Antarctica Active
Nov–Dec 2027Three 14-day departures from Ushuaia, with paddling, camping, snowshoeing and snorkeling in the fare.
Best for: the active traveler.
Aurora’s fleet: three X-BOW sisters, and how to choose
Greg Mortimer, Sylvia Earle and Douglas Mawson share a hull, a length and a 130-guest cap on expeditions. Pick by cabin, pool and calendar — and from 2027, by which half of the year you sail.
3Ships, built 2019 to 2025
130Most guests on any expedition
15Zodiacs on Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle
1AIce class, with Polar Code 6 (Aurora)
By Joey Boleslawski, founder & travel advisorFacts checked November 1, 2026
The short answer
On an expedition, the three ships sail with the same 130-guest limit, so the ship matters less than the cabin. Douglas Mawson is the one to ask for if you travel alone. It’s the only one with dedicated single staterooms.
Sylvia Earle and Douglas Mawson have a heated pool and a Citizen Science Centre. Greg Mortimer has hot tubs, a Tuscan Grill and, by Aurora’s count, balconies on 85% of its cabins.
Greg Mortimer also changes hands for part of each year. From 2027 it sails Alaska for Lindblad in the northern summer, so Aurora’s Arctic voyages move to the other two.
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The sortable fleet
Three ships, nearly the same ruler
Tap a sort button. Douglas Mawson’s Zodiac count reads “Not stated” because Aurora doesn’t give one.
Every figure is from the ship’s own Aurora page. Sort by cabins and Douglas Mawson leads; sort by length and the bars barely move — 104 m, 104 m and 104.4 m, or about 341 to 343 feet by our conversion.
Aurora doesn’t publish gross tonnage, beam or crew counts on these pages, so we haven’t either. Each operator publishes its own guest count for Greg Mortimer: Aurora lists 148 (130 on expeditions), and Lindblad lists it at 154 for its Alaska charter, which is firm for 2027 and 2028 with an option for 2029. Lindblad also lists 77 cabins; Aurora lists 76.
Use the guest cap, not the maximum, when you compare. Expeditions run at 130 on all three.
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Same shell, different rooms
What actually differs between the three
From each ship’s Aurora page. Bold marks the feature that sets one ship apart.
| Feature | Greg Mortimer | Sylvia Earle | Douglas Mawson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor pool | Not listed | Heated, back deck | Heated, back deck |
| Hot tubs | Two, top outside deck | Two | Two, back deck |
| Citizen Science Centre | Not listed | Yes | Yes |
| Observation lounge | Deck 7 | Deck 8 | Deck 8 |
| Specialty dining | Tuscan Grill, reservations | Main dining room, open seating | Restaurants (venues not named) |
| Single staterooms | No (Balcony Solo) | No (Balcony Solo) | Yes, plus Balcony Solo |
| Mudroom, sauna, gym, clinic | All four | All four | All four |
The shared kit is the expedition kit. The fleet page lists the X-BOW hull, Rolls-Royce stabilizers and a 24-hour clinic, and each ship page lists a mudroom and lecture facilities.
The pool is the clearest split. Greg Mortimer’s page lists two hot tubs on the top deck, not a pool.
The science center matters more than it sounds. On the two newer ships, citizen science gets its own room, not a corner of the lounge.
“Not listed” means Aurora’s page doesn’t mention it — not proof it’s missing. Ask us to confirm a feature before it decides your booking.
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One departure, every category
The cabin ladder, in dollars
Spirit of Antarctica on December 29, 2026: $19,995 in a triple to $37,595 in the Captain’s Suite, per person.
The step from the cheapest balcony to the Balcony Superior is about $5,300 per person on this departure. The step to the Junior Suite is bigger again — but the suite brings crew gratuities into the fare, at USD $20 a person a day.
Switch to the solo tab. Most cabins cost 1.5 times the twin rate for one person; the two suites cost double. Ask us which categories are still open on your date, since several here were already sold out.
