Aurora Expeditions will welcome its third purpose-built small expedition ship, the Douglas Mawson, in late 2025.
The Douglas Mawson‘s inaugural season will also mark Aurora Expeditions’ return to East Antarctica for the first time in 15 years, with new itineraries to include a Mawson’s Antarctica voyage to East Antarctica in honour of the ship’s namesake, departing from Hobart.
The Douglas Mawson, the newest and final Infinity Class vessel, which was named for pioneering Australian geologist and explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, will carry an average of 154 passengers and will be the newest Infinity Class vessel to enter the market, joining Aurora’s sister ships, also named after pioneers in their field, Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle.
The small ship will feature the latest and greatest revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW, designed for smoother and faster ocean crossings and world-leading fuel efficiency, and will offer Nordic interior design features with stylish and comfortable staterooms and suites across 11 different categories, most featuring private balconies. For the first time, Aurora will also offer several single berth cabins to cater for the growing solo traveller segment.
Public spaces include two restaurants, two bars, an outdoor heated swimming pool, pool bar and Jacuzzis, a gym and sauna, relaxation and wellness areas, a library lounge, a citizen science centre and lecture theatre, and expansive observation decks offering panoramic views of wilderness and wildlife.
Like Aurora’s sister ships, the Douglas Mawson is designed to be a comfortable base camp for adventure, with Zodiac access points, a changing room and mudroom preparing passengers for off-ship and on-shore activities, while a dedicated science centre is the hub for a variety of participative and educational Citizen Science programs.
Aurora Expeditions plans to commence voyages on the Douglas Mawson in December 2025, with the inaugural voyage and full program to be announced soon.
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