine the Indian Ocean, with possibly anAfrican safari. So not only have we found this private yacht for you, but it will be bookable by the cabin, or fully buyout, with scheduled departures, and a range of combinable itineraries.”
“The ship is perfect for multigenerational buyouts or a group of friends,” he says, noting that “we’re not a live-aboard for divers. We’re a luxury exploring yacht with diving. One to two dives a day.”Aqua Lares will be fully remodelled internally to match Galli Zugaro’s style and taste, and will exit the shipyard at the end of the year.The updated superyacht will then be in place to commence service by February 2026. The first two departures will be from Madagascar, on a seven-night and 10-night cruises.Concluding, Galli Zugaro hinted that another “exciting” announcement, potentially involving Aqua Lares, is planned for mid-September, in New York, alongside business partner, PONANT.
