Q&A: Indonesia & the Aqua Blu

Meet Glenn Wappett, Cruise Director and Country Manager for the Aqua Blu, a luxury adventure yacht sailing the turquoise waters of Indonesia’s coastline. We’ve partnered with Aqua Expeditions—the same company we charter with for the cruise portion of our spectacular Peruvian Amazon itineraries—to craft our exclusive Bali, Singapore & Indonesia Expedition. You can read all about the once-in-a-lifetime trip on our website, but we think you should hear it from Glenn Wappett, the destination expert who has lived and breathed the cruise portion of this itinerary for years.

What made you first fall in love with Indonesia? And what are your favorite things about the country now that you’ve been living there for a decade?
For me, I was amazed by the people first. Indonesia has an incredible sense of warmth and hospitality. It’s genuine and it stays with you. That, combined with the scale and beauty of the country, really drew me in early on.

After 10 years living here, what I appreciate most is the diversity. You can spend years sailing the waters of Indonesia and still feel like an explorer. One month you’re in a remote part of Raja Ampat, the next you’re experiencing a completely different culture, landscape, and way of life somewhere like the Asmat.

Who is this destination perfect for?
Indonesia is perfect for travelers who are looking for something beyond the typical holiday. It suits people who enjoy a sense of exploration, but who also value comfort, safety and a well-curated experience.

It’s ideal for guests who want to disconnect from busy, crowded destinations and reconnect with nature—whether that’s through diving, snorkeling, or simply being in these remote, untouched environments.

What is your favorite experience on this itinerary?
Dropping anchor in a completely remote bay, stepping onto a beach where there’s no one else around, or being in the water surrounded by pristine reef systems.

If I had to pick one, it would be our recent experience in Asmat, a first time for the ship, crew, and myself. We visited the Asmat tribes in West Papua in October last year, the experience left a lifetime mark on me. There’s a rawness and rich culture of the Asmat tribe I have never seen anything else like while traveling Indonesia.

Tell me a bit about the Aqua Blu. What about the design of the ship, its services, and its amenities, make it the perfect way to explore Indonesia?
The Aqua Blu has the capability to reach remote areas, but at the same time offers a very high level of comfort.

The design is elegant, it feels relaxed, which suits the environment we operate in. The onboard experience is equally important; the cuisine, the service, and the overall atmosphere are all very well considered.

What really defines it, though, is the crew. Predominantly Indonesian, they bring a level of authenticity and warmth that you simply can’t replicate. It makes a big difference to the overall journey.

Are there any exclusive experiences on this itinerary? Ones that are difficult or impossible to find elsewhere?
Yes, and that’s really one of the key strengths of what we do. Many of the locations we visit are not easily accessible, some are extremely remote and would be very difficult to reach independently.

We’re able to offer private beach landings, access to pristine reefs, and guided experiences in places that see very few visitors.

Indonesia is home to diverse flora and fauna—can you give us a few highlights of what guests can expect to see on this itinerary?
The biodiversity here is exceptional. From a marine perspective, you’re looking at some of the richest ecosystems in the world, healthy coral reefs, large pelagic species like whale sharks, manta rays, and reef sharks, and an incredible amount of smaller marine life as well.

On land, depending on where we are, there’s also unique wildlife and birdlife, as well as diverse landscapes, from limestone karsts to dense tropical forests and active volcanos.

Diving is one of your personal hobbies. Is this itinerary a good choice for diving enthusiasts? If yes, why?
Absolutely. Indonesia is widely regarded as one of the best diving destinations globally, and for good reason. Raja Ampat & Komodo are included in the global top five dive destinations.

What makes it stand out is the variety. You can have high energy drift dives, encounters with larger species, and then incredibly detailed macro diving all within the same itinerary. The reef health is excellent, and the biodiversity is hard to match anywhere else.

What are the benefits—such as included programming and expert guides—of exploring Indonesia aboard the Aqua Blu, as opposed to a do-it-yourself trip?
Indonesia can be logistically challenging, particularly in the more remote regions where we operate. Doing it independently requires a significant amount of planning and coordination.

On Aqua Blu, all of that is taken care of, along with the important aspect of safety. The itineraries are well thought out, the operations are seamless, and guests can focus entirely on the experience.

Having experienced guides onboard also adds a lot of value, they provide context and local insight.

Thank you for chatting with us, Glenn! We look forward to watching our guests fall as deeply in love with Indonesia as you have.

Note: The contents of this article are accurate as of the publication date. Uniworld itineraries and inclusions are subject to change at any time.