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Four cabin families
Which room, on which ship
- On
- All three ships
- In the fare
- Crew gratuities, USD $20 per person per day, plus the standard inclusions
- Price
- Junior Suite $32,895, Captain’s Suite $37,595 per person (Spirit of Antarctica, Dec 29, 2026)
- Solo
- Double the twin rate
✓The only cabins with gratuities included. Price them against a balcony plus tips before you decide.
- On
- All three ships
- Grades
- Superior, then Categories A, B and C
- Price
- $22,295 (C) to $27,595 (Superior) on the same departure
- Solo
- Balcony A, B and C Solo categories on Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle; Balcony A Solo on Douglas Mawson
⚠Most of the fleet. Aurora says 85% of Greg Mortimer’s cabins have balconies.
- On
- All three ships
- Grades
- Superior (Sylvia Earle, Douglas Mawson), Twin Share (Greg Mortimer, Douglas Mawson), Triple Share (all three)
- Price
- Triple Share $19,995, Superior $21,695 per person
- Solo
- Superior at 1.5×; Triple Share not sold solo
⚠The entry point. Aurora’s pages don’t say whether these have windows or portholes, so ask before you book one.
- Greg Mortimer
- Balcony Stateroom A, B and C – Solo
- Sylvia Earle
- Balcony Stateroom A, B and C – Solo
- Douglas Mawson
- Aurora Stateroom Single, Superior Single and Balcony A – Solo
- Premium
- About 1.5× the twin rate on the departure we priced
✓Douglas Mawson was built with more single cabins than the earlier ships, by Riviera’s delivery report.
Category names repeat across the fleet, so you compare grades, not ships. Aurora doesn’t publish cabin sizes on its ship pages, so we don’t quote any.
Ask us for the deck plan of your exact ship before choosing a category — positions differ even where names match.
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Filter by ship and region
Which sister sails where
Thirteen sample sailings across the three ships. Aurora adds and moves departures often, so confirm the ship on your date.
Ship
Region
Across the Antarctic Circle
Feb, Nov, Dec 2027Listed on the ship’s page for three months of 2027.
Best for: crossing 66° South.
Antarctica Complete
Feb & Dec 2027The 23-day combination, from $33,231 as published.
Best for: the long version.
Alaska, under Lindblad
Northern summers from 2027About six months a year on charter. Booked through Lindblad, not Aurora.
Best for: Alaska on this hull.
Antarctica Active
Nov 24 & Dec 6, 2026The 2026 Active departures sail on Sylvia Earle.
Best for: activities this season.
Wild Antarctica: the Weddell Sea
2027–28 seasonOffered on Sylvia Earle and Douglas Mawson, from $17,366 as published.
Best for: tabular icebergs.
Patagonia & Chilean Fjords
Ask us for datesIncludes two days of guided hiking in Torres del Paine.
Best for: a shoulder trip south.
Arctic program
Summers 2027–28Carries Aurora’s Arctic voyages with Douglas Mawson while Greg Mortimer is in Alaska.
Best for: Svalbard and Greenland.
Epic Antarctica
Jan 2027A 34-day Antarctic voyage on the ship’s page, from $42,566 as published.
Best for: the longest trip Aurora lists.
Antarctica Active
Oct 31, 2027Opens the 2027–28 Active season.
Best for: early-season snow.
Ireland and the Mediterranean
2027Small-ship cruises at up to 154 guests.
Best for: a warm-water Aurora trip.
Crossing the Canal
Ask us for datesPanama and Costa Rica, with Your Choice experiences included.
Best for: a short winter escape.
Arctic program
Summers 2027–28Shares the Arctic and Europe season with Sylvia Earle.
Best for: solo travelers going north.
No voyage matches that pair. Widen one filter.
Ship assignments come from Aurora’s ship and voyage pages; the Arctic split during the charter comes from Cruise Industry News. For the places themselves, read our Antarctica landing sites, Arctic, Greenland and polar bear guides.
Try Greg Mortimer with Europe. Nothing comes back — and that’s the charter at work. For the ship’s Alaska summers, see our Alaska expedition guide.
