Counting Down to Adventure – the journey begins in Sydney.
Purpose-built for adventure and sustainability, the Douglas Mawson is the third vessel in our fleet to feature Ulstein’s signature X-BOW® design, joining the Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle. Her arrival marks an exciting new chapter in our journey as we continue to expand our industry-leading fleet and offer travellers deeper connections to remarkable environments and cultures across all seven continents.
Named in honour of legendary Australian geologist and explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, the ship embodies his pioneering spirit. Her inaugural voyage to Tasmania in December 2025 will be the first of many, taking travellers from the icy wilderness of Antarctica to the cultural coastlines of Europe and Central America.
Follow the Launch of the Douglas Mawson
Comfort, Connection, and Sustainability
Every detail of the Douglas Mawson is designed to balance comfort, adventure, and responsible travel. Light-filled interiors feature a soaring two-storey atrium and a panoramic forward-facing lounge, while purpose-built Zodiac embarkation zones and spacious observation areas provide seamless access to wildlife encounters and shore landings.
Expeditioners will also enjoy thoughtfully designed spaces that create moments of connection and relaxation, with:
- Two restaurants and two bars.
- A heated outdoor pool with Jacuzzis and pool bar.
- Dedicated wellness areas with gym and sauna.
- Inviting communal spaces including a library, lecture theatre, and Citizen Science Centre.
Read about pioneers of exploration in our onboard library.
Take a dip in the heated outdoor swimming pool or one of two Jacuzzis.
Carrying just 130 expeditioners in the polar regions and 154 on Small Ship Cruises, the Douglas Mawson combines intimacy with capability. Her Polar Class 6 rating and advanced safety and environmental systems allow for comfortable, responsible navigation through ice-laden waters and remote coastlines worldwide.
Like the rest of our purpose-built fleet, she features a fuel-efficient diesel-electric propulsion system, waste-heat recovery, and Ulstein’s innovative X-BOW® design – proven to reduce fuel consumption, noise, and motion in rough seas. These features minimise environmental impact while maximising the expedition experience.
For solo travellers, the Douglas Mawson also introduces more single cabins than ever before, expanding opportunities to join Aurora’s growing global community.
Douglas Mawson in build dock during the final stages of construction.
Douglas Mawson launches from the build dock — a major construction milestone.
Douglas Mawson undergoing night sea trials ahead of her inaugural season.
A Season of Discovery Awaits
From Tasmania to East Antarctica and beyond, the Douglas Mawson is ready to take travellers deeper into nature, with all the comfort, safety, and sustainability you expect from Aurora Expeditions.
This inaugural season also features our Special Guests Program, welcoming inspiring voices from exploration, science, conservation, art, and culture – from Emma McEwin, writer and Douglas Mawson’s great-granddaughter, to acclaimed travel photographer Richard I’Anson, and human ecologist Phillipa Ross, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Sir James Clark Ross – with many more to join us throughout the season.
Join an Inaugural Voyage
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Discovery Expedition
Australia
Coastal Tasmania: Untamed Wilderness
11 Days
AUD
$12,316
From
$15,395
per person
twin share
Polar Expedition
Ross Sea & East Antarctica
Mawson’s Antarctica
24 Days
USD
$26,636
From
$33,295
per person
twin share
Polar Expedition
Australia & New Zealand Subantarctic Islands
Subantarctic Discovery
15 Days
USD
$12,556
From
$15,695
per person
twin share
Polar Expedition
Ross Sea & East Antarctica
Ross Sea Odyssey
25 Days
USD
$29,916
From
$35,195
per person
twin share
Frequently Asked Questions
Why travel on small ships?
At Aurora Expeditions, we believe that true exploration happens in small groups. Our purpose-built expedition ships carry a maximum of 130 adventurers on board our Expeditions, and just 154 on our Small Ship Cruises.
- Venture where larger ships can’t, reaching untouched landscapes and secluded shorelines.
- Enjoy a warm, welcoming atmosphere where you can connect with like-minded travellers and our expert Expedition Team.
- Maximise your time exploring, with quick and efficient disembarkations for shore landings and Zodiac cruises.
- Travel responsibly with a smaller environmental footprint, minimising our impact on these pristine regions.
With fewer people and more flexibility, a small ship means more time to experience the beauty of the regions we visit—just as they were meant to be.
Who was Douglas Mawson, and why is the ship named after him?
Sir Douglas Mawson was one of Australia’s greatest polar explorers and scientists, celebrated for his extraordinary leadership, endurance, and contributions to Antarctic exploration. Naming our newest ship in his honour pays tribute to his pioneering spirit and scientific legacy, qualities that continue to inspire our modern-day expeditions of discovery.
What makes the Douglas Mawson different from other expedition ships?
The Douglas Mawson combines cutting-edge technology with a deep respect for the natural world. Purpose-built for responsible exploration, it features the signature Ulstein X-Bow® design for smoother, more efficient sailing and advanced sustainability systems to reduce environmental impact. Onboard, guests enjoy an intimate expedition experience led by experts, scientists, and storytellers who bring each destination to life.
What types of cabins and onboard facilities are available?
Designed with comfort and connection in mind, the Douglas Mawson offers a range of stylish and spacious staterooms, including dedicated solo cabins and suites with private balconies. Guests can unwind in beautifully appointed social spaces such as the observation lounge, lecture theatre, and wellness centre, or enjoy breathtaking views from the ship’s expansive decks and glass-walled dining areas.
Can you accommodate single travellers? If so, what is the single supplement?
From our 2026 Arctic and Beyond & 2026-27 Antarctica seasons will offer 10 dedicated solo cabins on every sailing, with no single supplement.
We do not have a mandatory single supplement rate if a guest is willing to share a stateroom. Most staterooms are available on a twin share basis in twin rooms, at no additional charge. This means that as a solo traveller, your client may pay the twin-share rate and will be paired with another solo traveller of the same gender. If we don’t locate a suitable stateroom mate, your client will not be charged a supplement.
For single expeditioners wanting their own stateroom outside our 10 cabin allocation they can pay a 50% surcharge occupancy stateroom (on top of the twin occupancy rate).
During select ‘Go Solo and Save’ promotions, we waive the single supplement for solo travellers on select voyages.
How often do we get off the ship?
We aim to get off the ship as much as possible to experience the destinations up close. Twice per day is common but more if weather, daylight hours and itinerary allow. Duration of the landings vary from site to site but at the height of the peak season, cruise operators must stick to timings allocated by authorities.
What can I expect on an expedition aboard the Douglas Mawson?
Expect an intimate, immersive experience that blends adventure, discovery, and education. Each voyage is led by our highly experienced Expedition Team, including naturalists, historians, and scientists who share their knowledge through guided excursions and onboard presentations. Whether kayaking among icebergs, spotting wildlife on remote shores, or simply taking in the vast beauty of the polar regions, every day aboard the Douglas Mawson offers something extraordinary.
When will the Douglas Mawson launch, and where will it sail first?
The Douglas Mawson will embark on its maiden voyage in December 2025, sailing the wild coastlines of Tasmania on the Coastal Tasmania: Untamed Wilderness expedition. From there, it will journey to some of the world’s most remote and remarkable destinations, including Antarctica, the Subantarctic Islands, and beyond.
What other ships are in the Aurora Expeditions fleet?
Aurora Expeditions proudly operates two state-of-the-art sister ships — the Greg Mortimer and the Sylvia Earle — both designed for small-group adventure and built with the same X-Bow® technology as the Douglas Mawson. Together, our fleet enables travellers to explore the world’s most extraordinary regions with minimal impact and maximum immersion.