Aurora Expeditions announced that its newest purpose-built expedition vessel, Douglas Mawson, has been included in TIME's World's Greatest Places 2026 list, which recognises destinations and travel experiences noted for innovation, sustainability and cultural significance. Launched in November 2025, the ship is the third in Aurora's fleet built for polar and remote-region exploration, named after Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson.
The vessel carries up to 130 passengers on polar voyages, or 154 on global itineraries, and features an X-BOW hull for stability in rough seas such as the Drake Passage, along with a citizen science centre, observation lounge and dedicated Zodiac launch platforms. Douglas Mawson joins sister ships Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle, giving Aurora Expeditions capacity to operate voyages across polar and other regions worldwide.