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Aurora Expeditions

Spirit of Antarctica (12 days)

Spirit of Antarctica

12 days Ushuaia to Ushuaia

Embrace the spirit of polar exploration on this classic expedition to the coveted white continent. Sail across the famed Drake Passage to and from Antarctica, admiring spectacular seabirds and approaching the ice as the explorers of old did: by sea. With a chance to Zodiac cruise through pack ice, set foot on the continent, choose from a range of adventure options and even perhaps camp under pastel polar skies, this is the quintessential Antarctic voyage for adventure-lovers.

Departs

  • 2026 (Sylvia Earle): 29 December 2026 – 9 January 2027
  • 2027 (Douglas Mawson): 17 February – 28 February (Douglas Mawson); 27 February – 10 March
  • 2028: 12 January – 22 January (Sylvia Earle); 20 January – 30 January (Greg Mortimer); 9 February – 19 February (Greg Mortimer).
Aurora Expeditions map of the Spirit of Antarctica cruise

Prices for 2026, 2027 & 2028

Press the arrow on the next line to see the full price list.

2026 prices: Sylvia Earle

Cabin Type Full Fare Sale Fare** Aurora Repeat Guests*
Aurora Stateroom Triple Share $29,768 pp $25,303 pp $24,038 pp
Aurora Stateroom Superior $32,299 pp $27,454 pp $26,081 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category C $33,192 pp $28,213 pp $26,802 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category B Sold Out Sold Out Sold Out
Balcony Stateroom Category A $37,658 pp $32,009 pp $30,408 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category A – Solo Sold Out Sold Out Sold Out
Balcony Stateroom Superior $41,082 pp $34,920 pp $33,174 pp
Junior Suite $48,973 pp $41,627 pp $39,545 pp
Captain Suite $55,970 pp $47,575 pp $44,777 pp

All prices are per person, twin share in AUD (unless specified ‘solo’ or ‘triple share’).

Multiple Cabin Discounts: Please ask us about discounts for 2+ cabins.

17 February 2027 price: Douglas Mawson

Cabin Type Full Fare Sale Fare** Aurora Repeat Guests*
Aurora Stateroom Triple Share $28,577 pp $24,290 pp $23,075 pp
Aurora Stateroom Twin Share $29,321 pp $24,923 pp $23,676 pp
Aurora Stateroom Superior $31,108 pp $26,442 pp $25,119 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category C $31,852 pp $27,074 pp $25,720 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category A $36,021 pp $30,618 pp $29,087 pp
Balcony Stateroom Superior $39,445 pp $33,528 pp $31,851 pp
Aurora Stateroom Single $34,383 pp N/A $32,663 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category A – Solo $36,021 pp N/A $34,219 pp
Junior Suite $46,889 pp $39,856 pp $41,808 pp

All prices are per person, twin share in AUD (unless specified ‘solo’ or ‘triple share’).

Multiple Cabin Discounts: Please ask us about discounts for 2+ cabins.

27 February 2027 price: Douglas Mawson

Cabin Type Full Fare Sale Fare** Aurora Repeat Guests*
Aurora Stateroom Twin Share Sold Out Sold Out Sold Out
Aurora Stateroom Superior $29,619 pp $19,252 pp $18,289 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category C $30,512 pp $19,833 pp $18,841 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category B $32,001 pp $20,801 pp $19,761 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category A $34,532 pp $22,446 pp $21,323 pp
Balcony Stateroom Superior $37,658 pp $24,478 pp $23,251 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category A – Solo $34,532 pp N/A $32,805 pp
Aurora Stateroom Superior Single $36,021 pp N/A $34,220 pp
Junior Suite $44,804 pp $29,123 pp $27,666 pp
Captain Suite $51,206 pp $33,284 pp $31,619 pp

All prices are per person, twin share in AUD (unless specified ‘solo’ or ‘triple share’).

Multiple Cabin Discounts: Please ask us about discounts for 2+ cabins.

