Make a new booking on this cruise and receive an air credit to the value of $5,000 per person. Offer is available until sold out or withdrawn without notice. Further conditions apply*
No solo supplements…very limited availability!
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Antarctic Peninsula: Fly the Drake Cruise & Stay package includes:
– Transfer from airport to hotel
– 1 night`s hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas with breakfast
– Transfer from hotel to airport
– Charter flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island
– Transfer from airport to port
– 7 night expedition cruise aboard the Douglas Mawson from King George Island return
– Daily cabin service
– All meals, snacks, tea, coffee, soft drinks and juices onboard
– Premium spirits, cocktails, beer, wine and liqueurs during bar opening hours (From lunchtime on sea days and from 3pm on excursion days)
– Captain`s Farewell reception including four-course dinner
– All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises
– Educational lectures and guiding services from expedition team
– Complimentary access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial consult)
– A 3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket (yours to keep)
– Complimentary use of muck boots during the voyage
– Comprehensive pre-departure information
– Wi-Fi (Please note we travel to remote regions and therefore the connection can be unreliable)
– Port surcharges, permits and landing fees
– Transfer from port to airport
– Charter flight from King George Island to Punta Arenas
– Transfer from airport to hotel
– 1 night`s hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas with breakfast
– Transfer from hotel to airport
Exclusions:
-Passport, visa, reciprocity and vaccination charges
-Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges
-Hotels and meals not included in itinerary
-Optional excursions not included in the itinerary
-Optional activity surcharges
-All items of a personal nature, gratuities, laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses, email or phone charges
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Note: A $15 USD per person per day gratuity for the crew is automatically added to your onboard account. It is at your discretion if you would like to remove the tip (or adjust the amount) when you settle your bill. It is not necessary to tip the expedition team members. This gratuity amount is included for suites as part of their ‘Suite Benefits’.
Special Conditions
Special Validity Dates
Cruise Itinerary
| Date | Activity | Arrive | Depart |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jan 2027 | Punta Arenas, Chile |
Hotel | |
| 14 Jan 2027 | Punta Arenas, Chile |
Fly to King George Island | |
| 14 Jan 2027 | King George Island, South Shetland Islands |
Embark | |
| 15 Jan 2027 | Antarctic Peninsula |
||
| 16 Jan 2027 | Antarctic Peninsula |
||
| 17 Jan 2027 | Antarctic Peninsula |
||
| 18 Jan 2027 | Antarctic Peninsula |
||
| 19 Jan 2027 | Antarctic Peninsula |
||
| 20 Jan 2027 | Antarctic Peninsula |
||
| 21 Jan 2027 | King George Island, South Shetland Islands |
Disembark | Fly to Punta Arenas |
| 21 Jan 2027 | Punta Arenas, Chile |
Hotel | |
| 22 Jan 2027 | Punta Arenas, Chile |
All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.
Separating the southern tip of the South American continent from the Antarctic Peninsula region is the Drake Passage, where the mighty Pacific and Atlantic oceans converge. This narrow and impossibly deep waterway creates unpredictable conditions for navigators, who put their skills to the test when the passage is at its most turbulent.
For expeditioners who prefer to focus their energy on adventures in Antarctica, flying over the Drake Passage in both directions is the ideal way to reach the white continent. In the safe hands of experienced pilots, your pulse will quicken as you glimpse the first icebergs in the Southern Ocean, where your vessel awaits, ready to take you on an exhilarating adventure.
Day 1 Arrive Punta Arenas
Arrive in Punta Arenas, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred to our hotel. We ask that you arrive no later than 2:00pm on this day. In addition to ensuring your arrival in time for our important pre-flight briefings, if weather conditions deem it necessary, we may depart for King George Island on Day 1 as opposed to Day 2.
Please visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk in the lobby between 2.00 pm – 6.00 pm to collect your luggage cabin tags. Our team will confirm details regarding your embarkation day, answer any questions and provide you with information about where to dine or purchase last minute items.
Overlooking the Straits of Magellan, the city sits astride one of the world’s most historic trade routes. Today, Punta Arenas reflects a great blend of cultural backgrounds, from English sheep ranchers to Portuguese sailors. It remains an utterly fascinating testament to Chile’s rich history. Modern day Punta Arenas is home to many popular restaurants, and bars, offering a mix of local and international fare (meals at your own expense today).
