Aurora Expeditions

Antarctica, the Arctic, and the world’s most remote wilderness – explored aboard small expedition ships carrying around 132 guests. Aurora Expeditions pairs expert expedition teams with an activity-driven approach to adventure that lets you shape every day of your voyage.

Or call us at 1-800-444-1560 or email info@smartcruiser.com

Adventure Expedition Cruising

Founded in 1991 by Australian mountaineer and adventurer Greg Mortimer, Aurora Expeditions was born from a deep passion for polar exploration and a commitment to responsible travel. With over three decades of expedition experience, Aurora specialises in small-ship voyages to the planet’s most extraordinary and untouched destinations. Their purpose-built vessels carry a limited number of guests, ensuring intimate encounters with wildlife, dramatic landscapes, and indigenous cultures that few travelers ever experience.

At a Glance

Cruise Line: Aurora Expeditions – Small-Ship Adventure & Expedition Cruising

Founded: 1991 by Australian mountaineer Greg Mortimer

Fleet: Purpose-built expedition vessels including the Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle, carrying approximately 132 passengers each

Destinations: Antarctica, the Arctic, Patagonia, British Isles, Scotland, Iceland, Norway, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Japan, and more

Signature Feature: Activity-driven expedition cruising with options including kayaking, snorkelling, snowshoeing, camping, mountaineering, and Zodiac excursions – all led by expert expedition teams

  • All Zodiac excursions and shore landings led by expert expedition team
  • Lectures and presentations by onboard naturalists, historians, and scientists
  • All meals onboard including specialty dining experiences
  • Complimentary expedition jacket to keep
  • Use of rubber boots for shore landings
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Port fees and taxes
  • Select complimentary activities such as snowshoeing and guided hikes

Optional adventure activities including kayaking, camping, snorkelling, and stand-up paddleboarding available at additional cost on select voyages.

  • Over 30 years of polar expedition expertise with an unmatched safety record
  • Small ship size (approximately 132 guests) allows landings in pristine, hard-to-reach locations
  • Activity-based expedition model – choose your own adventure each day
  • Purpose-built Ulstein X-BOW® vessels designed for comfort and stability in polar waters
  • Deep commitment to sustainability and responsible travel practices

Expedition Dining: The main restaurant offers buffet and plated service featuring fresh, regionally inspired cuisine

Bistro: Casual dining option for lighter meals and snacks throughout the day

Observation Lounge: Enjoy hot drinks and fresh pastries while watching the dramatic scenery unfold

Lecture Hall Bar: Relax with beverages after expedition briefings and presentations

Aurora’s culinary team sources local and sustainable ingredients wherever possible, reflecting the destinations visited. Special dietary needs are accommodated with advance notice.

Aurora Expeditions sets itself apart with its activity-driven approach to expedition cruising. Each voyage offers a menu of adventure options so you can tailor your experience:

  • Sea Kayaking: Paddle among icebergs, alongside whale pods, and through fjords
  • Snorkelling & Scuba Diving: Explore underwater worlds in select polar and tropical destinations
  • Snowshoeing: Trek across pristine polar landscapes
  • Camping: Spend a night on the Antarctic continent under the stars
  • Mountaineering & Alpine Trekking: Summit peaks with experienced guides
  • Stand-Up Paddleboarding: Glide through calm polar waters for a unique perspective

All activities are led by certified professionals and tailored to various fitness levels.

Quick reference: Aurora offers Aurora Staterooms with portholes, Balcony Staterooms with private outdoor space, Junior Suites, and the Captain’s Suite. Many cabins feature floor-to-ceiling windows or balconies with unobstructed polar views.

All cabins include en-suite bathrooms, individual climate control, and ample storage for expedition gear.

Cruise Search

A striking wildlife photograph featuring a group of King Penguins in the foreground with the Ocean

Purpose-Built Expedition Vessels

A Smoother Ride Through the Drake Passage

Aurora’s fleet features the Greg Mortimer and the Sylvia Earle – both purpose-built with the revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW® hull design. This innovative bow shape cuts through waves rather than slamming into them, providing a remarkably smooth ride even in the notoriously rough Drake Passage. With a capacity of approximately 132 passengers, these ice-strengthened vessels are designed to navigate polar waters safely while offering modern comforts, panoramic lounges, and quick Zodiac deployment for maximising your time on shore.

