Aqua Blu

I was lucky enough to go on a weeklong trip on the Aqua Blu last September, and I don't think I'll ever get over it. Every aspect of this trip was well thought out and well performed. This was primarily a scuba diving and snorkeling-focused expedition, though not all of their itineraries are and some in the region are more about tours and excursions. I dove twice a day and cannot commend this team more for their knowledge, professionalism, warmth, and sense of humor as they guided us on the most spectacular and exciting underwater safari I've ever seen. The ship is immaculate and indeed, all of us travelers were given a tour of all of it- down to the tidy engine room and crews quarters. The small but mighty kitchen produced wonders three times a day that were influenced by our surroundings, yet nothing repeated. I have a serious food allergy and a few others on the ship did as well. This was the first trip I've been on where I did not have to second guess if they remembered- they took it all very seriously and instead of giving me the same dish as other guests without certain ingredients, entire individual courses were created just for me. Everything was beautiful, flavorful, and downright amazing. This was not cruise food, this was an experience! We were a small crew of clients- only 15 of us, even though the ship can hold 30. We all ate together by choice and relished the fact that we were all like minded travelers that were there to learn and experience. Not all were divers or even snorkelers but we all adored this itinerary and there seemed to be plenty to see for all. The highlight (hard to pick just one) was getting up early in the morning to swim with whale sharks while they fed. Spectacular. We went on hikes where one of the staff greeted us at the top of the tall hill we had climbed with a cooler full of cold towels and water. Every day when we emerged from the sea someone greeted us with a delightful and refreshing mocktail or smoothie. We learned about what we'd be seeing at our briefings by the chief steward who educated us about the science, culture and wildlife that we'd be seeing. From Komodo Dragons, to Whale Sharks to thousands of Fruit Bats and many other awe-inspiring wild life, we got a wonderful crash course on all of it to prepare for what we'd encounter. The ship itself is a former military ship and for a time was a private yacht. It has scuba and snorkeling gear, kyaks, paddle boards, a hot tub, and lots of places to lounge. It has been decorated so beautifully and comfortably. It looks like a Four Seasons, but without fuss. The main rooms had lovely large couches to sink into, the decks had many places to be in sun or shade and my room was enormous- bigger than my room at home! The crew were lovely and each seemed to enjoy each other's company. There was not one single shred of a negative that could be said about this trip. Truly, I dream of going back on a different Aqua Expedition. They focus on a few special places around the world and do it very well.