The Amazon, In Full Splendor
Aqua Expeditions will up the luxury quotient in the Peruvian Amazon when it debuts the 40-passenger Aqua Nera in October. Saigon-based Studio Noor is doing the contemporary, windowed interiors, including 20 spacious “design suites,” in earthy colors reflective of the jungle surroundings. Lima chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, a specialist in Amazonian foods, is creating the menus. And offshore excursions make the trip feel like a safari, whether you go fishing for red-bellied piranhas, spot giant river otters from kayaks, or track jaguars on foot. Then again, you can just watch the monkeys and birds from a daybed around the plunge pool. Seven-night sailings from $9,625 per person.
Indonesia, On An Expedition Yacht
In an ambitious project, Aqua Expeditions also set out to convert the former British naval vessel HMS Beagle into a 15-suite luxury yacht called the Aqua Blu. The recently revealed results are spectacular. Renowned Dutch yacht designer Cor D. Rover did the airy interiors in a contemporary brass-and-ivory theme. Aussie superstar Benjamin Cross based the culinary program on sustainably sourced Indonesian ingredients. Why Indonesia? The diving sites throughout the Raja Ampat archipelago are among the most pristine and biodiverse anywhere, and draws above the water include indigenous cultures, komodo dragons, unpopulated beaches, and stunning, impenetrable forests. Seven-night cruises from $7,525 per person.
The Galapagos, For Foodies
The blue-footed boobies may not take notice, but cruising the Galapagos on the all-suite, 20-passenger MV Origin or MV Theory is an unusually delicious affair. Both ships are members of the prestigious, culinary-focused Relais & Chateaux collection, with a French-trained chef preparing such dishes as Ecuadorian langoustines poached in citrus butter, to be served in a dining room decked out in marble. Spend days burning off the indulgence on kayaks or paddleboards or chill in daybeds around the Jacuzzi, where you never have to lift a finger. Seven-night sailings from $8,050 per person, or full charters from $161,000.
Burgundy, By Barge
A former cargo barge is now the Grand Cru—a floating oasis for eight, done up in sleek leather furnishings with picture windows throughout. A glass-enclosed demonstration kitchen lets you see the personal chef at work; whatever the exquisite creation, it’s always served with top local wines. Save space for what’s onshore, too: Beyond their impressive vines, the shops in Burgundy’s picturesque towns are full of local cheeses, black truffles, and chocolates to devour. (Yes, this itinerary is all about the food and wine.) Six-night sailings from $7,250 via Abercrombie & Kent, or full charters from $58,000.
Japan, Via “Floating Ryokan”
Made by acclaimed local artisans, including rattan weavers and textile artists, and filled with a sparse design scheme of wood and glass, the 38-passenger Guntu puts the focus on the ethereal landscapes of the Seto Inland Sea. Take it in from your suite’s open-air onsen bath or the sushi bar on the top deck. Dinners in the windowed dining room feature local ingredients including fresh-caught mackerel and Wagyu beef and are overseen by Kenzo Sato, from Tokyo’s Michelin two-star Shigeyoshi restaurant. Sailings are short—three nights—but include stops in Miyajima and the famously contemporary art-filled Naoshima island. Three nights from 650,000 yen ($5,916) per person.
The Nile, In Pharaoh Style
The most glamorous way to see Luxor and Aswan is from beneath the sails of a modern-day, Egyptian-built dahabiya—a traditional, wind-powered ship. That’s hardly a new concept, but Nour El Nil’s luxury barges, like the spacious, 20-passenger Meroe, take this type of river cruise to the next level in both authenticity and luxury. The decor includes plush sofas, French chandeliers, and daybeds covered in stripes. The crew is all-Egyptian—dishes such as handmade falafel and Nile perch reflect both local ingredients and age-old recipes. Five nights from €1,850 (about $2,052) per person.
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.