Latest news with #AuroraExpeditions
Sydney Morning Herald
01-08-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
One of the world's most isolated places is the ultimate cruise destination
It isn't just wildlife numbers that have an impact on visitors to South Georgia. You get closer to animals here than almost anywhere else in the world. Close enough to admire the sheen on penguins' feathers, to be alarmed by the fierce beaks of giant petrels, and to look into seals' watery black eyes. South Georgia beats the Arctic and Svalbard, where you're lucky to see only a few walrus or polar bears at a distance. It's even harder to get to, however. The British Overseas Territory is 1300 kilometres from the nearest permanent habitation in the Falkland Islands, and 2000 kilometres east of the South American mainland. South Georgia has no airport. Unless you join the British Antarctic Survey, the only way to get here is on an expedition cruise in summer. I'm here with Aurora Expeditions, a top choice for this remote and rugged destination. The inverted bow of Greg Mortimer provides increased stability in rough waters, and abundant decks a grandstand onto icebergs and drifting seabirds if you can stand the cold. Two well-placed hot tubs are terrific if you can't. Wind and waves set the agenda in this volatile environment, so you need an experienced company and expedition team that knows the best places to sail and land. I'm lucky to have Aurora's founder Greg Mortimer himself on board. The legendary adventurer – the first Australian (with Tim Macartney-Snape) to climb Mount Everest and various other big peaks, including Antarctica's highest – has led more than 80 expeditions to Antarctica. Every excursion brings something different. Hercules Bay has macaroni penguins with jaunty yellow head feathers, and a laziness of elephant seals as big as boulders. Fortuna Bay is encrusted with glaciers and bands of buckled rock, and jammed with fur seals and their newly born pups. The sun is bright on a silvery sea as we sail into Stromness Bay, illuminating alpine peaks. The ship's Observation Lounge, with coffee in hand, is my box onto the grand opera of scenery. By the time we anchor, clouds are low and the wind furious. What looked beautiful now seems desolate and grey, but going ashore is just as wonderful. By far the biggest pleasure of expedition cruising is the chance to tap into expert knowledge, and I soon find myself fascinated by lichen, cloud patterns and the penguin life cycle. Twice-daily talks by the expedition team add informative and entertaining detail to South Georgia's natural history. One afternoon, we land at St Andrew's Bay. Dozens of elephant seals are slumped on the beach. Fur seals are everywhere. The king penguin rookery is the biggest in South Georgia, with perhaps well over half a million animals. When I see Linda, I have to admit that my amazement at the wildlife all those days ago was indeed premature. The numbers are difficult to fathom. The island is home to most of the world's Antarctic fur seals and half its elephant seals, plus some 60 million seabirds. Returning to the ship seems surreal. The mudroom, where we strip off Aurora-supplied boots and polar jackets, is its portal between wilderness and the ship's comfort. A quick treatment for chilled bones in the sauna and pre-dinner cocktails are followed by pappardelle alla norma and an Argentine malbec. On our final morning in South Georgia, we're out in Zodiacs at Right Whale Bay. Peaks stab the background and waterfalls gush into a churning sea. The beaches are strewn with so many fur seals that we can't find spare sand on which to land. Bull seals agitated by the mating season grunt and huff. The water around the Zodiac plops with penguins, yellow beaks and throats flashing as they surface for air. They're as soon underwater again, sleek as synchronised swimmers. Once more, South Georgia provides a constant state of wildlife overstimulation. By late morning the wind has whipped up to 70 knots, forcing us to abandon our final excursion. South Georgian weather is capricious. 'You'll have some blue-sky days and bad days and some filthy days but get up and out anyway, because you'll always see things that are unique,' Mortimer advised us at the start of our journey. Loading Indeed. Now the snow is falling, or rather stabbing horizontally across the slush-slippery deck. But no matter. I huddle by the railing, peering through frozen eyelashes at my last glimpse of South Georgia, which disappears into the fog like a magical kingdom, leaving only albatross wandering in a milky sky. The details Cruise Aurora Expeditions visits South Georgia on several different itineraries that also take in the Antarctic Peninsula and Falkland Islands. For example, a 23-day Antarctica Complete journey, which next departs on December 20, 2025 and December 17, 2026, costs from $US29,756 a person ($46,640) including all shore excursions and Zodiac expedition. See
The Age
01-08-2025
- The Age
One of the world's most isolated places is the ultimate cruise destination
