Aqua Mare

capacity

16

year built

1998

remodeled

2021

crew members

16

length

163.1 feet

beam

30.4 feet

draft

10.4 feet

cruising speed

10-12 knots (17 max)

flag

Ecuador

Aqua Mare invites her guests to revel in a private superyacht experience while cruising among the Galapagos Islands. With capacity for 16 and a true 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio (including 2 naturalist guides), this ship provides superior service and unrivaled attention to detail. Built by Italian luxury mega yacht builders CRN Yachts in 1998 and lovingly refurbished in 2021, this elegant yacht features custom stylish interior design by the famous Francois Zuretti and timeless exterior design by Italy-based Studio Scanu. This superyacht is also equipped with modern technology, the highest international classifications (ISM, Lloyd’s Register) in safety and spacious common areas for a sophisticated onboard experience.

Aqua Mare Review

AdventureSmith Explorations’ Aqua Mare review includes a detailed description of the small ship including deck plans and a photo gallery. Our small ship cruise experts have been aboard nearly every first-class vessel in the Galapagos Islands. Find the detailed ship description and deck plan below. Then contact our experts to compare this Galapagos cruise ship with other small cruise ships and upscale yachts offering Galapagos luxury cruises and private Galapagos yacht charters.

Choose the Aqua Mare superyacht for her lavish design, unique social spaces, exclusive crew-to-guest ratio and spacious design suites—including the largest Owner’s Suite offered in the Galapagos, at a whopping 861 square feet, complete with its own butler service. Aqua Mare is the first true Galapagos superyacht, offering 30 percent more guest space than comparable Galapagos yachts due to her mindfully small guest count.

Navigate the Archipelago with the feeling of your own private yacht equipped with an attentive crew ready to realize your every desire. Experience incredible wildlife and stunning landscapes in the smallest groups, at 8 or fewer guests to each guide, and then return on board to a luxury home base that features refined design, attention to detail, personalized service and a hunger for adventure.

Design & Sustainability

Aqua Mare is a CRN Superyacht Explorer, designed with the upscale appointments and attention to detail common to other ships owned and operated by our partner Aqua Expeditions. The Galapagos superyacht’s various social areas and lavish nautical décor create an elevated Galapagos experience. Veneer-lined walls, custom carpentry, marble and brass finishing, teak decking, bright white cushions, glowing accent lights and curated seventeenth-century prints of endemic wildlife throughout put guests into the lap of luxury. Even the bridge—open to guests—features Italian leather sofas and expansive view windows.

Aqua Mare’s design also features sustainability-minded operations with aims toward fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, an innovative waste management system, and the use of ethically-sourced materials and eco-friendly onboard products. Comfort is also a priority, with air conditioning and free WiFi available throughout the vessel, ship-wide A/V equipment controllable from iPads and iPods, complimentary laundry service, numerous generators and modern stabilizers. In a destination like Galapagos, with regulated routes, permits and guides, this ship sets itself apart in large part due to its well-thought-out design.

Onboard Facilities

Contemporary elegance shines throughout Aqua Mare’s many common areas, which include an indoor dining room, scenic lounge, aft outdoor dining area, top deck panoramic dining area, indoor scenic beach club, al fresco barbecue area, outdoor workout zone, an open-air Jacuzzi and sundeck, and a swim platform.

Dining Areas

The three dining areas aboard Aqua Mare each offer a unique experience. The Top Deck dining area is equipped with two large tables couched by cushioned sofas, beneath a shade for comfort. An adjacent barbecue area caters to breezy top-deck luncheons, ideal for whale watching as the yacht repositions.

On the Upper Deck, an aft outdoor dining area offers a more intimate experience with sofas encircling one table, also under a cover. Al fresco dinners with a superb panoramic view are sure to be a treat. Finally, the indoor dining room on the Main Deck breaks up the guest complement into three tables, with options for smaller parties, in an elegant setting that’s sheltered from any possible elements.

Food and beverage aboard features a fresh farm-to-table approach, overseen by renowned Peruvian consulting chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino. Expect world-class cuisine that’s Peruvian, Ecuadorian and international, served on customized Bali-sourced plateware.

Panoramic Lounge

The Upper Deck’s Panoramic Lounge features sweeping views from large windows, an inviting wraparound couch and a configuration that encourages camaraderie. Share stories of the day and learn about the endemic flora and fauna found in the Galapagos via regular guide-led lectures.

Beach Club

Unique to Aqua Mare is her water-level Beach Club, located at the stern of the superyacht, beside her swim platform. This lounge is ready to treat guests to some relaxation, with a large cushioned couch, view windows that slide to reveal an open-air view onto the swim platform, plus a TV, a wet bar and informative periodicals. This cozy space at the back of the Galapagos superyacht invites guests to unwind between dips in the sea, without leaving access to the water.

Activities & Expeditions

Both of Aqua Mare’s 8-day itineraries feature daily active and informative adventures, aided by onboard activity equipment. Two custom military-grade tender vessels each carry 8 guests, a guide and a driver, safely shuttling between ship and shore as well as providing exploration opportunities. Six double kayaks, two single kayaks and two stand-up paddleboards encourage water-based activities, as do the snorkel kits available to each guest for the duration of the cruise, including: a 3mm wetsuit, mask, fins and snorkel. A six-person Jacuzzi on the Top Deck offers a place to revitalize between activities, or guests can make use of the open-air workout zone on the same deck.

Crew & Guides

The Aqua Mare superyacht offers one of the finest experiences in the Galapagos, thanks to her 2 guides for 16 guests. The Galapagos National Park requires 1 guide per 16 guests, so this allotment ensures superior service. The two guides comprise part of the ship’s 16 crew members (which include a cruise director), creating a rare 1:1 guest-to-crew ratio.

Cabins & Aqua Mare Deck Plan

The Aqua Mare superyacht features 7 Design Suites across 5 categories. Common to all suites are a private bathroom, steward service, exceptional furnishings, nautical décor, complimentary WiFi and TVs with individual streaming service.