Aurora Expeditions
Fodor’s Expert Review
For the past three decades, Aurora Expeditions, an Australian-owned adventure company specializing in small-group expedition-style travel, has been at the forefront of exploration in polar regions and other untamed destinations worldwide. Renowned for its pioneering spirit, Aurora Expeditions has continuously pushed the boundaries of expedition travel. The cruise line has been instrumental in introducing groundbreaking activities and setting new benchmarks in adventure tourism (scuba diving and climbing in Antarctica are noteworthy excursions).Read More
Aurora Expeditions was also the first company to introduce ice camping, kayaking, commercial climbing, and scuba diving on the Antarctic peninsula. What sets Aurora Expeditions apart from other small cruises is its commitment to providing a diverse range of off-vessel activities in remote locations that offer opportunities for exploration and discovery.
Founded in 1991 the company is a founding member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). A founding member of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), Aurora introduced polar snorkeling in the Arctic. Its two passenger vessels, the Greg Mortimer, and the Silvia Earle, both feature the innovative Ulstein X-Bow technology. This bow design allows ships to cut through high waves and rough seas with ease creating a smoother ride for passengers and reducing overall fuel consumption. It also uses dynamic positioning, which allows the vessel to maintain its place without anchors in order to protect the seabed.
The small ship voyages (no more than 130+ passengers) with Aurora are expedition cruises and hence the experiences aboard and off the ship are traditionally different from a regular cruise. The nature of the expeditions is exploratory so passengers should come with a healthy dose of excitement, enthusiasm, and a keen sense of adventure. The expedition staff consists of scientists, naturalists, historians, and adventure experts who are keen to impart all that they know and love about the environments the ship travels to.
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What to Expect on Board
The food onboard Aurora Expeditions exceeds expectations for an expedition cruise.
There are plenty of culinary choices available for ships that only have two (on the Silvia Earle) and/or one (on the Greg Mortimer) restaurants.
Breakfast and lunch are served buffet style, with a made-to-order egg station in the mornings and a hot station in the afternoon. Dinner choices are a-la-carte with a rotating set of dishes, as well as some “always available” staples like burgers, salads, and steaks. The cuisine is international, so don’t be surprised to find favorites like Italian handmade pastas, Indian curries, and even Vietnamese noodle bowls regularly on the menu. The culinary staff is very accommodating to dietary restrictions and food allergies and go above and beyond to ensure guests are well-fed and happy.
Happy hours are daily from 6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. with a wide selection of cocktails, wines, and liquors. Drinks are not included but can be charged to the room.
Entertainment tends to be more low-key compared to a traditional cruise line, but the staff do know how to throw a party or two to celebrate each voyage.
There are several lounge areas throughout the ship where passengers can meet up during the day. The auditorium and lecture hall features state-of-the-art facilities where the expedition team offers presentations that supplement the cruise’s destinations. Wildlife guidebooks, nautical maps, and binoculars can be found in the observation lounge. During select voyages, specialty events like summer and winter solstice shindigs and barbeque parties are held where crew and passengers socialize.
Fitness facilities are well-equipped with the top-line exercise equipment and can be assessed with prior reservation.
Both ships (the Silvia Earle and the Greg Mortimer) feature an outdoor heated saltwater pool, a gym with equipment like rowing machines, stationary bikes, treadmills and more along with lockers and a shower, a sauna with a floor-to-ceiling window, several open-air jacuzzis, a massage room and spa at the wellness center. Guests enjoy complimentary access to the gym, sauna, and jacuzzis, but massages need to be booked ahead of time.
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Your Shipmates
Aurora Expeditions attracts active travelers who crave adventure and excitement with unique sailing destinations and experiences that push them out of their comfort zone (just a little bit). Travelers who journey with Aurora Expeditions can always add more extensive adventures such as camping, sea kayaking, snowshoeing, ski and snowboard touring, scuba diving, snorkeling, trekking, ice climbing, rock climbing, and stand-up paddle boarding to their trip. If you are seeking true adventure aboard modern and sophisticated ships, this is the sailing company for you.
Dress Code
The standard onboard both Aurora Expedition ships is casual on most days and evenings. Guests can choose to dress up for the welcome drink with the captain on the first day or the farewell drink on the last day of the voyage. Additional celebratory evenings like barbecue night or summer and winter solstice celebration may require a special dress code but it is not mandatory. Guests are free to get dressed up in the evening when going to dinner in the main dining rooms or at the specialty restaurant.
Junior Cruisers
While children are more than welcome on all Aurora Expeditions, the activities and excursions are more suited for kids 8 years and older. Any children under the age of 18 must also travel with their legal guardian and will pay the same rate as an adult traveler. But there are no child-specific facilities or child-minding services onboard the ship. This means that parents or guardians will need to supervise children at all times. On the practical side, for families traveling with kids a triple cabin or two cabins adjacent to each other can be arranged. Additionally, as a safety protocol, families should be confident that children can hold onto the ship’s safety bars if the seas are rough during a particular passage.
Service
The service on board Aurora Expeditions is exceptional. The crew truly exhibits great care and attention to detail when it comes to the guests’ needs. No request is ever too big. All allergies and dietary concerns are accommodated in both restaurants. Housekeeping happens twice daily with a turndown service that is a welcome sight at the end of a long expedition day.
Tipping
Like most non-luxury cruise lines, prepaid gratuities are standard at Aurora Expeditions where tips are included in the passenger rate. But you can always carry extra cash to “thank” cabin stewards or other crew members who have provided exceptional service.
Past Passengers
Passengers who complete a sailing with Aurora Expeditions are automatically enrolled in the company’s loyalty program that offers incentives on future sailings. There are three different levels of the program – Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The first sailing automatically enrolls passengers at the Bronze level and all returning passengers get a 5% discount on all future sailings. Additional benefits include onboard credit and alcoholic beverage credit depending on the loyalty level along with exclusive pre-releases on new season launches.