Some voyages feel purpose-built for travellers who want salt on their skin and stories to tell. This one is exactly that. Uniworld and Aqua Expeditions are teaming up for a limited 2027 expedition across Indonesia and Singapore, pairing a sleek expedition yacht with rich days among Komodo’s islands and the Maluku chain, then bookending the journey with time in Bali and Marina Bay.
In 2027, Uniworld and Aqua Expeditions will operate two departures centred on a 14-day cruise aboard Aqua Blu, plus six nights on land in Bali and Singapore. Guests can expect daily scuba diving, snorkelling, and kayaking, wildlife sightings that may include Komodo dragons, manta rays, and whale sharks, 11 days of guided excursions, and inclusions like dining and selected drinks for a genuinely small ship experience.
Why This Collaboration Matters
When a river specialist joins forces with an expedition yacht brand, you get the best parts of both worlds. The rhythm of a well-paced journey meets the agility to reach coves, reefs, and remote anchorages that big ships cannot access. For travellers who value detail, culture, and time in the water, this partnership makes an immediate kind of sense.
River DNA Meets Expedition Expertise
Uniworld brings a slow travel mindset, where each day has shape and context, and where guiding is as important as hardware. Aqua’s team adds local knowledge, nimble tenders, and a yacht designed to pivot with wind and tide. Together, they can move from coral gardens to volcanic bays without fuss, keeping transfer times short so the balance of your day goes to experiences rather than logistics. The result is a program that feels curated rather than crammed.
Two Departures, Elevated Focus
Scarcity can be a virtue. With only two sailings on the calendar, the guiding team and dive staff can sharpen every stop to the conditions at hand. Smaller groups mean quicker briefings, faster skiff launches, and quieter encounters in the water. You are not queueing at a gangway or jostling for a kayak; you are slipping into clear water or walking a beach while the scene still feels private.
Small Ship Comforts With Big Water Range
Aqua Blu carries a maximum of around 30 guests, which keeps the vibe social without tipping into bustle. Public rooms remain calm, deck space is generous for a yacht of her size, and service lands on first name terms quickly. After a morning dive and an afternoon snorkel, you can rinse off, settle into the lounge for a cool drink, then wander up to the top deck for sunset while the crew sets an unhurried evening rhythm.
Itinerary Highlights in Indonesia and Singapore
This is expedition travel with meaningful variety. The yacht moves within sensible ranges, so every day can hold something distinct, from dragon treks to manta encounters and languid lagoon swims. The land stays in Bali, and Singapore frames the sea days with cultural contrast and city-smart ease.
Komodo National Park Up Close
Komodo’s islands are famous for their resident dragons, but the experience is more layered than one animal. Guided walks on Komodo or Rinca keep groups small and spacing respectful, which improves both safety and the quality of your vantage points. Offshore, currents carry life across channels and reef walls. It is here that manta cleaning stations often deliver slow, looping passes by these graceful giants, a moment that lingers long after you towel off.
Spice Islands Arc From Moyo to Maluku
Names like Moyo Island, Saleh Bay, Padar, Lawa Darat Gili, and Horseshoe Bay hint at a blend of draping mangroves, limestone backs, and ridgelines that catch first light. The Maluku reach adds historical resonance, where maritime trade once turned quiet islands into crossroads. Underwater, you can expect healthy hard corals, gardens of soft fans, and schooling fish that flash silver in clear sun. On land, short hikes lead to lookouts that put the yacht into postcard scale against turquoise water.
Bali and Marina Bay Bookends
Bali softens your arrival with easy flight access and a gentle on-ramp to island time. Ubud mornings, coastal walks, and cafe stops make the pre-cruise days feel like a holiday of their own. Singapore closes the circle with immaculate logistics and a celebratory finish. Marina Bay’s skyline, hawker classics, and clean transport make transition days straightforward, letting you sort photos with strong coffee before the journey home.
Life on Board Aqua Blu
Days settle into a clean arc at sea. Mornings skew active, afternoons leave room for a second splash or a tender ride to a new cove, and evenings set a relaxed, club lounge tone. The yacht’s design supports that flow, so you move easily from kit up to cool down.