12 November 2027 price: Douglas Mawson

Cabin Type Full Fare Sale Fare** Aurora Repeat Guests*
Aurora Stateroom Twin Share $25,748 pp $20,598 pp $19,568 pp
Aurora Stateroom Superior $27,237 pp $21,790 pp $20,700 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category C $27,982 pp $22,386 pp $21,266 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category B $29,321 pp $23,457 pp $22,284 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category A $31,555 pp $25,244 pp $23,981 pp
Balcony Stateroom Superior $34,532 pp $27,626 pp $26,244 pp
Aurora Stateroom Single $30,066 pp N/A $29,132 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category A – Solo $31,555 pp N/A $29,977 pp
Junior Suite $41,082 pp $32,866 pp $31,222 pp
Aurora Stateroom Superior – Single $33,043 pp N/A $31,390 pp
Captain’s Suite $47,037 pp $37,630 pp $35,748 pp

All prices are per person, twin share in AUD (unless specified ‘solo’ or ‘triple share’).

Multiple Cabin Discounts: Please ask us about discounts for 2+ cabins.

12 December 2027 price: Douglas Mawson

Cabin Type Full Fare Sale Fare** Aurora Repeat Guests*
Aurora Stateroom Twin Share $27,386 pp $21,909 pp $20,813 pp
Aurora Stateroom Superior $29,024 pp $23,219 pp $22,058 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category C $29,768 pp $23,814 pp $22,623 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category B $31,257 pp $25,006 pp $23,755 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category A $33,639 pp $26,911 pp $25,565 pp
Balcony Stateroom Superior $36,765 pp $29,412 pp $27,941 pp
Aurora Stateroom Single $32,150 pp N/A $30,542 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category A – Single $33,639 pp N/A $31,957 pp
Aurora Stateroom Superior – Single $35,276 pp N/A $33,512 pp
Junior Suite $43,762 pp $35,010 pp $33,259 pp
Captain Suite $50,015 pp $40,012 pp $38,011 pp

All prices are per person, twin share in AUD (unless specified ‘solo’ or ‘triple share’).

Multiple Cabin Discounts: Please ask us about discounts for 2+ cabins.

12 January 2028 price: Sylvia Earle

Cabin Type Full Fare Sale Fare** Aurora Repeat Guests*
Aurora Stateroom Triple Share $27,088 pp $21,670 pp $20,396 pp
Aurora Stateroom Superior $29,470 pp $23,576 pp $22,397 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category C $30,364 pp $24,291 pp $23,076 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category B $31,852 pp $25,482 pp $24,207 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category A $34,234 pp $27,387 pp $26,017 pp
Balcony Stateroom Superior $37,509 pp $30,007 pp $28,506 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category C – Single $30,364 pp N/A $28,845 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category B – Single $31,852 pp N/A $30,259 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category A – Single $34,234 pp N/A $32,522 pp
Junior Suite $44,655 pp $35,724 pp $33,937 pp
Captain Suite $51,057 pp $40,846 pp $38,444 pp

All prices are per person, twin share in AUD (unless specified ‘solo’ or ‘triple share’).

Multiple Cabin Discounts: Please ask us about discounts for 2+ cabins.

20 January 2028 price: Greg Mortimer

Cabin Type Full Fare Sale Fare** Aurora Repeat Guests*
Aurora Stateroom Triple Share $27,088 pp $21,670 pp $20,396 pp
Aurora Stateroom Twin Share $27,982 pp $22,386 pp $21,266 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category C $30,364 pp $24,291 pp $23,o76 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category B $31,852 pp $25,482 pp 24,207 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category A $34,234 pp $27,387 pp $26,017 pp
Balcony Stateroom Superior $37,509 pp $30,007 pp $28,506 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category C – Solo $30,364 pp N/A $28,845 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category B – Solo $31,852 pp N/A $30,259 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category A – Solo $34,234 pp N/A $32,522 pp
Junior Suite $44,655 pp $35,724 pp $33,510 pp
Captain’s Suite $51,057 pp $40,846 pp $38,807 pp

All prices are per person, twin share in AUD (unless specified ‘solo’ or ‘triple share’).