Activity-Driven Exploration

What truly sets Aurora Expeditions apart is their “choose your own adventure” approach to expedition cruising. Rather than a one-size-fits-all itinerary, Aurora empowers you to shape each day around your interests and fitness level. Paddle a sea kayak through a labyrinth of electric-blue icebergs. Camp overnight on the Antarctic continent beneath the midnight sun. Snowshoe across pristine landscapes or join a guided mountaineering ascent. For those who prefer a gentler pace, expert-led Zodiac cruises and onshore walks bring you face-to-face with penguin colonies, seal haul-outs, and breathtaking glacial scenery. Every landing is an adventure, and every adventure is yours to choose.

Polar Pioneers Since 1991

Aurora Expeditions was born from a true spirit of adventure. Founder Greg Mortimer was part of the first Australian expedition to summit Everest and has spent a lifetime exploring the world’s wildest places. That pioneering DNA runs through every Aurora voyage today. Their expert expedition teams – naturalists, marine biologists, geologists, historians, and polar specialists – don’t just narrate the journey; they bring each destination to life with passionate storytelling, citizen science programs, and an infectious enthusiasm for the natural world. From Antarctica’s towering icebergs to the Arctic’s polar bears, Aurora takes you to places that redefine what’s possible.

The Aurora Expeditions Experience

Small-Ship Intimacy

With approximately 132 guests, Aurora’s purpose-built expedition vessels offer a truly intimate experience. Fewer passengers means more landing time, closer wildlife encounters, and access to remote bays and harbours that larger ships simply cannot reach.

Expert Expedition Team

Every voyage is guided by a team of world-class naturalists, marine biologists, geologists, and polar specialists. Their expert-led lectures, guided landings, and citizen science programs transform your journey from a cruise into a genuine expedition of discovery.

Sustainable & Responsible

Aurora is deeply committed to protecting the environments they explore. As a certified carbon-neutral company, they support conservation initiatives, adhere to strict IAATO guidelines, and operate with a leave-no-trace philosophy on every landing and excursion.

A luxurious sun deck aboard an expedition cruise ship featuring multiple lounge areas with cream

Staterooms with Polar Views

Aurora offers a range of cabin categories to suit different preferences and budgets. Options include Aurora Staterooms with portholes, Balcony Staterooms with private outdoor space, Junior Suites, and the Captain’s Suite. Many cabins feature floor-to-ceiling windows or private balconies with unobstructed polar views – imagine watching icebergs drift past from your bed. All cabins include en-suite bathrooms, individual climate control, and ample storage for expedition gear. Wondering whether the balcony upgrade is worth it for a polar voyage? Our experienced agents can walk you through deck plans, cabin placement, and upgrade costs to find the best fit for your sailing.

Gallery

The expedition cruise ship Douglas Mawson passes beneath the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, with
The expedition cruise ship Douglas Mawson dwarfed by the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney
A blue expedition cruise ship from Aurora Expeditions passes beneath the iconic Sydney Harbour
The expedition cruise ship Douglas Mawson (Aurora Expeditions) anchored in Sydney Harbour with
A spacious sun deck lounge area aboard the Douglas Mawson expedition cruise ship, featuring

Our Fleet

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Frequently Asked Questions

Aurora Expeditions is an Australian-founded expedition cruise company specialising in small-ship adventure voyages to the world’s most remote and pristine destinations. Founded in 1991 by mountaineer Greg Mortimer, Aurora is renowned for its activity-driven approach to expedition cruising, offering kayaking, camping, snorkelling, snowshoeing, and mountaineering alongside expert-led Zodiac landings. Their intimate ships carry approximately 132 guests, ensuring a personalised and immersive experience.

