Netherlands

M.E. Consulting

Offering exclusive expedition cruises in remote biodiversity hotspot destinations around the world is Italian-American entrepreneur Francesco Galli Zugaro. Inspired by his international upbringing, having lived across 16 countries and three continents, and exploring a business opportunity after a few years in private equity, Francesco founded <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6639" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aqua Expeditions (Company)">Aqua Expeditions</a>.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6639" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aqua Expeditions (Company)">Aqua Expeditions</a> hosts high-end luxury cruises for couples or families who want to explore the world via charter, but without having to rent out an entire superyacht. The goal of each expedition, no matter in what corner of the world, is to create an experience that is both luxurious and adventurous, connecting like-minded travellers who want to explore without giving up their standard of luxury.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/381267/image/large-33b9d2e7d7837ceb334b70171f40c553.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/381267">Francesco’s&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6639" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aqua Expeditions (Company)">Aqua Expeditions</a>While <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6639" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aqua Expeditions (Company)">Aqua Expeditions</a> has been around for 20 years, Francesco himself has been a global explorer all his life. With an international upbringing and a professional background in finance and private equity, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6639" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aqua Expeditions (Company)">Aqua Expeditions</a> is the expression of his entrepreneurial spirit and global curiosity. Since its founding in 2007, guests of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6639" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aqua Expeditions (Company)">Aqua Expeditions</a> have cruised along the Peruvian Amazon and the Mekong river, and have embarked on ocean expeditions in the Galapagos, and all around the Indonesian Archipelago, including Raja Ampat, West Papua, Spice Islands and Komodo National Park.&nbsp;Now the most recent addition to the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6639" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aqua Expeditions (Company)">Aqua Expedition</a> fleet is <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/936" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aqua Lares77.4m (253'11&quot;)IHC Verschure1974">Aqua Lares</a>, a 77.4-metre superyacht built by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/684" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="IHC Verschure (Company)">IHC Verschure</a> in 1974. Before receiving her new name, the superyacht, known as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/936" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aqua Lares77.4m (253'11&quot;)IHC Verschure1974">Legend</a>, underwent extensive refits at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5161" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Shiprepair & Conversion (Company)">Damen Shiprepair &amp; Conversion</a> facilities in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/936" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aqua Lares77.4m (253'11&quot;)IHC Verschure1974">Aqua Lares</a>’ original design features interiors by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/686" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="John Misiag Design (Company)">John Misiag Design</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/687" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shelley McNaughton Interior Designs (Company)">Shelley McNaughton Interior Designs</a>, exterior designs by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/685" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="M.E. Consulting (Company)">M.E. Consulting</a>, and naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/684" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="IHC Verschure (Company)">IHC Verschure</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/685" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="M.E. Consulting (Company)">M.E. Consulting</a>. The latest refits were led by Francesco’s wife, Birgit Galli Zugaro, in collaboration with Milan based interior design firms <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/908" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hot Lab (Company)">Hot Lab</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/381265/image/large-bc8035dcc814fb75ce1ad430aee69840.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/381265">The renewed interior, shaped under Francesco’s personal supervision, aligns with the company’s signature look: refined, elegant, understated. “<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/936" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aqua Lares77.4m (253'11&quot;)IHC Verschure1974">Aqua Lares</a>’ interiors showcase contemporary design at its finest,” Francesco notes. Onboard, curated details shape the atmosphere. Libraries are assembled by specialist editors, bespoke tableware crafted in Bali featuring motifs inspired by each destination and artwork sourced from a century old New York print shop. “There are a lot of unique pieces around the world,” he adds. “That’s why from scouting the destinations, building the itinerary and getting the ship ready; it takes three years to bring to market.”On a Global ExpeditionNot just the refit, but the voyage itineraries are also tested and tried by Francesco himself. “I took an expedition myself with my three kids and my wife earlier this summer on <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/936" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aqua Lares77.4m (253'11&quot;)IHC Verschure1974">Aqua Lares</a>. We went up north into the Arctic Circle, above 82 degrees to break ice and I wanted to see what she could do,” Francesco shares. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/936" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aqua Lares77.4m (253'11&quot;)IHC Verschure1974">Aqua Lares</a> was originally built as an ice breaker with a steel hull, enabling her to break ice if needed when cruising around the Arctic Circle. “We were the northernmost vessel in the world. It was incredible… We’re 150 nautical miles from the North Pole, and on this iconic superyacht.” It is this feeling that Francesco strives to share with his guests.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/381269/image/large-07c6bd49ed82b09574d85fa31d2715c3.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/381269">The main goal, however, of acquiring <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/936" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aqua Lares77.4m (253'11&quot;)IHC Verschure1974">Aqua Lares</a> was to create an intimate chartering itinerary along the East African Coastline, chartering the yacht between the Seychelles and Zanzibar. It is an itinerary that Francesco has been working on for two decades: “I’ve done about 18 Sub-Saharan safaris in the last 20 years to scout out bodies of water,” he explained. The Seychelles, particularly their remote outer islands, stood out. “Very few guests have been to Aldabra,” he said. “Aldabra is the Galapagos of East Africa. It has 150,000 giant tortoises on one island and no human population.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/381270/image/large-d18642427859b2707f3acf31e37f2211.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/381270">A New Way to ExploreThe concept behind chartering onboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/936" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aqua Lares77.4m (253'11&quot;)IHC Verschure1974">Aqua Lares</a> is as disruptive as it is elegant. She is a superyacht designed to be booked by the cabin, an offering rarely seen at this level of luxury. “Nowhere in the Caribbean or Mediterranean can you book a superyacht by the cabin. I’m the only one doing this,” he said. “Especially in these remote iconic conservation destinations like Galapagos and East Africa.”The itineraries are structured with the finesse of someone who has spent years scouting every stretch of water personally. Scheduled five-, nine-, ten- and eleven-night routes will connect Mahé, the Seychelles outer islands and Zanzibar. Guests can combine segments or pair voyages with private safaris ashore in Tanzania and beyond. The appeal lies not only in the scenery and wildlife, but in how accessible it becomes. “A couple can book a beautiful suite on a superyacht and know they’ll be mingling with like-minded guests,” Francesco notes.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/381271/image/large-909967b45315a0c909353d9ac516bb39.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/381271">Days onboard follow <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6639" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aqua Expeditions (Company)">Aqua Expeditions</a>’ immersive rhythm: Snorkelling, diving, hiking, beach landings and wildlife encounters are seamlessly woven into a schedule designed to energise rather than overwhelm. “People are that happy-exhausted,” he said with a smile. “We push them a little outside their comfort zone, and suddenly the barriers break down.” He shared an example from a recent Papua expedition: “We sat under a waterfall that falls straight into the ocean. People were blown away. No one else was around. They become like kids again.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/381272/image/large-da50b7534af51f67fef14fb11000f0c8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/381272">Crew as the Soul of the VesselWhat makes <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6639" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aqua Expeditions (Company)">Aqua Expeditions</a>' cruises most special, says Francesco, is the crew. “Our crew knows everybody’s name by the first morning,” he said. “They work for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6639" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aqua Expeditions (Company)">Aqua</a>, they’re not freelancers. They feel at home on the ship.” When building his team, Francesco looks for crew that are “passionate, authentic, and talented.”&nbsp;Not only that, but Francesco also emphasises on hiring destination locals. “They know the area and they’re genuinely from the region.” It allows Francesco to ensure that the destination-specific expertise is there: “If it’s Indonesia, it’s Indonesian crew, if it’s Ecuador, it’s Ecuadorian crew.”&nbsp;The number of crew per <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6639" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aqua Expeditions (Company)">Aqua Expedition</a> depends on the vessel, but also on the number of guests. Each experience has a minimum of 1:1 ratio, and with an average of 6,000 guests per year, it is clear that Francesco and his team know how to care for their guests, ensuring they have a unique, adventurous, and luxurious charter cruise experience. “Some guests have been coming back to the brand since we began and recognise most of the crew,” Francesco added.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/381268/image/large-19c71f92a81dbd70f729d5c4474adfe6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/381268">A Personal Project with Global ReachFor all the complexity behind <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/936" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aqua Lares77.4m (253'11&quot;)IHC Verschure1974">Aqua Lares</a>, her foundation is simple: a desire to give guests access to extraordinary places without unnecessary barriers. It is a philosophy Francesco continues to refine with each new vessel. “I’ve built a small brand, but within our demographic of affluent explorers, we’ve now got 40,000 loyal guests,” he said. “Competition doesn’t worry me. The only competition is where our guests want to go next.”This article was first published in the <a href="https://yachtchartermarket.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Yacht Charter Market</a> newsletter. You can read more <a href="https://yachtchartermarket.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">here</a>.

