Aurora Expeditions expands Antarctic operations with record 2025/26 season

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Aurora Expeditions has reported its largest Antarctic cruise season to date for 2025/26, with 30 voyages, about 819 landings, and a 30% increase in passenger numbers across 56 nationalities.

The growth follows the launch of its third vessel, Douglas Mawson, which entered service in November, enabling the company to operate three ships simultaneously in Antarctica for the first time in its 35-year history.

UPDATED! Aurora Expeditions founder, Greg Mortimer, airlifted off Douglas Mawson after 'medical episode'.

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UPDATED

Good news! Greg is up and about and recovering well. Tough as old boots, he may not be climbing mountains this week, but he's certainly out of the woods. We love you, Greg!

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ExpeditioinCruising.com understands that Greg Mortimer, who founded Aurora Expeditions in 1992 has been airlifted off the brand new Douglas Mawson after a "medical episode".

"We can confirm that Greg Mortimer experienced a medical episode while on board Douglas Mawson in his capacity as Expedition Leader," said a spokesperson for Aurora Expeditions. 

"His condition is stable, and as a precaution, the vessel is diverting to allow for medical evacuation to a hospital facility in New Zealand for further assessment and care.

 

"The safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew remain our priority. We will provide further updates if and when appropriate, and we respectfully ask that Greg’s privacy is maintained at this time."

 

The team at ExpeditionCruising.com join the vast expedition cruising community in wishing Greg a smooth recovery.

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Aurora Expeditions 2027 Small Ship Cruises in 22 Countries

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Aurora Expeditions, the award-winning leader in small-ship adventure travel, is thrilled to announce the launch of its Small Ship Cruises 2027 Season, officially opening for sale today.

Aurora Expeditions adds third small ship, Douglas Mawson

Aurora Expeditions, the award-winning Australian-owned expedition travel company, is excited to announce that it will soon welcome its third purpose-built small expedition ship, Douglas Mawson to its family of pioneering vessels.

Tick off your Bucket List with Aurora

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Aurora Expeditions is excited to share the 2024 'Go Wild With Your Bucket List' e-book, created to inspire travellers to seek out new and exciting experiences as they plan their upcoming adventures.

[updated] Ocean Explorer runs aground in Greenland

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Reports are that Ocean Explorer, under charter to Australian cruise operator Aurora Expeditions, while Aurora's ship, the Greg Mortimer, undergoes repairs, has run aground on Monday in Alpefjord in a national park some 1400 km northeast of Greenland's capital Nuuk. [Current position]

Aurora Expeditions launches the Sylvia Earle

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Aurora Expeditions has today launched its second purpose-built small ship, Sylvia Earle, which will embark on her inaugural voyage from Ushuaia, Argentina to Antarctica on December 10, 2022.

Aurora Expeditions Founder to Lead Arctic Expedition

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Join legendary explorer Greg Mortimer on a life-changing voyage of discovery to the Arctic

Aurora Expeditions and ‘Hero of the Planet’ Dr. Sylvia Earle host Antarctic Climate Expedition in 2023

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Aurora Expeditions, Australia’s award-winning travel adventure company, is offering one final opportunity to join the world-first Antarctic Climate Expedition sailing in February 2023, led by renowned oceanographer, marine biologist, explorer and conservationist Dr. Sylvia Earle.

New expanded 2022-23 brochure from Aurora Expeditions

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Australia’s award-winning adventure cruise company, Aurora Expeditions, has today launched its expanded 2022-23 Season Brochure for its Arctic, Antarctica and Global program.

Aurora Expeditions dedicates new expedition ship to female conservationists

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Australia’s award-winning expedition operator, Aurora Expeditions, is celebrating International Women’s Day 2021 by dedicating its new expedition ship to five of the world’s leading female conservationists.

Expeditions to Australia, Commonwealth Bay & the Ross Sea

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Award-winning Australian-owned expedition operator, Aurora Expeditions, has launched the most unique expedition program in Australia, Commonwealth Bay and the Ross Sea (East Antarctica) starting from June 2021 and running through until March 2022. 