This evening, meet your fellow expeditioners at a voyage briefing where we will reconfirm your transfer times for tomorrow, explain the procedures for your flight to King George Island and outline important IAATO regulations for visitors to Antarctica.
Day 2 Fly to King George Island, Embarkation
This morning we will be transferred to Punta Arenas airport for our charter flight to King George Island, Antarctica (weather permitting). The flight will take approximately one hour and forty-five minutes. On arrival into King George Island our expedition team is on hand to greet you and to prepare you for your Zodiac transfer to the vessel. You will have time to settle into your cabin before our important safety briefings.
Note: King George Island is located at the northern part of the Antarctic Peninsula in the South Shetland Islands and is one of the most remote places on Earth. A clear sky with perfect visibility is required for safe take-off and landing. A contingency plan will be applied to your itinerary should your flights not proceed today. Your safety is our utmost priority. We apologise in advance for any delays caused due to this unpredictable situation. Please refer to our terms and conditions for a more detailed explanation.
Days 3-8 Antarctic Peninsula
It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever.
Once we arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are ours to explore, and we have a host of choices available to us. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish.
Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.
We generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You will want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of our favourite spots along the peninsula.
While ashore we aim to stretch our legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an optional activity, you will have the option to do that whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters – conditions permitting!
In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or feeding. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve their way from summit to sea. Take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white continent.
Day 9 Fly King George Island to Punta Arenas
As we approach Frei Base on King George Island, it is time to farewell Antarctica and our amazing adventure before boarding our flight (approximately one hour and forty-five minutes) to Punta Arenas, Chile. There is time for reflection and discussion about what we have seen and experienced. We hope you become ambassadors for Antarctica telling your family, friends and colleagues about your journey to this magical place, advocating for its conservation and preservation so that they might one day visit the region to experience what you have been lucky to see and do here.
From Punta Arenas airport, you will be transferred to our group hotel for an overnight stay.
Note: King George Island is located at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula in the South Shetland Islands and is one of the most remote places on Earth. A clear sky with perfect visibility is required for safe take-off and landing. We apologise in advance for any possible delays.
Accommodation: To be advised
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. 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.
Ship Profile & Stats
- Length: 104.4m
- Maiden Voyage: 2025
- Passenger Capacity (dbl): 154
At Aurora Expeditions wilderness is a passion they share with others by taking small groups of like-minded people to some of the most isolated places on our planet. From the polar regions of Antarctica and High Arctic to the wilds of Costa Rica, Scotland, Patagonia and more, Aurora Expeditions aims to create special expedition-style cruises that foster an understanding and appreciation of our natural world.
The Australian-owned adventure company was initially established in the early 1990¹s by adventures Greg Mortimer and Margaret Werner when they began sharing their love of remote places by organising ship-based trips for keen friends and fellow travellers. Their style to push the boundaries¹ has remained unchanged and they are proud of the fact that their spirit of adventure and exploration is as strong as ever. Their adventure activities are proof of this; with many of their voyages offering polar scuba diving, sea kayaking, camping and mountain climbing.
Deeply committed to education and preservation of the environment, Aurora Expeditions were the founding member of both the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) and the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO). All their voyages have expert expedition staff who will help to unlock the wonders of these special places.
Select the Cabin to view detail.
The largest of all our rooms, the singular Captain’s Suite will take you to the polar regions in ultimate style and comfort. Complete with large lounge area, balcony, walk-in wardrobe and en-suite, you’ll need to get in early to secure this suite.
Room size: 45.22m² (486.7ft²)
Location: Deck 4
Sleeps: 2
Features
Private Ensuite
Private Balcony
Full Size Window
Separate Lounge Area
Desk area
Closet Space
Room-controlled Thermostat
Room Safe
42″ Flat-Screen TV
Mini Bar
Cabin inclusions
A 3-in-1 polar jacket per person (polar voyages only).
1 x free pair of binoculars per suite.
Free stocked mini Bar^.
A free bottle of champagne per suite.
