Aqua Expeditions
Parent company: PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP
PremiumSee how Aqua Expeditions describes itself vs how we list it
What to say on a call
Best for
- 1Fare includes all meals, non-alcoholic drinks, selected wines and beer, excursions with guides, park entrance fees, Wi-Fi and laundry; cocktails, spa, airfare and gratuities are extra.
- 2Six ships carrying 16 to 40 guests: three river ships (Mekong, Peruvian Amazon) and three ocean yachts (Indonesia, Galapagos, East Africa/Arctic).
- 3Menus by named chefs: Pedro Miguel Schiaffino (Amazon, Galapagos), Benjamin Cross (Indonesia, Mekong) and Michelin-starred Karime López (Aqua Lares).
- 4Circolo Aqua loyalty program with tier benefits and a status match with PONANT Yacht Club.
Payments & cancellations
Final payment
Per cruise line90 days before departure
Final balance due 90 days before departure. If payment isn't received on time, the space is released automatically.
Applies to: Individual (FIT) cabin bookings on any Aqua Expeditions ship (Aqua Expeditions Terms & Conditions, U.S. dollars); not private charters
Private charters: balance also due 90 days before departure, after a 20% deposit at signing and 30% at 180 days.
Deposit
Per cruise lineUS$1,000 per person (full payment if booked within 90 days)
US$1,000 per person to confirm a booking made 91 or more days before departure. Bookings made 90 days or less before departure need full, non-refundable payment. Courtesy holds last up to 7 days. Same for every ship, river and ocean.
Applies to: Individual (FIT) cabin bookings on any Aqua Expeditions ship (Aqua Expeditions Terms & Conditions, U.S. dollars); not private charters
Private charters: 20% at signing, 30% at 180 days, balance at 90 days, all deposits non-refundable. Tour operators/DMCs must pay balances by bank wire (no cards).
Cancellation penalties
Per cruise lineSee details below
121 or more days before departure: deposit refunded less a US$500 per person service charge. 120-91 days: all deposits forfeited. 90-0 days: 100% of the fare. Wire fees and card commissions may be deducted from refunds; refunds go only to the original card or account. Date changes: free 181+ days out, US$500 per person at 180-121 days, none within 120 days.
Applies to: Individual (FIT) cabin bookings on any Aqua Expeditions ship (Aqua Expeditions Terms & Conditions, U.S. dollars); not private charters
Private charters: all deposits non-refundable at 91+ days; full payment forfeited within 90 days. Promotions (e.g. Early Bird Bonus) list no different cancellation terms.
Onboard extras & packages
Prices are approximate, per person per day unless noted. Always confirm the current price with the cruise line.
- Gratuities (standard rooms)
- Not included (no suggested amount published)Per cruise line
- Gratuities (suites)
- Not included (no suggested amount published)Per cruise line
- Drink package
- Included: selected (house) wines and beer; cocktails cost extraPer cruise line
Sources differ
Aqua's destination pages differ on wine and beer for Aria Amazon. The Mekong, Galapagos, Indonesia, Seychelles and Arctic FAQs include selected wines and beer; the Amazon FAQ lists the Amazon inclusions without them and then says 'Selected wines and beer are complimentary on Aqua Nera as well', which reads as not on Aria Amazon. We show wine and beer as included; confirm for Aria Amazon with Aqua.Mekong FAQ Amazon FAQ Galapagos FAQ - Premium drink package
- Extra cost: cocktails and premium drinks (no package or prices published)Per cruise line
- Soda package
- Included (non-alcoholic drinks)Per cruise line
- Non-alcoholic package
- Included (non-alcoholic drinks; Nespresso machines in Aqua Mekong suites and Aqua Blu cabins)Per cruise line
- Wi-Fi (basic)
- Included: complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi / satellite internet on every shipPer cruise line
- Wi-Fi (premium)
- Not offered (the one included plan is unlimited)Per cruise line
- Specialty dining package
- Not offered (all meals included; one dining room per ship, chef-designed menus)Per cruise line
- Specialty dining (avg per meal)
- Not applicable (no extra-charge dining)Per cruise line
- Fitness classes
- Gyms on Aqua Mekong and Aqua Nera (and a gym on Aqua Lares); no fitness classes publishedPer cruise line