Multiple Cabin Discounts: Please ask us about discounts for 2+ cabins.

9 February 2028 price: Greg Mortimer

Cabin Type Full Fare Sale Fare** Aurora Repeat Guests*
Aurora Stateroom Triple Share $27,088 pp $21,670 pp $20,586 pp
Aurora Stateroom Twin Share $27,982 pp $22,386 pp $21,266 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category C $30,364 pp $24,291 pp $23,076 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category B $31,852 pp $25,482 pp $24,207 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category A $34,234 pp $27,387 pp $26,017 pp
Balcony Stateroom Superior $37,509 pp $30,007 pp $28,506 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category C – Solo $30,364 pp N/A $28,845 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category B – Solo $31,852 pp N/A $30,259 pp
Balcony Stateroom Category A – Solo $34,234 pp N/A $32,522 pp
Junior Suite $44,655 pp $35,724 pp $33,937 pp
Captain’s Suite $51,057 pp $40,846 pp $38,803 pp

All prices are per person, twin share in AUD (unless specified ‘solo’ or ‘triple share’).

Multiple Cabin Discounts: Please ask us about discounts for 2+ cabins.

The Aurora Expeditions Loyalty Program rewards travellers with lots of benefits and perks, including all returning passengers with a 5% discount* on all future Aurora Expeditions voyages. Your membership level never expires so we look forward to welcoming you back for many years to come!

Bronze Adventurer

Complete one voyage and become a Bronze Adventurer:

  • 5% discount in addition to any running offer*
  • Exclusive pre-release on new season launches
  • Onboard credit of $100 USD per person2
  • A free glass of champagne / top shelf spirit3

Silver Explorer

Complete two voyages and become a Silver Explorer:

  • 5% discount in addition to any running offer with a minimum of 15% discount at all times*
  • Exclusive pre-release on new season launches
  • On board credit of $250 USD per person2
  • Free bottle of wine per person3
  • Free stateroom upgrade (subject to availability)4

Gold Pioneer

Complete three voyages and become a Gold Pioneer:

  • 5% discount in addition to any running offer with a minimum of 15% discount at all times*
  • Exclusive pre-release on new season launches
  • Onboard credit of $500 USD per person2
  • Free bottle of wine per person3
  • Free stateroom upgrade (subject to availability)4

2Credit is non-refundable, and expires at the end of the booked voyage. 

3Beverage choice is from a select range only. 

4Complimentary upgrades subject to availability 30 days out from departure and may refer to a more spacious stateroom of the same category, or a higher category at the discretion of Aurora Expeditions.

Terms and Conditions – Loyalty Program

Loyalty Program valid as of 15th January 2019 onwards only for voyage bookings aboard Aurora Expeditions’ ships

Membership is free and automatically awarded after your first voyage with Aurora Expeditions. Membership will automatically be upgraded to higher levels after the qualifying number of voyages is reached. Qualifying voyages include all sailings aboard the Greg Mortimer, the Sylvia Earle & the Douglas Mawson, as well as Patagonia Treks operated by Aurora Expeditions. For Bronze, Silver and Gold Loyalty members, receive an additional 5% discount to any in-market offers, up to a maximum of 30% off. For Silver and Gold Loyalty members, If there is no offer in-market, members will receive a maximum 15% discount.

Note: For the purposes of rewards levels, multiple voyages marketed as a single voyage will count as one voyage only. Back to back voyages marketed as separate voyages will count as two separate voyages. Existing Aurora Expeditions VIP members will have their membership automatically transferred onto the new Loyalty Program when they book new voyages after the 15th January 2019.

The loyalty program is subject to change and Aurora Expeditions reserves the right to change the loyalty program and any membership benefits from time to time without notice.

