Francesco Galli-Zugaro, CEO of Aqua Expeditions, has revealed that the company expects to launch another cruise ship to service visitors to the Peruvian Amazon during the month of April, 2011. The M/V Aria will offer 16 air conditioned cabins featuring floor-to-ceiling picture windows, providing guests with an unparalleled vista of the wonders of the jungle. Other accommodations include an air-conditioned top deck, observation lounge, exercise room, jacuzzi, a sun deck. Of course, the vessel will also enjoy Aqua Expedition’s signature restaurant, with delicious meals prepared by the award-winning executive chef, Pedro Miguel Schiaffino. The Aria will follow different itineraries than the Aqua Cruise, providing guests with an increased set of choices.
“We are thrilled to announce the launch of the world’s second five-star luxury expedition vessel to sail the Amazon,” the CEO exclaimed. “The M/V Aria will provide the ever-growing number of travelers who wish to explore one of the world’s last great wilderness areas with a one-of-a-kind travel experience.” No hyperbole there. The Peruvian Amazon is one of the most beautiful areas of the world’s rainforests, and the Aria promises to be an extraordinary means of viewing and visiting those natural wonders.
The Aria’s sister ship, the M/V Aqua, is already in service, and has been providing guests with a dozen grand air conditioned guest suites boasting 230+ square feet and floor-to-ceiling picture windows. Four Master suites are located at the bow and include a sitting area in which to view those incredible sights as the Aqua makes her way through the Amazon River. Her 24-member crew includes 4 world-class naturalists which act as guides for the vessel’s guests. Amongst the planned pluses is an Amazon Wildlife reference library to help people identify and better appreciate what they’re seeing, and a multimedia room, complete with air conditioning!
Here are some recent reviews from guests who traveled aboard the Aqua recently:
“We loved the guides’ enthusiasm, wealth of knowledge. We enjoyed returning after each adventure to a cool and clean ship with great crew members, good food and drinks. We suggest that you continue giving back to the locals. The Aqua is an excellent ambassador.” — Mr. & Mrs. Fuehrer, March 2010
“My wife had asked me years ago to take her on a cruise of the Amazon, but until I saw the photos and description of the Aqua I never really considered it. The cruise became our 36th wedding anniversary gift to ourselves and was perfect. The ship is even better than we expected. In particular, the wide picture windows of the staterooms that allowed us to lie in bed with coffee and watch the river traffic flow past, and the fast, stable skiffs that enabled your naturalist guides to take us up winding tributaries to visit isolated villages and experience spectacular sunsets really made us smile.” — C. Perleberg, Travel Specialist, September, 2009
“We boarded the Aqua in Iquitos, Peru, for seven days on the Amazon & its tributaries. Most of our time was spent on 8-passenger skiffs exploring the rain forest, but when we returned to the Aqua, we were pampered in air-conditioned comfort. Yummy Peruvian food. So what was it like? It was magical. Hundreds of pink dolphin & lots of gray ones. We held baby caimen, caught piranhas, fed baby manatees with a milk bottle. Monkeys — five different kinds — entertained us each day and sloths slept high in cecropia trees. The rare sighting of an Amazon porcupine (they have prehensile tails!) even surprised our guides. Birds there are incredible. Splashes of primary colors and sounds that defy imagination. Some of us identified over 140 different species and even I had well over 100. We spent a few hours in a random village along a river. Impossibly simple lives. We brought gifts to hand out to the children. They sang and we did a rousing “You are my sunshine…” in return. When you are together for a week, you expect a little mediocrity to emerge. Absolutely none here. In the end, I told the crew in my shaky Spanish that the river lives in our hearts. It certainly does.” – Mr. & Mrs. Churcher, February 2010
The Aqua Expeditions vessels and excursions are a rare treat in the Amazon. This combination of luxurious accommodations and adventurous exploration makes for an incomparable journey. Peru tours take people to remote, untouched regions within the Pacaya-Samiria reserve, ferretting out the unseen within the upper Amazon and her tributaries. Those who take this path less chosen are richly rewarded every moment of each day. You’ll see the unusual and decidedly beautiful birds, animals, plants, and lush vistas, perhaps even discover something no one has ever seen before! What’s more, you’ll take the journey in comfort and style, aboard the Aqua or Aria.
If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing the Amazon with your own eyes, smelling and feeling and tasting, taking it all in with your own senses, there’s no better way to experience this unique natural treasure than aboard the Aria or Aqua. The Peruvian Amazon is a truly life-changing experience! Contact Latin Excursions to find out how you can gain passage aboard this extraordinary fleet.
