Aurora Expeditions is known for its trips to wild destinations like Antarctica and the Arctic. But the company will be offering new adventures starting in 2026 – this time, a little less remote.
Aurora is launching a new series of small-ship cruises to the Atlantic coast, the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia, in firsts for the line.
“Adventure means something different to everyone, and we’re committed to providing our passengers with an immersive, educational and adventurous small-ship experience no matter where they choose to explore,” CEO Michael Heath told USA TODAY in an email. “We’re excited to bring the ‘Aurora style’ of experiential small-ship travel to these new regions, and we’re going to do it differently.”
The popularity of the company’s existing non-polar trips to places like Costa Rica and Scotland “reinforces our confidence in offering a greater variety of destinations and exploration styles,” Heath added.
Where will Aurora’s new cruises go?
Highlights of the new departures include the 13-day More than a myth route from Marrakech, Morocco to Barcelona, Spain. The cruise will include stops in Casablanca, Seville, Palma de Mallorca and more.
Passengers will “explore the labyrinths of Moroccan medinas, Moorish architecture, Spanish citadels and Andalusian villages,” Aurora said in a press release.
The 11-day The Luck of the Irish cruise will sail roundtrip from Dublin, Ireland, with stops in Cork and Galway among others – with a planned sail past the Cliffs of Moher – while the Myths of the Mediterranean The Athens, Greece to Naples, Italy itinerary offers guests 18 days to enjoy ports including Mykonos, Santorini and Dubrovnik, Croatia.
All three cruises will take place on the brand’s new Douglas Mawson ship, which will launch next year carrying an average of 154 passengers, and will include pre- and post-cruise land programs. A full list of itineraries can be found at Aurora’s website.
What can guests expect?
Exploration is in Aurora’s DNA and that extends to its small-ship cruises, even though guests don’t hop on and off Zodiac boats all the time.
“The curated programming will focus more on cultural immersion, culinary experiences and of course, education through our expert storytellers on board,” Heath said. “They will include options for guided shore excursions such as exploring ancient cities near our ports, farm and vineyard visits, tours to iconic locations such as the Alhambra in Granada, Spain, perfume making in France and much more.”
At each port, guests can choose from up to three excursions.
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How much do the cruises cost?
Prices vary depending on itinerary, departure date and other factors. Aurora’s Small ship cruises in the Mediterraneanfor example, currently start at $9,116 per person based on double occupancy, while Sailing trips along the Atlantic coast starting at $11,196.
The price includes meals, drinks such as wine and beer with dinner, Wi-Fi, entrance fees to tourist and historical sites and more.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY, based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: This adventure cruise company offers a different way to see Europe