35 Year Anniversary Savings | Save on 2026-27 Antarctica: Offer is only valid on new bookings and on select ship voyages only which must be booked and deposited between 22 December 2025 and 31 March 2026, unless sold out prior. Promotion is subject to availability at the time of booking and is capacity controlled, and applicable on select Antarctica 2026-27 voyages.

Promotion is only available in conjunction with the back-to-back voyage discount or the loyalty program offer, and not available with any other offer. The promotion can be withdrawn at any time and is not redeemable for cash. From prices are inclusive of discount. Gratuities are on a discretionary basis – they will be added to your account at the end of each voyage at a rate of US $15 per person per day, however you will have the ability to ‘opt out’ should you choose to. Normal booking terms and conditions apply.

To confirm your booking, a completed booking form and non-refundable deposit of $2,500 pp in the booking currency is required within 7 days of reserved berth/s. Additional terms and conditions may apply.

Inclusions

  • All airport transfers mentioned in the itinerary.
  • One night’s hotel accommodation including breakfast, in Ushuaia on Day 1.
  • Lake Escondido tour in Ushuaia, on Day 2.
  • Onboard accommodation during voyage, including daily cabin service.
  • All meals, snacks, tea, coffee, soft drinks and juices during voyage.
  • Beer and house wine with dinner.
  • Captain’s Farewell reception including four-course dinner, house cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages.
  • All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises.
  • Educational lectures and guiding services provided by Expedition Team.
  • Complimentary access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial consultation).
  • One 3-in-1 waterproof, polar expedition jacket.
  • Complimentary use of Muck Boots during the voyage.
  • Comprehensive pre-departure information.
  • Port surcharges, permits and landing fees.
  • Wi-Fi*.

* Please note we travel to remote regions and therefore the connection can be unreliable.

  • International or domestic flights – unless specified in the itinerary.
  • Transfers – unless specified in the itinerary.
  • Airport arrival or departure taxes.
  • Passport, visa, reciprocity and vaccination fees and charges.
  • Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges.
  • Hotel accommodation and meals – unless specified in the itinerary.
  • Optional excursions and optional activity surcharges.
  • All items of a personal nature, including but not limited to alcoholic beverages (outside of dinner service), gratuities, laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses or phone charges.

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’.

Itinerary Highlights

Arrive in Ushuaia, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred with your fellow expeditioners to your assigned pre-voyage hotel. If you are already in Ushuaia, we ask you to make your way to your hotel. Check-in is from 3.00 pm. This afternoon, visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk in the hotel lobby, between 3.00 pm and 7.00 pm, to collect your luggage tags, and confirm if you wish to join our Lake Escondido pre-embarkation tour tomorrow. Our team will confirm details regarding your embarkation day, answer any questions and provide you with information on where to dine or purchase last minute items.

Expeditioners arriving after 7.00 pm will find a welcome pack waiting for them at check-in. We ask you to visit our hospitality desk tomorrow between 8.00 am – 8.45 am.

The remainder of your time is at leisure. All meals today are at your own expense.

Assigned accommodation: To be advised

This morning, enjoy breakfast and check-out. Please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Take your cabin luggage to hotel reception, prior to, or at check-out. Your luggage will be stored and transferred directly to the port for clearance, to be placed in your cabin ahead of your arrival on board. Please keep any valuables or personal items with you throughout the day.

Those wishing to join our Lake Escondido tour today, please meet in the hotel lobby at 8.45 am. This tour offers us an unforgettable panoramic drive through big valleys of glacial origin, evergreen and deciduous forests, waterfalls and rivers, in the vastness of the Andes Mountain Range. We will leave Ushuaia city to the northeast of Tierra del Fuego, driving through peat bog valleys to reach Garibaldi Pass, only accessible by a winding road that will take us to a panoramic point. From here we will have amazing panoramic views of Lake Escondido and, if weather conditions allow, of Fagnano Lake. We will start our descent towards the northeast to reach Fagnano Lake’s shore where we will visit a local ranch. After appreciating the landscape, you will have the chance to enjoy the typical Fuegian Lamb barbecue. Enjoy some free time there before returning to Ushuaia for ship embarkation.