It isn't just wildlife numbers that have an impact on visitors to South Georgia. You get closer to animals here than almost anywhere else in the world. Close enough to admire the sheen on penguins' feathers, to be alarmed by the fierce beaks of giant petrels, and to look into seals' watery black eyes. South Georgia beats the Arctic and Svalbard, where you're lucky to see only a few walrus or polar bears at a distance. It's even harder to get to, however. The British Overseas Territory is 1300 kilometres from the nearest permanent habitation in the Falkland Islands, and 2000 kilometres east of the South American mainland. South Georgia has no airport. Unless you join the British Antarctic Survey, the only way to get here is on an expedition cruise in summer. I'm here with Aurora Expeditions, a top choice for this remote and rugged destination. The inverted bow of Greg Mortimer provides increased stability in rough waters, and abundant decks a grandstand onto icebergs and drifting seabirds if you can stand the cold. Two well-placed hot tubs are terrific if you can't. Wind and waves set the agenda in this volatile environment, so you need an experienced company and expedition team that knows the best places to sail and land. I'm lucky to have Aurora's founder Greg Mortimer himself on board. The legendary adventurer – the first Australian (with Tim Macartney-Snape) to climb Mount Everest and various other big peaks, including Antarctica's highest – has led more than 80 expeditions to Antarctica. Every excursion brings something different. Hercules Bay has macaroni penguins with jaunty yellow head feathers, and a laziness of elephant seals as big as boulders. Fortuna Bay is encrusted with glaciers and bands of buckled rock, and jammed with fur seals and their newly born pups. The sun is bright on a silvery sea as we sail into Stromness Bay, illuminating alpine peaks. The ship's Observation Lounge, with coffee in hand, is my box onto the grand opera of scenery. By the time we anchor, clouds are low and the wind furious. What looked beautiful now seems desolate and grey, but going ashore is just as wonderful. By far the biggest pleasure of expedition cruising is the chance to tap into expert knowledge, and I soon find myself fascinated by lichen, cloud patterns and the penguin life cycle. Twice-daily talks by the expedition team add informative and entertaining detail to South Georgia's natural history. One afternoon, we land at St Andrew's Bay. Dozens of elephant seals are slumped on the beach. Fur seals are everywhere. The king penguin rookery is the biggest in South Georgia, with perhaps well over half a million animals. When I see Linda, I have to admit that my amazement at the wildlife all those days ago was indeed premature. The numbers are difficult to fathom. The island is home to most of the world's Antarctic fur seals and half its elephant seals, plus some 60 million seabirds. Returning to the ship seems surreal. The mudroom, where we strip off Aurora-supplied boots and polar jackets, is its portal between wilderness and the ship's comfort. A quick treatment for chilled bones in the sauna and pre-dinner cocktails are followed by pappardelle alla norma and an Argentine malbec. On our final morning in South Georgia, we're out in Zodiacs at Right Whale Bay. Peaks stab the background and waterfalls gush into a churning sea. The beaches are strewn with so many fur seals that we can't find spare sand on which to land. Bull seals agitated by the mating season grunt and huff. The water around the Zodiac plops with penguins, yellow beaks and throats flashing as they surface for air. They're as soon underwater again, sleek as synchronised swimmers. Once more, South Georgia provides a constant state of wildlife overstimulation. By late morning the wind has whipped up to 70 knots, forcing us to abandon our final excursion. South Georgian weather is capricious. 'You'll have some blue-sky days and bad days and some filthy days but get up and out anyway, because you'll always see things that are unique,' Mortimer advised us at the start of our journey. Loading Indeed. Now the snow is falling, or rather stabbing horizontally across the slush-slippery deck. But no matter. I huddle by the railing, peering through frozen eyelashes at my last glimpse of South Georgia, which disappears into the fog like a magical kingdom, leaving only albatross wandering in a milky sky. The details Cruise Aurora Expeditions visits South Georgia on several different itineraries that also take in the Antarctic Peninsula and Falkland Islands. For example, a 23-day Antarctica Complete journey, which next departs on December 20, 2025 and December 17, 2026, costs from $US29,756 a person ($46,640) including all shore excursions and Zodiac expedition. See
New York Post
01-08-2025
- New York Post
Uber rich tourists are paying upwards of $25K to visit this new hotspot — but pilots refuse to fly there: ‘It's not worth the risk'
It's got some pilots feeling flighty. Antarctica has become a trendy travel spot for extreme adventurers looking to chill out, with some intrepid explorers spending upwards of $25,000 for an icy-cold expedition, according to Aurora Expeditions. Despite the enticing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to take a true polar plunge or go penguin-spotting, many aviation experts say it's actually among the scariest places on the planet to fly. 3 For decades, the only humans on the continent have been researchers, but technological innovations have changed that. NicoElNino – 3 Cruises are by far the most popular way for tourists to reach the icy continent. íí»íµí°íí°í½í´í⬠íÅí°íâ¬íâ¡íµí½í°í¾ – It's not for lack of experience, or even the planes themselves — despite recent crashes and incidents that have air travelers feeling anxious — it's the weather and inestimable climate. 'I've flown into mountainous regions, remote islands and through tropical storms. But Antarctica? That's different,' Richard Wells, a 54-year-old retired pilot, told The Mirror. 