Daily Water Time for Divers and Snorkellers
Daily time in the water is the point. Certified divers can expect carefully briefed drops that match site and experience, from gentle drifts to more advanced currents. Snorkellers are not an afterthought. They get shallow reefs that glow in tropical light, easy tender pick-ups and the freedom to float above bustling coral cities. Kayaks add a quiet third act, letting you nose along limestone walls or slip into creeks where birds outnumber boats.
Thoughtful Staterooms and Social Spaces
After long swims and shore walks, a well-planned stateroom matters. Expect strong showers, sensible storage, and good bedding so you genuinely rest between outings. Social spaces are sized for small groups, ideal for long-term camaraderie. Conversations from the skiff tend to carry into the lounge, then onto the aft deck, where sunset becomes a nightly appointment.
Dining, Drinks, and Inclusions
All onboard dining is included, along with selected premium wines and beer, and a broad range of non alcoholic choices. Menus track the region without fuss, offering bright salads, grilled seafood, and the occasional comfort favourite after a big day in the water. Special diets are handled with calm competence, and the service style favours friendliness over formality.
Wildlife Etiquette and Conservation
The magic lies in encounters that are both close and careful. Good guiding protects animals and gives you cleaner viewing, which is why etiquette is not a box tick here but part of the pleasure.
Seeing Komodo Dragons Responsibly
Rangers read behaviour, manage spacing and position groups for clear lines of sight. You will learn how to stand, when to pause, and why mid-morning often produces cinematic movement as dragons warm themselves. Photos improve when everyone stays patient. The guides are excellent at finding angles that keep the scene natural while maintaining a safe buffer.
Gentle Giants and Pelagic Moments
Manta rays, whale sharks, and turtles appear on their own clock, but this itinerary gives you multiple shots. Entries are timed for current and light, then groups are managed so the water column remains calm rather than frothy. When a ray loops into the cleaning station and seems to hover, you will be glad numbers are capped, and the crew treats the moment like a privilege.
Photography Tips That Respect the Scene
Keep rigs simple and buoyant. Many of the best frames come from staying still and letting marine life pass by. On land, a light telephoto handles dragons and birds without pushing distance. Because the yacht is small, charging and drying stations are close at hand, so kit care never eats into your downtime.
Planning Your Place on a Rare 2027 Sailing
A little forethought goes a long way on a trip that mixes land time with daily sea activities. Think about fitness, packing, and the timing of your booking, then set yourself up for an effortless fortnight.
Who This Expedition Suits
Active travellers who love the water will thrive, as will couples or small friendship groups who prefer a small ship atmosphere with guided structure. If you have been river curious but wanted more wilderness and wildlife, this partnership slots neatly into that desire. It also suits seasoned ocean cruisers who want to downshift to a yacht where the day’s headline is a reef, not a theatre show.
Packing and Fitness for Tropics
Lightweight long sleeves, reef-safe sunscreen, a brimmed hat, and quick-dry layers keep you comfortable on skiffs and shore walks. Water shoes or fins that fit well are worth their weight when entry points are rocky. Between equatorial sun and passing showers, plan for shade and a compact rain shell. A soft bag packs better in yacht-sized wardrobes than a hard case, and a small daypack keeps your hands free on tenders.
Booking Strategy When Inventory Is Tight
With just two departures, it pays to move early. Prioritise the date that fits your calendar and request the cabin position you like, midships if you prefer the steadiest ride. From there, work with your cruise adviser on flights into Bali or Singapore and any pre or post-night tweaks that suit your style. Limited space also means shore plans can be refined well in advance.
Before you lock in dates, it helps to see this expedition alongside other warm water options, especially if you are balancing school terms or planning a broader Asia stay. Our Cruise Finder lets you filter by month, trip length, and inclusions, then compare departures side by side to spot the itinerary that mirrors how you like to travel:
If your travelling party spans Australia, New Zealand, and friends meeting from elsewhere, Cruise Finder keeps everyone aligned without long email threads. Create a shared shortlist, add notes on preferred cabin positions or activity intensity, and balance wish lists so the final pick suits the whole group. It is the easiest way to turn research into a plan you can book with confidence.
Secure Your Place on Indonesia’s Most Intimate Sea Safari
This is a finely tuned collaboration that trades crowds for clarity. A yacht with room to breathe, days centred on reefs and wildlife, and land stays that add cultural finesse, all inside a tight window of 2027 departures. If you would like help matching dates, cabins, and flights to your plans, the smoothest next step is to message our cruise specialist so we can hold space and set the pieces in motion.
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