- Spa / thermal pass
- Extra cost: spa and massage treatments (no prices published). Spa on Aqua Mekong, Aqua Nera and Aqua Lares (also sauna); massage room on Aria Amazon; jacuzzis included.Per cruise line
- Air program
- Air not included (no air program). Exception: on the Mekong in low water, the Phnom Penh to Siem Reap flight extension is included in the fare. Group airport transfers are included on the recommended flights.Per cruise line
- Other fees & perks
- Included: small-group excursions with guides (twice daily), kayaks/paddleboards/snorkel gear, national park and reserve entrance fees (Pacaya-Samiria, Galapagos National Park plus Transit Control Card on Aqua Mare, Indonesia and Seychelles parks), lectures, laundry, Wi-Fi, group transfers on recommended flights. Extra: airfare, cocktails, spa/massage, boutique, gratuities. Date changes free 181+ days out, US$500 per person at 180-121 days, not allowed within 120 days; name changes free up to 30 days. Single supplement normally 25%. Wire fees and card commissions may be deducted from refunds.Per cruise line
Sources differ
Aqua's pages differ on scuba diving. The loyalty FAQ says diving/snorkelling is included on Aqua Blu and Aqua Lares (Seychelles itineraries); the Health & Safety page says diving and snorkeling apply to Indonesia & Galapagos only; the Galapagos FAQ says scuba there is only through third-party operators. We show the fare inclusions without scuba (snorkel gear is included); ask Aqua whether scuba diving is included, and on which ships.Circolo Aqua loyalty page Health & Safety Galapagos FAQ
Accessibility & special needs
- How to tell the cruise line
- Declare relevant medical history to Aqua before off-ship activities; guests certify fitness to travel at booking. Dietary needs at least 30 days before embarkation. Per cruise line
- Medical equipment & pregnancy
- Paramedic on board for emergencies (no doctor mentioned). Comprehensive travel insurance is optional. Per cruise line
Not on the line's site (or not confirmed yet): wheelchairs & scooters, blind / low vision, deaf / hard of hearing, service animals, guests of size. Ask the cruise line's accessibility team.
Never promise an accommodation. Send the request to the line and let them confirm. How to handle these calls → Premium
Upgrade & suite ladder
entryDesign suites (river ships) and design cabins (yachts)
Per cruise lineRiver ships: every room is a river-facing design suite with floor-to-ceiling windows, king or twin beds and a walk-in rain shower (Aqua Mekong 20, Aqua Nera 20, Aria Amazon 16). Yachts: individually designed cabins (Aqua Blu 15, Aqua Lares 15, Aqua Mare 7) priced by size category.
midDesign Suite with Balcony (Aqua Mekong) and larger yacht categories
Per cruise lineOn Aqua Mekong the only difference between suites is whether they have a balcony. On the yachts, higher categories are larger cabins (Aqua Lares non-owner cabins 13-30 sqm across its categories).
topOwner's Suites (Aqua Mare: one, 80 sqm, up to 4 guests; Aqua Lares: three, 39-66 sqm)
Per cruise lineAqua Mare's 861 sq ft (80 sqm) Owner's Suite sleeps up to four; Aqua Lares has three Owner's Suites of 419-710 sq ft (39-66 sqm). The river ships have no owner's suite.
Loyalty program
Circolo Aqua (Guest Loyalty Program; free, Miles-based; separate Circolo Aqua Trade Loyalty Program for advisors)Per cruise line
- 1Voyager — Entry tier (Miles thresholds not published in page text)
- 2Navigator — Miles threshold not published in page text (matches PONANT Yacht Club Major)
- 3Explorer — Miles threshold not published in page text (matches PONANT Yacht Club Admiral)
- 4Legend — Miles threshold not published in page text (matches PONANT Yacht Club Grand Admiral)
Guests may say
“Circolo Aqua”, “Aqua Miles”, “Aqua Legend”, “Circolo Aqua River Special”, “Ponant Status Match”
PONANT status match: Circolo Aqua Navigator, Explorer and Legend map to PONANT Yacht Club Major, Admiral and Grand Admiral (Voyager has no match), and Yacht Club members get the matching Circolo Aqua tier on their first Aqua sailing. Both sides get 50 in onboard credit (EUR 50 on PONANT/Paul Gauguin, USD 50 on Aqua). Cruises booked with Aqua do not count toward PONANT Yacht Club status (PONANT's own page).
