Further adhering to new landing rules in the Antarctic and Arctic, Aurora Expeditions has capped its polar expedition numbers at a maximum of 130 passengers across its purpose-built small-ship fleet.
The new maximum passenger capacity is effective immediately for voyages on the Greg Mortimer, Sylvia Earle, and the recently launched Douglas Mawson, which will sail in December 2025.
Aurora says the move will promote responsible tourism in the polar regions, provide more immersive activities, and offer additional offshore excursions with fewer passengers.
Aurora Expeditions CEO Michael Heath said the B Corp-certified company is proud to be one of the few to visit Antarctica and the Arctic with under 150 passengers.
“We also recognise our responsibility to protect and preserve the remote places we travel to,” he said.
“With passenger landing limits in Antarctica and some areas of the Arctic, we wanted to reinforce our commitment to providing the small-ship experiences our passengers know us for with more time off the ship and more immersive activities.
“This change solidifies our position as one of the most intimate small-ship offerings in our class for the polar regions.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to responsible travel and our vision to be the global leader in sustainable expedition travel.”
Aurora Expeditions recently released its Antarctica 25-26 season, featuring voyages across three purpose-built ships, including new departures to East Antarctica and the Ross Sea from Hobart, Australia and Dunedin, New Zealand.
For more info, head to auroraexpeditions.com.au
