How many departures do you carry on this boat?

None at the moment. That is measured on our calendar, and your advisor can look for one with the line.

Where does this boat sail?

In the Seychelles, Tanzania, the Aldabra atoll and Zanzibar, then Svalbard and the Arctic Circle from June 2026.

Where does this hull come from?

From a Soviet icebreaker out of the IHC Verschure yards. Icon Yachts converted her into an explorer yacht in 2016 under the name Legend, before Aqua Expeditions took her over and redid the interior.

Why so much crew for thirty guests?

Because a hull of that kind needs that number to run. It is not a figure put up to impress: it is what it takes.

Is she the first boat the house has sent outside the tropics?

Yes. She is also its sixth, and the first announced since Ponant came into the capital.

Who owns Aqua Expeditions?

Ponant Explorations Group took a majority stake in Aqua Expeditions on 17 January 2025. The brand continues under its own name, as a standalone unit, and its founder Francesco Galli Zugaro remains a shareholder and its head. In practice nothing changes aboard for you: same crew, same boat.

How many boats are in the fleet?

Six boats: Aria Amazon and Aqua Nera on the Peruvian Amazon, Aqua Mekong between Cambodia and Vietnam, Aqua Blu in Indonesia, Aqua Mare in the Galápagos and Aqua Lares in East Africa and the Norwegian Arctic.

What is included in the fare?

The line sells fares described as all-inclusive, but we have not measured what they cover boat by boat and we will not assert it here. Ask your advisor for the written list before booking: it is the only answer that protects you.

Is a French-speaking guide available?

Aqua Expeditions guides work in English. If French matters to you, say so to your advisor before booking: some lines charter these same boats with French-speaking guiding and others do not, and it has to be checked departure by departure.

Is there a company page for Aqua Expeditions on this site?

Not yet. The address answers, but it is served by a generic template that shows every ship on the site instead of this house's six. We measured it and reported it; meanwhile the boat pages point to one another.

Who protects me if the trip falls through?

Your agency, and it alone. Voyages AquaTerra operates under a licence from Quebec's Office de la protection du consommateur, your payments pass through a trust account, and the compensation fund for travel agency clients covers your departure.

Is this a cruise or an expedition?

Both words apply and neither says everything. There are cabins, service and sit-down meals, as on a cruise. There are also daily outings in small craft, hours set by light and water rather than by a programme, and cancellations for reasons of nature. If you need a fixed schedule, this is not the right trip.

Aqua Lares

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Aqua Lares

The Aqua Lares is an Aqua Expeditions ship offering a luxury expedition cruise in the Peruvian Amazon, providing an immersive experience in the heart of the rainforest. It sails along Amazonian waterways on itineraries focused on biodiversity discovery, wildlife observation, unique ecosystems, and encounters with local communities. The vessel features elegant suites, refined dining, personalized service, and guided excursions allowing guests to deeply connect with the Amazon environment. This cruise emphasizes a responsible travel approach, combining high-end comfort, adventure, nature, and cultural discovery. It is particularly suited to travelers seeking a luxury small-ship expedition cruise focused on biodiversity, exploration, and an authentic Amazon experience.

Itineraries of the Aqua Lares

Price and Availability Notice
Prices displayed are provided for informational purposes only. They reflect the rates in effect at the time of their most recent update and are shown in Canadian dollars, per person, based on double occupancy, unless otherwise specified.

Supplier rates, exchange rates, taxes and fees, room or cabin categories, and promotions are subject to change at any time. The applicable price is the one confirmed by a travel advisor at the time of booking, subject to availability. Only the confirmed price shall be considered valid.

It is the traveler's responsibility to confirm the price, inclusions, and applicable terms and conditions before making a reservation. While every effort is made to keep our content up to date, transmission, display, or pricing errors may occur. In such cases, the correct price will be communicated to the traveler before any booking is confirmed. Certain terms, restrictions, and exclusions may apply.

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decks plans

Deck 6

Sun Deck

Deck 5

Bridge Deck

Deck 4

Owner’s Deck

Deck 3

Upper Deck

Deck 2

Main Deck

Deck 1

Lower Deck

Technical specifications

Passengers: 30
Decks: 6

Aqua Lares: a former Soviet icebreaker of 77 metres, from the Seychelles to Svalbard

Aqua Lares is the sixth boat in the Aqua Expeditions fleet and the first to leave the tropics. She works the Seychelles, Tanzania, the Aldabra atoll and Zanzibar, and she goes up to Svalbard and the Arctic Circle from June 2026. We carry no departure on her calendar at the moment; your advisor can look for one with the line.

Three lives for one hull

First a Soviet icebreaker, out of the IHC Verschure yards. Then an explorer yacht: Icon Yachts converted her in 2016 under the name Legend. Finally what she is today, after an interior refit led by Birgit Galli Zugaro, the house's design director, with the Milan studio Hot Lab. Seventy-seven metres forty, fifteen cabins across five categories including three owner's suites, thirty guests, thirty-two crew.

What the original hull allows

An icebreaker is not a yacht that has been strengthened: it is a hull built to press on ice, with the shape and the thickness that implies. That is what permits Svalbard in June, when the pack ice breaks up, and it explains why a thirty-guest boat carries thirty-two crew. This is not luxury on display: it is the number it takes to run a hull of that kind.

The house changed hands

Ponant Explorations Group took a majority stake in Aqua Expeditions on 17 January 2025, and Aqua Lares is the first boat announced since. Ponant knows polar water well; the two brands stay distinct.

The other boats in the fleet

Aqua Mare is the other sea-going boat, in the Galápagos, half as long. Aqua Nera and Aqua Mekong are the two river hulls, on the Amazon and on the Mekong.