For the first time in Aurora Expeditions’ history, it will offer a full season of immersive, adventurous and off-the-beaten-track voyages in the region, as well as having the most comprehensive and enriching activities program of any operator. 

The activity program includes sea kayaking, paddling in clear bottom kayaks, snorkelling (including with Sea Lions in Hopkins Island and Dolphins in Kangaroo Island), scuba diving, shark diving, climbing, helicopter rides over incredible waterfalls and more. 

The Ross Sea & Commonwealth Bay will be uniquely accessible from Australia and is being offered exclusively by Aurora Expeditions on a selection of voyages, operating as a round trip from Hobart.

Aurora Expeditions escalates attempts to repatriate passengers and crew

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The Greg Mortimer at anchor in Montevideo (Merco Press)

Media Statement relating to the Greg Mortimer

3 April 2020

Yesterday we formally escalated our request to the Uruguayan Ministry of Health to allow us to bring the Greg Mortimer dockside, and urgently map a path to get all passengers and staff, back to their home countries.

Aurora Expeditions to launch second new ship ‘Sylvia Earle’

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Second state-of-the-art vessel to launch in October 2021

Aurora Expeditions, Australia’s leading expedition cruising company, will name its second purpose-built expedition ship after the acclaimed marine biologist and oceanographer, Dr. Sylvia Earle.

Aurora Expeditions christens their new ship ‘Greg Mortimer’

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The first passenger ship utilising the Ulstein X-Bow®

Aurora Expeditions, a world leader in expeditions to the polar regions, today celebrated the christening of their highly anticipated and innovative ship, the Greg Mortimer.

Pre-registration for 2021/2022 voyages on the Greg Mortimer opened

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Agents can register their clients for priority on Antarctic and Northbound voyages

Aurora Expeditions, leading expedition cruising and home-grown polar exploration specialist, has today announced the pre-registration has opened for their new 2021/2022 Antarctic and 2022 Northbound voyages onboard the Greg Mortimer and her yet-to-be-named sister ship.

Aurora Expeditions takes delivery of world's first X-Bow expedition cruise ship

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Aurora Expeditions, Australia's home-grown polar exploration specialist, has taken delivery of the Greg Mortimer. The highly anticipated ship is set to redefine expedition cruising with its revolutionary patented Ulstein X-Bow.

The Greg Mortimer at the earlier launch ceremony in March (Ulstein)

Aurora Expeditions' new ship the Greg Mortimer completes sea trials

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Aurora Expeditions’ purpose-built, X-bow® expedition ship, the Greg Mortimer, has successfully completed sea trials this week ahead of her inaugural voyage on 31 October, 2019 to Antarctica.

The Greg Mortimer is classified as a small expedition ship and has been built to world-class polar standards. The ship underwent a comprehensive trial over the past five days and nights and surpassed engineer’s speed, vibration and noise estimations.

Aurora Expeditions takes NASA scientists on 2021 Antarctic solar eclipse voyage

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Aurora Expeditions has today announced NASA astronomer Dr Michelle Thaller and NASA Engineer Dr Andrew Booth as special guests for the expedition company’s total solar eclipse voyage in December 2021.

Assistant Director for Science Communication at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre, Dr Michelle Thaller will act as the main lecturer for the voyage. Dr Thaller will conduct a series of talks together with Dr Andrew Booth on the solar eclipse, Antarctica and general astronomy in the staggering surroundings of Antarctica.

Witnessing a solar eclipse from Antarctica is a once-in-a-lifetime event. 

Travellers on this voyage will be part of a once-in-a-lifetime event as the full eclipse will only be visible from Antarctica. Taking place in the early hours of December 4, 2021, Aurora Expeditions’ soon-to-be-launched polar-class ship, the Greg Mortimer will be in prime viewing position to see the moon transition in front of the sun, shrouding the white Antarctic wilderness in surreal darkness.

Aurora Expeditions Orders Second X-Bow expedition ship for Spring 2021

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Aurora Expeditions’ second X-Bow ship will be similar in design to the soon-to-be-launched Greg Mortimer Aurora Expeditions has today announced it has entered into an agreement with shipbuilder Sunstone to build a second X-Bow expedition ship, for delivery in spring 2021.