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Four things to settle first
Before the deposit, check these
Tap a card for the detail and the source.
None of these rules a ship out. Each one changes the number on your invoice or the ship on your ticket — so it belongs in the decision, not in the fine print after it.
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How the fleet got here
Three ships in six years
Dates are build years from Aurora’s ship pages, with delivery and charter dates from trade press.
1991Founded
Aurora Expeditions
Greg and Margaret Mortimer start the company, named for Mawson’s ship Aurora.
2019Built
Greg Mortimer
The first of the X-BOW ships, named for the co-founder.
2022Built
Sylvia Earle
The second sister adds a heated pool and the Citizen Science Centre.
Sep 2025Delivered
Douglas Mawson
Handed over from China Merchants Heavy Industry in Haimen; maiden voyage from Hobart on December 2, 2025.
2027–28Charter
Greg Mortimer to Lindblad
About six months each northern summer in Alaska, with an option for 2029, per Aurora’s CMO.
Cruise Industry News reports all three ships are SunStone Infinity-class vessels on long-term charter to Aurora, not owned outright. Riviera called Douglas Mawson the last of the class.
In 2024 Aurora also bought assets from the bankrupt Vantage, per Cruise Industry News, and now sells Mediterranean voyages as Vantage Explorations. Ask us which brand your sailing sits under.
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Our picks
Which sister, for which traveler
Our judgement, built on Aurora’s published specs. Narrow to one ship, then compare departures.
Traveling alone
Douglas Mawson
The only ship with Aurora Single and Superior Single staterooms. Ask early.
A pool after the landing
Sylvia Earle or Douglas Mawson
Both list a heated pool on the back deck. Greg Mortimer lists hot tubs only.
Balcony above all
Greg Mortimer
Aurora says 85% of its 76 cabins have balconies, and it adds the Tuscan Grill.
Arctic in 2027 or 2028
Sylvia Earle or Douglas Mawson
Greg Mortimer is in Alaska those summers. Pick between the other two by cabin, not by itinerary.
Look elsewhere if
You want an icebreaker or helicopters
Aurora’s ships are Ice Class 1A, with no helicopters listed. Compare Ponant and Quark.
Look elsewhere if
You want the Galápagos or the Kimberley
Aurora’s current destination pages list neither. Start with our Galápagos, visitor sites and Kimberley guides, then Lindblad’s fleet.
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Fleet questions
What people ask about the ships
How many ships does Aurora Expeditions have?
Three, all built on the same Ulstein X-BOW design: Greg Mortimer (2019), Sylvia Earle (2022) and Douglas Mawson (2025). Cruise Industry News reports all three are SunStone Infinity-class ships on long-term charter to Aurora. From 2027, Greg Mortimer spends about six months of each northern summer on charter to National Geographic-Lindblad.
Are Aurora's ships ice-class?
Yes. Aurora's fleet page describes its ships as Ice Class 1A, Polar Code 6 vessels with Bureau Veritas class certification. Cruise & Ferry reported Douglas Mawson at Polar Class 6 and Ice Class 1A when it was delivered in 2025. That's a capable class for the polar summer, not an icebreaker.
Is Greg Mortimer leaving Aurora?
No, but it's away each summer from 2027. Aurora's CEO confirmed to Seatrade Cruise News that Lindblad's Alaska charter covers six months a year, and that the ship sails for Aurora the rest of the time. Aurora's chief marketing officer told Cruise Industry News the charter covers summer 2027 and 2028, with an option for 2029. Aurora still lists Greg Mortimer on Antarctic departures through late 2027.
Which Aurora ship is best for solo travelers?
Douglas Mawson. Aurora's ship page lists Aurora Stateroom Single and Superior Single cabins alongside the Balcony Solo category, and trade press at delivery said it has more single cabins than the earlier ships. Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle offer Balcony Solo cabins in Categories A, B and C.
What's different about Douglas Mawson?