Aurora Expeditions fares include all meals onboard, Zodiac excursions and shore landings, expert lectures and presentations, a complimentary expedition jacket (yours to keep), use of rubber boots, complimentary Wi-Fi, and port fees. Select activities like guided hikes and snowshoeing are also included. Optional adventure activities such as sea kayaking, camping, scuba diving, and stand-up paddleboarding are available at additional cost. When you book through SmartCruiser.com, you also benefit from our group rates and exclusive amenities like onboard credits (OBCs) on eligible sailings.

Aurora Expeditions operates two purpose-built expedition vessels: the Greg Mortimer and the Sylvia Earle. Both ships feature the revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW® hull design, which dramatically reduces pitching and rolling for a smoother ride in open ocean crossings like the Drake Passage. Each ship carries approximately 132 passengers and is ice-strengthened for polar navigation. Onboard amenities include panoramic lounges, lecture halls, a gym, sauna, and multiple dining venues.

Aurora offers a range of cabin categories to suit different preferences and budgets. Options include Aurora Staterooms (porthole cabins), Balcony Staterooms (private balcony), Junior Suites, and the Captain’s Suite. Many cabins feature floor-to-ceiling windows or private balconies with unobstructed polar views. All cabins include en-suite bathrooms, individual climate control, and ample storage for expedition gear.

Aurora Expeditions visits some of the planet’s most extraordinary destinations. Their primary regions include Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula, the Arctic (Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland), Patagonia and the Chilean Fjords, the British Isles and Scotland, Norway, Indonesia, Costa Rica, and Japan. They also offer unique expedition itineraries to sub-Antarctic islands, the Kimberley coast of Australia, and other remote wilderness destinations.

Aurora’s “choose your own adventure” model offers a wide range of activities. Included activities typically feature guided Zodiac cruises, shore landings, snowshoeing, and guided hikes. Optional paid activities include sea kayaking, camping on the Antarctic continent, snorkelling, scuba diving, stand-up paddleboarding, and alpine mountaineering. All activities are led by certified professionals and cater to various fitness and experience levels. Your expedition team briefs you daily on available options so you can tailor each day to your interests.

The Ulstein X-BOW® is an innovative inverted hull design featured on both of Aurora’s expedition ships. Unlike a traditional bow that slams into waves, the X-BOW® cuts through them, significantly reducing pitching, vibration, and spray. This is particularly important for crossings like the Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica, where ocean conditions can be challenging. The result is a more comfortable journey, less seasickness, and a quieter, smoother ride throughout your voyage.

Absolutely. Aurora Expeditions is an excellent choice for first-time expedition cruisers. The small ship size creates a welcoming, community atmosphere where the expedition team gets to know every guest. Activities are offered at multiple difficulty levels, so you can participate as actively or gently as you wish. The onboard lectures prepare you for each destination, and the team is always available to answer questions. The experienced agents at SmartCruiser.com can help you choose the right Aurora itinerary based on your interests, fitness level, and travel goals.

Aurora Expeditions is deeply committed to responsible travel and environmental stewardship. They are a certified carbon-neutral company, an active member of IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators), and follow strict environmental protocols on every voyage. Their ships are designed with fuel-efficient technology, and they participate in citizen science programs that contribute real data to ongoing research. Aurora also supports conservation projects and indigenous communities in the regions they visit.

When you book Aurora Expeditions through SmartCruiser.com, Division of Oasis Travel Network, you work with a dedicated, experienced agent who guides you through every step – from choosing the right itinerary and cabin category to selecting the adventure activities that match your interests and fitness level. We offer group rates and exclusive amenities, with savings of up to $1500+ depending on the time of year and destination. See a lower price elsewhere? Ask and we’ll do our best to price match. Your dedicated agent stays with you from your first inquiry through disembarkation – you’re never routed to a random reservations agent.

Ready for the Adventure of a Lifetime?

Antarctica, the Arctic, and the world’s wildest corners are closer than you think. When you’re ready to explore with Aurora Expeditions, the cruise experts at SmartCruiser.com, Division of Oasis Travel Network are here to find the right voyage for you. With group rates, valuable amenities, and a dedicated agent guiding every step from inquiry to disembarkation, your expedition starts with a conversation. Call us at 1-800-444-1560 to get started.