Alternatively, enjoy your day at leisure and meet at your hotel lobby or from the meeting point at the parking lot near the pier (details will be given by our ground staff at the hotel), to be transferred to the pier for embarkation.

Once onboard, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin before our important mandatory briefings. As the ship pulls away from port, we’ll gather on the deck to commence our adventure with spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego.

This evening get to know your fellow expeditioners and friendly expedition team and crew at a welcome dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure to Antarctica.

As we commence the Drake Passage crossing, we make the most of our time getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. Our expedition team prepare you for our first landing with important wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures and start our lecture program to help you learn more about Antarctica’s history, wildlife and environment.

Our wildlife experiences begin as we enjoy watching and photographing the many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels following our vessel. On sea days, you may can enjoy the facilities on board the vessel including the gym, wellness centre or the relaxing in one of the observation lounges.

Nearing the South Shetland Islands and the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula on the afternoon of day four, the excitement is palpable with everyone converging on one of the observation decks watching for our first iceberg. The ocean takes on a whole new perspective once we are below the Antarctic Convergence and are surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice sculptures. The memory of your first big iceberg sighting is likely to remain with you for a lifetime. Time and weather permitting, we may attempt our first landing in Antarctica by late afternoon.

It is 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 participate in the activity whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters – conditions permitting! The polar plunge can take place at any time during the voyage, so listen out for the announcement from the expedition team and get ready for the most exhilarating dip of your life!

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. This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge (open at the captain’s discretion) for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendour. Listen out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve into sea. Take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of the pristine paradise of the splendid white continent.

Enjoy a final morning landing in the South Shetland Islands before we re-enter the Drake Passage for our return journey to South America.

With lectures and film presentations to complete our Antarctic experience, there is still plenty of time to enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home. 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.

As we approach the tip of South America, our Captain may sail close to legendary Cape Horn, weather and time permitting.

During the early morning, we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where we will be free to disembark around 8.00 am. Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as we all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature.

Upon disembarkation, for those continuing their travels in the region, transportation to the hotel will be arranged exclusively for guests who have booked their accommodations through Aurora or for those staying in downtown areas near the port. Expeditioners departing on flights prior to 12.30 pm will be directly transferred to Ushuaia Airport, those with flights after 12.30 pm will have the opportunity to explore Ushuaia before an afternoon airport transfer, and the transfer procedures and details will be communicated onboard before disembarkation.   

Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights departing Ushuaia prior to 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there are delays.

In the spirit of expedition travel, we encourage you to adopt a flexible and adventurous attitude when joining our voyages. This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change due to weather, sea state and other conditions beyond Aurora Expeditions’ control.

Your Ship

Aurora Expeditions’ vessels are small enough to go where others simply can’t. Designed in close consultation with our expedition team, we drew on centuries of collective experience to map out our ships: purpose-built for expeditions to the most remote places on earth.

With the revolutionary ULSTEIN X-BOW® to cross oceans more comfortably, expansive observation decks, inviting communal areas and unsurpassed environmental credentials, Aurora’s ships offer the perfect base camp for adventures at the outer limits of human exploration.

Our fleet of purpose-built new ships redefines the cruising experience, with a maximum of 130 passengers onboard our Expeditions and 154 passengers on our Small Ship Cruises. Meet our three revolutionary vessels – the Greg Mortimer, the Sylvia Earle, and the Douglas Mawson.

Click for Sylvia Earle cabin photos & deck plan

Click here for cabin photos, deck plans and descriptions

Click for Douglas Mawson cabin photos & deck plan

Click here for cabin photos, deck plans and descriptions

Click for Greg Mortimer cabin photos & deck plan

Click here for cabin photos, deck plans and descriptions

Aurora Expeditions cruise vessel Captain's Suite aboard Greg Mortimer in Antarctica

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