17-night Antarctica cruise: Valletta to Portimao on Douglas Mawson

Your ship

Douglas Mawson

Introducing our newest small ship, the Douglas Mawson Designed for global discovery Adventure has a new name. Setting sail in 2025, our new state-of-the-art ship, the Douglas Mawson, is the last in a line of purpose-built vessels that have redefined small ship expedition cruising. Named after the legendary Australian geologist and explorer, our new small ship embodies Mawson’s pioneering spirit and is designed for global discovery. Featuring the revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW® and purpose-built with enhanced sustainability features, it takes a maximum of 130 adventurers on board our Expeditions, and just 154 on our Small Ship Cruises. All in smooth, quiet comfort. It boasts our most extensive range of staterooms yet, including a range of single staterooms. The Douglas Mawson features a host of amenities to help you connect with like-minded travellers and elevate your time onboard our floating base camp for adventure. After a long day of exploring, head to the back deck to swim in the heated outdoor swimming pool, find a sun bed to read on, or soak in one of two Jacuzzis. Work up a sweat in the gym before unwinding in the sauna, resolve to learn something new in the Citizen Science Centre, then enjoy a delicious meal with new and old friends in one of two restaurants. Or, with multiple observation areas throughout the ship, simply relax in comfort while you keep watch for wildlife or incredible landscapes unfold before you. While enjoying the luxurious amenities onboard, you can rest assured that our aim to get you off the ship to explore the natural environment as much as possible through our unique activities program remains unchanged. Plus, onboard our Small Ship Cruises in the Mediterranean, British Isles and beyond, you’ll enjoy our handcrafted ‘Your Choice’ excursions to immerse you in your destination. The Douglas Mawson’s inaugural season will mark Aurora Expeditions’ return to East Antarctica for the first time in 13 years, with new itineraries to include a Mawson’s Antarctica voyage to East Antarctica in honour of the ship’s namesake, departing from Hobart, a semi-circumnavigation of Antarctica, and immersive explorations of the Subantarctic Islands. Before we sail north to the sunny shores the Atlantic Coast, British Isles and Mediterranean to immerse ourselves in Europe’s vibrant and varied cultures, fascinating history, and beautiful landscapes.