A gratuity of $15 USD per person per day for the crew is included with each suite.
^Captain’s Suite mini bar is replenished as needed.
The four Junior Suites take in some impressive scenery from their vantage points on Deck 7. When you aren’t enjoying a landing, you can relax in the suites’ separate lounge area, or just watch the world float by from the private balcony.
Room size: 41.47m² – 41.87m² (446.4ft² – 450.7ft²)
Location: Deck 7
Sleeps: 2
Features
Private Ensuite
Private Balcony
Full Size Window
Separate Lounge Area
Desk area
Closet Space
Room-controlled Thermostat
Room Safe
42″ Flat-Screen TV
Mini Bar
Cabin inclusions
A 3-in-1 polar jacket per person (polar voyages only).
^Junior Suite Mini Bar is stocked once only, not replenished.
With a bit more room to stretch the legs, the Balcony Stateroom Superiors are perfect for polar adventurers who travel with plenty of gear. Located on Deck 4 and 6, the Staterooms feature floor to ceiling windows, en-suite bathrooms and a comfortable desk area.
Room size: 27.77m² – 36.27m² (298.9ft² – 390.4ft² )
Location: Decks 4 & 6
Sleeps: 2
Features
Wheelchair Accessible
Private Ensuite
Private Balcony
Full Size Window
Desk area
Closet Space
Room-controlled Thermostat
Room Safe
42″ Flat-Screen TV
Mini Bar
Cabin inclusions
A 3-in-1 polar jacket per person (polar voyages only).
*Please note mini bar items are chargeable in all staterooms except Junior Suite and Captain’s Suite. **Some of these rooms are equipped with wheelchair accessible bathrooms.
Our 25 Balcony Stateroom A rooms are our premium room, and the most abundant on board. These staterooms are located in preferred positions on Deck 4 and 6 which provides easy access between Decks via the internal stairs or elevator.
Room size: 23.07m² – 26.77m² (248.3ft² – 288.2ft²)
Location: Decks 4 & 6
Sleeps: 2
Features
Private Ensuite
Private Balcony
Full Size Window
Desk area
Closet Space
Room-controlled Thermostat
Room Safe
42″ Flat-Screen TV
Mini Bar
Cabin inclusions
A 3-in-1 polar jacket per person (polar voyages only).
*Please note mini bar items are chargeable in all staterooms except Junior Suite and Captain’s Suite.
Our 17 Balcony Stateroom B rooms are our standard room, many fitted with interconnecting features making them great for families or groups. These staterooms are located at the fore and aft of Deck 4 and 6
Room size: 22.07m² – 24.97m² (237.6ft² – 268.8ft²)
Location: Decks 4 & 6
Sleeps: 2
Features
Private Ensuite
Private Balcony
Full Size Window
Desk area
Closet Space
French Balcony
Room-controlled Thermostat
Room Safe
42″ Flat-Screen TV
Mini Bar
Cabin inclusions
A 3-in-1 polar jacket per person (polar voyages only).
*Please note mini bar items are chargeable in all staterooms except Junior Suite and Captain’s Suite.
Our 15 Balcony Stateroom Category C rooms are our most economical, fitted with all the necessities and comfortable for up to 2 people. These staterooms are scattered throughout Deck 4 & 6.
Room size: 21.07m² – 24.87m² (226.8ft² – 267.7ft²)
Location: Decks 4 & 6
Sleeps: 2
Features
Private Ensuite
Private Balcony
French Balcony
Desk area
Closet Space
Room-controlled Thermostat
Room Safe
42″ Flat-Screen TV
Mini Bar
Cabin inclusions
A 3-in-1 polar jacket per person (polar voyages only).
*Please note mini bar items are chargeable in all staterooms except Junior Suite and Captain’s Suite.
Our 4 Solo Balcony Stateroom A – Solo rooms are our premium room, these staterooms are located in preferred positions on Deck 4 which provides easy access between Decks via the internal stairs or elevator.
Room size: 23.07m² – 26.77m² (248.3ft² – 288.2ft²)
Location: Deck 4
Sleeps: 1
Features
Private Ensuite
Private Balcony
Full Size Window
Desk area
Closet Space
Room-controlled Thermostat
Room Safe
42″ Flat-Screen TV
Mini Bar
Cabin inclusions
A 3-in-1 polar jacket per person (polar voyages only).
