Blog · Press releases
Polar announcements from the expedition operators we compare — new ships, seasons and itineraries, summarised and linked to the original release.
Aurora Expeditions is marking its 35th anniversary, tracing its history from a small Sydney-based operator founded in 1991 by Greg and Margaret Mortimer to a global expedition company now running 73 itineraries across seven continents an…
Aurora Expeditions has opened bookings for its 2028 Northern Hemisphere season, comprising 29 departures across 20 countries aboard its small ships Douglas Mawson and Sylvia Earle. The program includes 16 Polar Expeditions, six Discovery…
Aurora Expeditions has launched a 35th-anniversary promotion offering up to 30% savings and up to US$3,500 per person in air credit on select voyages booked and deposited between July 1 and September 30, 2026. The offer spans Antarctica,…
Aurora Expeditions has lowered its minimum age for voyages, now allowing children aged six and over to join its expedition cruises, including polar itineraries. The move is aimed at making expedition travel more accessible to families wa…
Aurora Expeditions reports that bookings from the US market grew 37% year over year for its 2025/26 Antarctic season, outpacing the broader North American Antarctic market's 11.5% growth as reported by IAATO. North American travelers now…
Aurora Expeditions has released survey findings from over 700 travellers showing that expedition team expertise is now the top factor in choosing an operator, ahead of itinerary, ship size and landing opportunities. The company also cite…
Aurora Expeditions announced that its newest purpose-built expedition ship, Douglas Mawson, has been included in Condé Nast Traveler's 2026 Hot List, an annual selection highlighting notable new hotels, restaurants and cruise ships world…
Aurora Expeditions reports its largest-ever Antarctic season, operating 30 voyages with about 819 landings and a 30% rise in passenger numbers across 56 nationalities. The season included the debut of a third ship, Douglas Mawson, enabli…
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, susta…
Aurora Expeditions has launched a new Citizen Science initiative across its expedition fleet in partnership with Joe Muise, founder of Thermal Imaging of Polar Ice (TIPI). The program uses thermal cameras to capture temperature variation…
Aurora Expeditions has launched a 35th-anniversary promotion offering discounts of up to 35% on selected 2026 and 2027 voyages across Antarctica, the Arctic and other small-ship destinations, available for booking until 31 March 2026 or…
Aurora Expeditions marked the arrival of its newest ship, the Douglas Mawson, in Hobart on 1 December 2025, ahead of its inaugural circumnavigation of Tasmania and the start of the 2025–2026 Antarctic season. Hobart was chosen as the shi…
Aurora Expeditions held a christening ceremony on Sydney Harbour for its new expedition vessel, Douglas Mawson, named after the Antarctic explorer. The ship, the company's third purpose-built vessel alongside Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Ear…
Summaries are written by Antarctica Unlocked from the operators' published releases. The original release, and its wording, belongs to the operator.
