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Aqua Expeditions adds a fifth vessel heading for the Galapagos

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Aqua Mare will cruise the Galapagos starting May 2022
Aqua Expeditions announced the expansion of its fleet with the acquisition of 50mtr yacht Aqua Mare to sail the Galapagos Islands.

Starting on May 6, 2022, the seven-suite Aqua Mare will offer a choice of two 7-night itineraries exploring the Archipelagos’ East and West regions, as well as two 14-night voyages.

The choice of the Galapagos Islands as the destination for Aqua Expeditions’ fifth vessel holds special significance as it is where the company’s CEO and Founder, Francesco Galli Zugaro, began his professional career in luxury travel.

It is the place which inspired him and co-founder Fred Brown to launch their own brand of immersive small-ship expeditions in the Peruvian Amazon River.

‘Ever since I left Ecuador in 2006 with the clarity to build my own business, I have wanted to return to the Galapagos Islands with our very own luxury expedition ship. It has been 15 years since we ventured to Peru as a family and then onward to Asia to finally come full circle back to where it all started,’ said Zugaro.

Designed and built by Italy’s CRN yard, with custom interiors by François Zuretti, Aqua Mare will host up to 16 guests in seven individually designed suites.

Seven suites

The Owner’s Suite, at 80 sq mtr, and the other six suites are 20 sqm each. The interior has an elegant and contemporary look with personalised Aqua Bali-sourced plate ware to the 17th century prints featuring endemic wildlife curated by Aqua Expeditions’ director Birgit Galli Zugaro in 2021.

Zugaro explained the purchase of Aqua Mare: ‘She caught the attention of our son Massimo during one of those lockdown days in Singapore while we were searching for yachts to purchase, and we knew immediately he had found something special.’

At 50mtr long and 640gt, Aqua Mare has four decks featuring shaded and open sun decks, a six-person jacuzzi, outdoor barbecue area and an early morning workout zone.

Italian-designed

The entire ship is lined with Italian veneer walls and plenty of indoor and outdoor dining venues to provide multiple settings for either private meals or group celebrations. The Beach Club’ located at the aft of the lower deck, comes complete with a hydraulic opening panoramic beam-to-beam window.