Aurora’s big reveal

AURORA Expeditions’ new ship will “put an Australian stamp on an entire industry as a worldfirst” when it debuts in Oct 2019, co-founder Greg Mortimer told media in Sydney this week.

The vessel will be designed “by expeditioners for expeditioners” and be the first passenger vessel to debut Ulstein’s X-bow, which will provide greater stability and speed in rough seas - including the Drake Passage.

Passengers who still can’t face the passage will for the first time be able to opt for a fly-fly option, flying from Punta Arenas to King George Island to join their cruise. To be named the Greg

Mortimer, the ship will be able to accommodate more than double the number of guests than the 50-pax Polar Pioneer which Aurora Expeditions currently charters for its polar cruises.

Mortimer admitted building a vessel for more people was an economic choice, but assured a lot of work has gone into making sure Aurora’s principals were inherent in the ship.

“Building a new ship, the first of its type as passenger vessel in the world, is a big deal for a little Australian company and so that’s inordinately exciting,” he said.

The ship will have 80 cabins, over 30% of which will be interconnecting to cater to the trend of more extended families travelling to the polar regions.

MD Robert Halfpenny recommended agents target clients who had an “adventurous spirit”, noting the ship would allow pax to immerse themselves in nature to whatever degree they were comfortable with.

The new vessel will also introduce four new itineraries, the 11 or 12-day Antarctic Explorer, 15-day Franz Josef Land Explorer, 21-day Arctic Discovery & 25-day High Arctic Adventure.