Aqua Expeditions' newest yacht: The recently refitted Aqua Lares 

Onboard Aqua Expeditions' newest addition: The recently refitted Aqua Lares

<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/373401/image/large-8bf8d7586932a7c2002d5a691c6cfa93.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/373401">The 77.4-metre explorer yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/936" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Legend77.4m (253'11&quot;)IHC Verschure1974">Legend</a>, built by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/684" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="IHC Verschure (Company)">IHC Verschure</a> in 1974 as the icebreaking tug Giant I, was seen anchored here in Tromsø, Norway. Sold this June, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/936" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Legend77.4m (253'11&quot;)IHC Verschure1974">Legend</a> was originally engineered with naval input from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/684" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="IHC Verschure (Company)">IHC Verschure</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/685" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="M.E. Consulting (Company)">M.E. Consulting</a> before being transformed into a superyacht in 2003 and later refitted at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/429" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="ICON Yachts (Company)">ICON Yachts</a> in 2016, when <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Diana Yacht Design (Company)">Diana Yacht Design</a> restyled her exterior and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/686" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="John Misiag Design (Company)">John Misiag</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/687" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Shelley McNaughton Interior Designs (Company)">Shelley McNaughton</a> designed her interiors, with a more recent interior refit carried out by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/908" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hot Lab (Company)">Hot Lab</a>.Currently undergoing maintenance works at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5161" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Damen Shiprepair & Conversion (Company)">Damen Shiprepair &amp; Conversion</a> in Schiedam, the 2,407 GT yacht accommodates 26 guests in 13 staterooms, with further space for 28 crew. Her highlights include a Balinese spa, a 16-person Jacuzzi with waterfall, a 14-seat cinema, and a certified helipad, while her reinforced steel hull enables polar exploration. Powered by twin <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1628" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Smit Bolnes (Company)">Smit Bolnes</a> diesel engines, she cruises at 11 knots with a top speed of 12 knots.If you would like to see your photo featured each day, then send your submissions to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:news@superyachttimes.com" target="_blank">news@superyachttimes.com</a>.

77m explorer superyacht Legend in Norway

The 77m explorer superyacht Legend, built by IHC Verschure in 1974, was spotted anchored here in Tromsø, Norway. 