Cruise line · Expedition

Aurora Expeditions: Our Cruise Line Guide

An Australian-founded expedition line, started in 1991 by mountaineer Greg Mortimer and Margaret Mortimer, sailing three purpose-built X-BOW ships to Antarctica, the Arctic and beyond with no more than 130 guests on expedition, premium drinks and Wi-Fi in the fare, and kayaking, camping, climbing and diving on the activity menu.

Plan your trip:Official website

The back story

Founded: 1991, by Greg and Margaret Mortimer; named after Sir Douglas Mawson’s ship Aurora (aurora-expeditions.com, Oct 2026) · Fleet: Greg Mortimer (2019), Sylvia Earle (2022), Douglas Mawson (2025), all with the Ulstein X-BOW (aurora-expeditions.com, Oct 2026) · Guests per ship: No more than 130 on Expeditions; up to 154 on Small Ship Cruises (aurora-expeditions.com) · Ice class: Ice Class 1A, Polar Code 6, Bureau Veritas class (aurora-expeditions.com) · What’s included: All meals; premium spirits, cocktails, beer and wine (from Antarctica 2026/27, bar hours apply); Starlink Wi-Fi; shore excursions; polar jacket and boots on polar voyages (aurora-expeditions.com, Oct 2026) · Onboard currency: US dollars (aurora-expeditions.com)

The back story

Aurora Expeditions: the back story

Aurora Expeditions·In depth

How a mountaineer and his wife built a small-group expedition company, then commissioned three ships with an inverted bow to take it further.

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The fleet

Who it suits. On a budget: A solo cabin on an Antarctic or Arctic voyage (ten per sailing, with no single supplement), or a Small Ship Cruise in Europe, where ‘Your Choice’ excursions are included. Mid-range: A balcony stateroom on the Sylvia Earle for eleven days in Antarctica, with landings and Zodiac cruises included and premium drinks in the fare from the 2026/27 season. Luxury: The Captain’s Suite on the Douglas Mawson for a long Antarctic crossing, with crew gratuities, a stocked minibar and champagne included.

130 guests on expedition

Greg Mortimer (Aurora Expeditions)

Aurora Expeditions·Expedition ship · Ulstein X-BOW·€€€€

The first passenger ship with the Ulstein X-BOW, built in 2019 and named after Aurora’s co-founder.

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130 guests

Sylvia Earle

Aurora Expeditions·Expedition ship · Ulstein X-BOW·€€€€

A 2022 X-BOW ship honouring oceanographer Dr Sylvia Earle, with a Citizen Science Center and a glass atrium lounge in the bow.

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130 on expedition, 154 on cruises

Douglas Mawson

Aurora Expeditions·Expedition ship · Ulstein X-BOW·€€€€

The newest ship, launched in 2025, with the widest choice of cabins in the fleet, including single staterooms, and a pool bar.

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The suites

Gratuities included

Captain’s Suite (Aurora Expeditions)

Aurora Expeditions·Suite · all three ships·€€€€

The top suite on each ship, with crew and expedition-team gratuities (US$20 per person per day), a minibar replenished as needed, binoculars and champagne included.

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Gratuities included

Junior Suite (Aurora Expeditions)

Aurora Expeditions·Suite · all three ships·€€€€

Suite benefits at a gentler price: gratuities of US$20 per person per day included, a minibar stocked once, binoculars and a bottle of champagne.

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No single supplement

Solo cabins (Aurora Expeditions)

Aurora Expeditions·Cabins · solo travellers·€€€

Ten dedicated solo cabins on every sailing, with no single supplement, from the 2026 Arctic and 2026–27 Antarctic seasons.

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Dining on board

Meals included

Main dining room (Aurora Expeditions)

Aurora Expeditions·Restaurant · open seating·€€€€

Hearty meals and morning and afternoon teas from the onboard chefs, at open seating where you can talk over the day with the expedition team.

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Inside the X-BOW

Glass Atrium Lounge (Sylvia Earle)

Aurora Expeditions·Lounge and bar · in the bow·€€€€

A lounge inside the X-BOW with huge windows and wide views ahead, one of the bars and lounges where the day’s sightings are swapped.

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Heated pool

Pool bar (Douglas Mawson)

Aurora Expeditions·Bar · back deck·€€€€

On the Douglas Mawson, a pool bar on the back deck beside the heated outdoor pool and two Jacuzzis.

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Included

Captain’s Farewell (Aurora Expeditions)

Aurora Expeditions·Farewell dinner·€€€€

The last evening opens with Captain’s Farewell drinks and cocktail appetisers, followed by a special dinner with the captain and expedition team.

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Binoculars and field guides

Observation lounge and library (Aurora Expeditions)

Aurora Expeditions·Lounge · deck 8·€€€€

An observation lounge on deck 8 with wildlife guides, books and binoculars, beside a library with floor-to-ceiling windows.

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Spa and wellness

Two outdoor Jacuzzis

Sauna, gym, pool and Jacuzzis (Aurora Expeditions)

Aurora Expeditions·Wellness · all three ships

A sauna, a gym, a heated pool and two outdoor Jacuzzis, all included; the Sylvia Earle adds a Wellness Centre.

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Life on board

Kayak, camp, climb, dive

The activity programme (Aurora Expeditions)

Aurora Expeditions·Activities

Add-on activities include sea kayaking, paddling, stand-up paddleboarding, camping, snowshoeing, ski and snowboard touring, alpine climbing, Shackleton’s Crossing, and polar and tropical diving and snorkelling.

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1:7 expedition team ratio

Lectures and citizen science (Aurora Expeditions)

Aurora Expeditions·Enrichment

Naturalists and local specialists lecture on history, culture, biology and climate, and guests can take part in the Citizen Science Program.

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Where it sails

11 to 34 days

Antarctica and South Georgia

Aurora Expeditions·Polar expeditions · Nov–Mar

Antarctic voyages from 11 days, such as Spirit of Antarctica, to 34-day crossings of the continent, plus the Weddell Sea, the Antarctic Circle, the Ross Sea and South Georgia.

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Svalbard to the Northwest Passage

The Arctic

Aurora Expeditions·Polar expeditions · Jul–Sep

Svalbard, Norway, Iceland, Greenland and the Northwest Passage in the Arctic summer, including Jewels of the Arctic (15 days) and Northwest Passage voyages in August and September.

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Up to 154 guests

Small Ship Cruises (Aurora Expeditions)

Aurora Expeditions·Europe and Central America

Culture-led voyages around the Mediterranean and Adriatic, the Atlantic and African coast, the UK and Ireland, Northern Europe, and Costa Rica and Panama. See our Western Mediterranean and Northern Europe guides.

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What’s included and how to book

Drinks and Wi-Fi included

What the Aurora Expeditions fare includes

Aurora Expeditions·Inclusions

All meals and snacks; premium spirits, cocktails, beer, wine and liqueurs (from Antarctica 2026/27, bar hours apply); Starlink Wi-Fi; lectures; the gym, sauna, pool and Jacuzzis; an initial consultation with the ship’s doctor; shore excursions and entry fees.

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Ages 6–15

Families and young adventurers (Aurora Expeditions)

Aurora Expeditions·Family policy

Aurora Young Adventurers: children aged 6–12 and teenagers aged 13–15 sharing a cabin receive 50% off the adult fare with two adults, or 25% off with one adult (terms apply).

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Share your Aurora Expeditions tips

Sailed with them? Share your ships, cabins and tips with other cruisers.

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