*Please note mini bar items are chargeable in all staterooms except Junior Suite and Captain’s Suite.
With a bit more room to stretch the legs, the Aurora Stateroom Superior are perfect for polar adventurers who travel with plenty of gear. Located on Deck 7, the Staterooms feature french balconies, floor to ceiling windows, en-suite bathrooms and a comfortable desk area.
Room size: 13.97m² – 16.17m² (150.4ft² – 174.1ft²)
Location: Deck 7
Sleeps: 2
Features
Private Ensuite
French Balcony
Desk area
Closet Space
Room-controlled Thermostat
Room Safe
42″ Flat-Screen TV
Mini Bar
Cabin inclusions
A 3-in-1 polar jacket per person (polar voyages only).
*Please note mini bar items are chargeable in all staterooms except Junior Suite and Captain’s Suite.
There are four Aurora Stateroom Superior Single cabins, each featuring a porthole and a private en-suite for a comfortable solo retreat. Located on Decks 3 and 7, these well-appointed staterooms offer a perfect balance of privacy and convenience for solo adventurers.
Room size: 10.97m² – 15.18m² (118.1ft² – 163.4ft²)
Location: Decks 3 & 7
Sleeps: 1
Features
Private Ensuite
Porthole Window
Closet Space
Room-controlled Thermostat
Room Safe
42″ Flat-Screen TV
Mini Bar
Cabin inclusions
A 3-in-1 polar jacket per person (polar voyages only).
*Please note mini bar items are chargeable in all staterooms except Junior Suite and Captain’s Suite.
Room size: 15.37m² – 15.97m² (165.4ft² – 171.9ft²)
Location: Deck 4
Sleeps: 2
Features
Private Ensuite
Porthole Window
Desk area
Closet Space
Room-controlled Thermostat
Room Safe
42″ Flat-Screen TV
Mini Bar
Cabin inclusions
A 3-in-1 polar jacket per person (polar voyages only).
*Please note mini bar items are chargeable in all staterooms except Junior Suite and Captain’s Suite.
There are two Aurora Stateroom Triple cabins featuring portholes, both with private en-suites. Located on Deck 3, they’re close to the mudroom and loading platforms.
Room size: 22.57m² (242.9ft²)
Location: Deck 3
Sleeps: 3
Features
Private Ensuite
Porthole Window
Closet Space
Room-controlled Thermostat
Room Safe
42″ Flat-Screen TV
Mini Bar
Cabin inclusions
A 3-in-1 polar jacket per person (polar voyages only).
*Please note mini bar items are chargeable in all staterooms except Junior Suite and Captain’s Suite.
There are two Aurora Stateroom Single cabins on Deck 3, each featuring a porthole and private en-suite. Conveniently located near the mudroom and loading platforms, these cabins offer easy access for your daily adventures while providing a comfortable space to unwind.
Room size: 9.85m² (106ft²)
Location: Deck 3
Sleeps: 1
Features
Private Ensuite
Porthole Window
Closet Space
Room-controlled Thermostat
Room Safe
42″ Flat-Screen TV
Mini Bar
Cabin inclusions
A 3-in-1 polar jacket per person (polar voyages only).
*Please note mini bar items are chargeable in all staterooms except Junior Suite and Captain’s Suite.
* Unless otherwise noted all pricing is on a per person twin share basis. All prices based on cash payment - credit card fees may apply. Cruise deposit, amendment and cancellation conditions apply. Special conditions may apply - please ask for full details at time of enquiry. All passports, vaccinations and visas are the responsibility of the travelling guest to secure prior to departure from Australia. Any pricing not in Australian Dollars will be converted on the day of payment into the relevant currency based on our daily rate of exchange. Please note that many of the prices shown on this website are not shown in real time. Whilst we endeavour to keep our pricing as up-to-date as possible, the advertised prices shown here may differ slightly from the live prices in our booking system. All pricing and offers are subject to availability at time of booking. Whilst all information is correct at the time of publication, offers are subject to change. We reserve the right to correct errors without penalty. Please submit any data errors/omissions you may notice on this site.
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