Military & veterans
We couldn't confirm a military rate on this line's official site. Don't promise one. If a guest asks, check with the line.
How military rates work → PremiumAirport transfers
Amazon: complimentary group transfers between Iquitos airport and the ship for guests on the recommended flights. Later arrivals must arrange a private transfer, which may cost extra.
Which ports: Amazon: from Iquitos airport to the ship at Nauta. Other destinations: see each voyage page.
What's offered changes by port and sailing. Check before you quote a price.
Cruise family
PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP
Loyalty between brands: Shared: PONANT Yacht Club. Cruises with PONANT EXPLORATIONS, PONANT YACHTING and Paul Gauguin Cruises all count toward one status, and members use it on PONANT and Paul Gauguin. Cruises booked directly with Aqua Expeditions don't count: Aqua has its own program, Circolo Aqua, status-matched with the Yacht Club.
See the whole family →Good to know
Mekong low-water flights to Siem Reap are included
Per cruise lineWhen low water stops ships reaching Siem Reap via the Tonle Sap, Aqua flies guests between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap at no extra cost, with an escorted car transfer to Phnom Penh airport. Aqua says it is the only Mekong line doing this. Tonle Sap itself is only visited in high water (mid-August to November).
Children: recommended minimum age 5
Per cruise lineThe recommended minimum age is 5 on every ship. Under-18s must share a cabin with an adult: on Aqua Mekong that adult must be at least 25 (connecting suites with parents excepted); on Aqua Mare at least 18. Private charters have no minimum age.
Part of PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP
Per cruise linePONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP (owned by the Pinault family's Artémis) bought a majority stake in January 2025. Aqua runs as a stand-alone brand under founder and CEO Francesco Galli Zugaro, and its Circolo Aqua tiers are status-matched with the PONANT Yacht Club.
Paramedic on board, not a doctor
Per cruise lineAqua says its ships carry a paramedic for emergencies; no ship doctor is mentioned. Guests certify at booking that they are fit to travel and should declare medical history before off-ship activities. Travel insurance is strongly advised.
Online check-in and dietary needs 30 days out
Per cruise lineEach guest must complete online check-in personally at least 30 days before embarkation, and dietary needs should reach Aqua at least 30 days before (the Mekong FAQ asks for them at booking).
Commission is paid late and only by wire, with rate parity
Per cruise lineCommission is on the fare minus discounts and is paid only after final payment, once the booking is inside the 90-day non-refundable window, by bank wire against the agent's invoice. Aqua enforces rate parity: no selling below published rates.
Fleet
- Ships
- 6 ships (16 to 40 guests): 3 river ships, Aqua Mekong (40, Mekong), Aqua Nera (40, Peruvian Amazon), Aria Amazon (32, Peruvian Amazon); 3 ocean yachts, Aqua Blu (30, East Indonesia), Aqua Lares (30, East Africa and the Arctic), Aqua Mare (16, Galapagos)Per cruise line
- Newest ship
- Aqua Lares (30 guests, 77 m former icebreaker, Ice Class 1B), launched February 2026 in the Seychelles; sails Svalbard & the Arctic Circle from summer 2026. No further ships announced.Per cruise line
- Ship classes
- River expedition ships (Aqua Mekong 40 guests, Cambodia & Vietnam; Aqua Nera 40 and Aria Amazon 32, Peruvian Amazon), Ocean expedition yachts (Aqua Blu 30 guests, East Indonesia; Aqua Lares 30, Seychelles & Tanzania and Svalbard/Arctic, Ice Class 1B former icebreaker; Aqua Mare 16, Galapagos)
Where they sail
Last full review: 8 Oct 2026·Last updated: 8 Oct 2026
A full review is when we re-check every fact on this page.
"Last updated" is the most recent check or change to any single fact.
Something wrong or missing?
"Per cruise line" = confirmed on the line's own site.
"Unofficial tip" = from an experienced travel professional; helpful, but not confirmed by the cruise line.