It's the newest and largest of the three: 86 cabins against 76 and 71, and up to 154 guests on small-ship cruises, though still 130 on expeditions. It adds single staterooms and a heated outdoor pool. Its maiden voyage left Hobart on December 2, 2025, and Aurora uses it for Antarctica, the Arctic, Europe and Central America.
How many Zodiacs do Aurora's ships carry?
Fifteen on Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle, boarded through four dedicated doors, by Aurora's ship pages. Douglas Mawson's page gives no Zodiac count.
Plan with Seabound Journeys
Torn between two sisters? We’ll check your date on both.
Send us the region, the month and how many are traveling. We’ll confirm which ship runs your departure, which cabin categories are still open, and what the solo price is.
- Which ship is on your departure
- Single and solo cabins left
- Activity places and prices on board
No fee, no obligation. You pay the cruise line’s own fare. A real advisor replies, usually within one business day.
Ask about Aurora’s ships
Answers come straight from this guide.
How many ships does Aurora Expeditions have?Are Aurora's ships ice-class?Is Greg Mortimer leaving Aurora?Which Aurora ship is best for solo travelers?
Answers come from our guides and are general information. Confirm details with us before you book.
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Where the specs came from
Sources, and what’s ours
Aurora ship pagesGuests, cabins, length, decks, build year, Zodiacs and facilities for Greg Mortimer, Sylvia Earle and Douglas Mawson.
Checked November 1, 2026Aurora fleet pageIce Class 1A, Polar Code 6, X-BOW, stabilizers, 130 and 154 guest caps.
Checked November 1, 2026Aurora voyage pagesSpirit of Antarctica cabin prices; Antarctica Active ship assignments; Crossing the Canal and Patagonia ships.
Checked November 1, 2026Aurora general inclusionsSuite gratuities at USD $20 a day.
Checked November 1, 2026Cruise Industry News, July 2026SunStone Infinity class on long-term charter; charter terms; Arctic deployment; Vantage.
Checked November 1, 2026Seatrade Cruise NewsSix months a year to Lindblad, confirmed by Aurora’s CEO.
Checked November 1, 2026Cruise & Ferry, September 2025Douglas Mawson’s delivery, yard and Polar Class 6.
Checked November 1, 2026Riviera, December 2025Last of the Infinity class; more single cabins.
Checked November 1, 2026Tasmanian Government, December 2025Douglas Mawson’s maiden voyage from Hobart.
Checked November 1, 2026Ship figures are Aurora’s own. Where others differ (Lindblad gives Greg Mortimer 154 guests; Cruise & Ferry gave Douglas Mawson 170), we use Aurora’s. The foot conversions, price multiples and picks are our arithmetic and judgement, not Aurora’s.
Keep going
Related guides
The lineAurora Expedition CruisesSeasons, inclusions, add-on activities and the payment clock.Start hereExpedition Cruises, DecodedShip sizes, regions and seasons across every line.DestinationAntarctica CruisesWhen to go, and how the Drake works.DestinationGreenland CruisesThe fjords, the ice cap and the east coast.Compare fleetsLindblad’s ShipsWhere Greg Mortimer sails each northern summer from 2027.Compare fleetsQuark’s ShipsThe polar specialist’s fleet, side by side.Compare fleetsSwan Hellenic’s ShipsAnother small-ship polar fleet to set beside Aurora.CoverExpedition Cruise InsuranceAurora requires $250,000 of medical and evacuation cover.
One advisor, the whole expedition
The voyage, the gateway night, and the cover that matters out there.
Expedition trips have more moving parts than a Caribbean week: a charter flight, a night in a gateway city, gear lists and an evacuation clause the line sets for you. We book them together and check that the dates and the fine print agree.
01The voyageMatched to the region, the season and the ship size that fit you, at the line’s own fare.Get a free quote →
02The region and the seasonAntarctica, the Arctic, Galápagos, the Kimberley: when to go, and what each season trades away.Expedition cruises, decoded →
03The coverMany expedition lines set their own minimum for evacuation cover. We check your plan against it before you sail.Expedition insurance →