'Weather changes with no warning, there are no proper runways in most areas, and if something goes wrong — there's no backup. It's not worth the risk.' Though the pilot has logged over 10,000 hours of hang time and has decades of experience flying over Europe, Asia, and the Americas, he's perfectly fine to leave Antarctic travel to the adventurers. 'There's no margin for error. The infrastructure is minimal, and even experienced flight crews have limited options if conditions deteriorate mid-flight. That's not something I'd ever gamble with,' Wells said. Commercial planes almost never fly in the region, and often, specialized, highly trained charter pilots are the only ones making the journey, Wells added. The small planes that fly there are also typically more prone to turbulence, making the windy skies above the sea especially scary. 3 Many expeditions to Antarctica offer outdoor travel, tours and penguin spotting activities. ANITEK MEDIA – 'Exercise increased caution in Antarctica due to environmental hazards posed by extreme and unpredictable weather and limited emergency services,' warned a July 28 travel advisory issued by the U.S. government. The Drake Passage — the rough stretch of southern sea between the tip of Chile and icy Antarctica — has been regarded as one of the most dangerous ocean crossings for well over a century, and according to weather experts, for good reason. 'It's the only place in the world where those winds can push all around the globe without hitting land – and land tends to dampen storms,' Alexander Brearley, oceanographer and head of open oceans at the British Antarctic Survey, told CNN. 'The Southern Ocean is very stormy in general [but] in the Drake you're really squeezing [the water] between the Antarctic and the southern hemisphere,' he said. 'That intensifies the storms as they come through.' Apparently, waves regularly churn and crash anywhere between 15 and 49 feet — when they reach storm wave classification. Between the waves and wind, ship captains and pilots alike are wary about crossing the stormy stretch of the Antarctic Ocean — which is why the passage is so highly regulated. Last month, an American teenager was detained in Chile after attempting to make the flight without clearing it with the proper authorities first. He was attempting to fly around the world solo, but experienced complications while in the air and landed at a Chilean air base.
Forbes
26-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Can Aurora Expeditions Make Polar Cruises Sustainable?
A rendering of Aurora's newest ship, the Douglas Mawson, which is scheduled to set sail in December. Aurora Expeditions Aurora Expeditions, a small Sydney-based cruise line, is on a mission to rewrite the cruise industry's sustainability narrative in a big way. With a focus on expedition cruises to the Arctic and Antarctic, the company is making bold claims about its environmental efforts, including becoming the first cruise line to get B Corporation bragging rights. But can Aurora truly deliver on its promises? And, in an industry notorious for pollution and waste, does sustainability even matter? Reality check: The cruise industry has long been criticized for its reckless environmental practices. For example, cruise ships in Europe emit as much sulfur dioxide as one billion cars, according to a recent study. From carbon emissions to waste disposal, the cruise industry's overall environmental record is downright awful. Against this backdrop, Aurora's claims of sustainability seem almost too good to be true. Sasha Buch, Aurora's sustainability manager, with a model of the Greg Mortimer, one of its expedition vessels. Christopher Elliott "Sustainability is who we are" Sasha Buch, Aurora's sustainability manager, met me at the company's headquarters in the Surry Hills neighborhood of Sydney, a quiet district filled with apartments, office buildings and cafes. One of the first things she told me was that Aurora is a different kind of cruise line. 'Sustainability is who we are,' she says, pointing to the company's founding in 1991 by mountaineer Greg Mortimer and his wife, Margaret, both passionate environmentalists. The B Corporation certification, which Aurora achieved last year, is a designation that requires companies to meet rigorous standards for social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Becoming a B Corp is a journey, not a destination; standards are revised annually, keeping ever B Corp on its toes. Antarctica is one of the most environmentally fragile places on the planet. getty A closer look at Aurora's sustainability initiatives Aurora's actual sustainability efforts are wide-ranging. Here's a breakdown of their key initiatives: Innovative ships Aurora's fleet includes three state-of-the-art ships designed with sustainability in mind. Features like the X-BOW design, which reduces fuel consumption, and shore-based power systems promise to reduce the environmental impact of cruising. 'Our ships are a testament to what's possible when you prioritize sustainability,' Buch says. Climate action Aurora achieved a carbon-neutral certification in 2021, meaning it measures and offsets its carbon emissions. The company has also partnered with Trace, a green technology company, to map a path to net-zero emissions. 'We're not just offsetting,' Buch told me. "We're actively reducing our emissions." Education and enrichment Aurora's Citizen Science Program allows passengers to participate in data collection, from photographing whales to testing for microplastics. Buch says the educational initiatives deepen their passengers' understanding of the environment and, over time, will support a more sustainable cruising experience. Waste and water management The cruise line adheres to strict international standards for waste and water management, eliminating single-use plastics and using eco-certified cleaning products. Community engagement Aurora's Community Ambassador Program works with Inuit communities in the Arctic to promote cultural exchange and provide economic benefits to indigenous communities. Aurora's newest ship, the Douglas Mawson , also represents a leap forward. It will set the bar for conservation in the Antarctic when it launches in December. Programs such as waste minimization, carbon offset, and collaboration with leading conservation organizations will be built into the cruise experience. Aurora says the ship is designed to minimize environmental impact and will help travelers tread lightly on the fragile polar environment. The big picture: Does sustainability matter? The very nature of cruising — of transporting large numbers of people to remote and fragile ecosystems — is inherently destructive. And in this business, the most popular cruise lines are often the ones who can do it at the lowest price, not the most responsibly. Aurora seems to know that the deck is stacked against a company that puts sustainability rather than profitability in the captain's chair. And there's a sense you get in talking to someone like Buch that it actually likes that kind of challenge. "We're always trying to do more because there's always so much more that can be done,' she says. Buch emphasizes the importance of transparency and accountability in Aurora's sustainability efforts. The company is constantly making course corrections as it aims to become carbon-negative. She says the goal isn't just recycling, but regenerative tourism — going beyond minimizing harm to actively restoring and improving the environments they visit. 'It's about taking care of what we have now for future generations as well as repairing any damage that has been done,' she explains. The company has a checklist of accomplishments, outlined in its latest impact report. It includes becoming carbon-neutral, participating in the cleanups to remove marine debris from the coastlines of Iceland and Svalbard, and demonstrating a "dramatic" reduction of single-use plastics in its operations. The challenges ahead Despite Aurora's efforts, the fundamental question remains: Can an industry built on fossil fuels and mass tourism ever truly be sustainable? Buch is optimistic. 'We have a responsibility to inspire, educate, and advocate for the protection and preservation of the places we visit,' she says. Aurora is making giant strides in sustainability, and its B Corporation certification is a significant achievement. But the company's efforts represent only one step in the cruise industry's journey toward becoming green. And it won't happen unless passengers want it to, which means they're booking more cruises with a company like Aurora. 'We know there's a long way to go,' she says. Aurora's journey toward sustainability is a work in progress — one that will require ongoing accountability and scrutiny. In the meantime, the takeaway is clear for travelers: You have to carefully consider the effect of your next cruise on the environment. It may be worth spending a little extra to go with a company that is dedicated to long-term sustainability.
Sydney Morning Herald
18-07-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
One of the most splendid sights in nature is also one of the stinkiest
This article is part of Traveller's Holiday Guide to ocean cruising. See all stories. Getting up close and personal to vast colonies of penguins in Antarctica is a stupendous experience on many levels – not least when it comes to the incredible stink. The first penguins we see are no more than tiny black dots on a passing iceberg somewhere off the coast of the South Shetland Islands, as our expedition ship, Greg Mortimer, lurches across the Drake Passage from Ushuaia on the tip of South America towards the Antarctic Peninsula. My fellow passengers and I stir with excitement as we squint through binoculars, but how naive we are. Before we're done, we'll see a million penguins – no exaggeration – and many close enough to admire their shimmering throat feathers and black, wrinkled feet. Guidelines say we should keep our distance, especially as the arrival of avian flu in Antarctica is a major concern, but that turns out to be tricky with so many of these naturally curious creatures on every side. While some penguins waddle off like affronted nuns when we appear, the majority shuffle towards us, fixing us with beady eyes, apparently as fascinated by us as we are by them. This exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia with Aurora Expeditions produces one wonder after another – mountain ranges, glaciers, giant icebergs, glossy seals, albatross swooping like giant Chinese kites – but penguins are my lasting memory. I expected penguins, of course, but not like this. Not huddled in entire battalions as far as the eye can see. Not in colonies 200,000 strong. And not assaulting all the senses with their noise, iridescent plumage, peculiar behaviour and smell. Penguins have no consideration for pooping in the proper place. Nobody tells you that penguins have not happy feet, but stinky feet. I smell their colonies before the ship has even anchored. As we approach landing sites on Zodiacs, the ammonia in the air makes my eyes water.
