Signature highlights
The ship combines an Ulstein X-BOW hull with multiple observation areas, rapid Zodiac access and a dedicated activity platform. It is ice-strengthened for polar operations and includes return-to-port safety equipment.
Douglas Mawson
Douglas Mawson is a 154-guest Aurora Expeditions expedition ship, in service since 2025. This page lists 49 upcoming departures across 36 itineraries, day by day and port by port. Its live AIS position is plotted on the map below and refreshed through the day.
✓ Expedition travelers wanting a purpose-built polar ship
✓ Solo travelers seeking dedicated single cabins
✓ Passengers who value balconies and panoramic viewing areas
Douglas Mawson at a glance
Best for
- Expedition travelers wanting a purpose-built polar ship
- Solo travelers seeking dedicated single cabins
- Passengers who value balconies and panoramic viewing areas
- Active travelers using the gym, pool, Jacuzzis and sauna
- Guests interested in lectures and citizen science
Think twice if you want
- Travelers seeking large-ship entertainment and nightlife
- Families wanting a dedicated children’s program
- Passengers needing extensive accessible expedition operations
- Guests who prefer formal evening dress
- Travelers wanting many specialty dining venues
Live Position ● 30 minutes ago
Heading to: Montevideo
14.0 knots
Position via AIS — updated periodically, not real-time.
About Douglas Mawson
Douglas Mawson is Aurora Expeditions’ newest small expedition ship and the final vessel in SunStone’s Infinity Class. Delivered in 2025, it is designed for polar exploration and global discovery, carrying up to 130 expedition guests or 154 passengers on small-ship cruises. The Ulstein X-BOW hull, observation areas, Zodiac platforms and expedition-focused facilities support comfortable access to remote environments, while the heated pool, Jacuzzis, sauna, gym, lecture theatre and citizen science centre add comfort between landings.
Ship at a Glance
- Operator
- Aurora Expeditions
- Builder / shipyard
- China Merchants Heavy Industry, Haimen, China
- Registry / flag
- Bahamas (confirmed by the ship’s AIS identity)
- IMO number
- 9992713
- MMSI
- 311000951
- Draft
- 5.3 m
Onboard Experience
For families
The library includes children’s books and board games, while the ship’s small scale, activity platform and expedition program support shared family exploration where appropriate.
Pools, spa & wellness
Facilities include a gym, sauna, heated outdoor swimming pool, two Jacuzzis and relaxation areas. A medical clinic is available onboard.
Accessibility
Selected staterooms include wheelchair-accessible features, and the ship has an elevator connecting its passenger decks.
Environmental features
The vessel incorporates enhanced sustainability features, an energy-efficient Ulstein X-BOW design and modern emissions-compliant propulsion technology intended to reduce fuel consumption and environmental impact.
Deck plans
Venues Cabins only Both · Tap a deck to see what's on it
Deck 8
Bar Seating Area Observation Decks Observation Lounge Rockhopper RestaurantDeck 7
Gym Sauna Seating Area Observation Decks Swimming Pool and Sun Deck Jacuzzis Bridge Aurora Stateroom Superior Single Aurora Stateroom Superior Junior SuiteDeck 6
Library Upper Glass Atrium Lounge Balcony Stateroom Category A Balcony Stateroom Category B Balcony Stateroom Category C Balcony Stateroom SuperiorDeck 5
Lecture Room & Lounge Dining Room Ship Shop Bar Lower Glass Atrium Lounge Citizen Science Centre Reception Assembly StationDeck 4
Main Entrance Expedition Desk Aurora Stateroom Twin Share Balcony Stateroom Category A Balcony Stateroom Category B Balcony Stateroom Category C Balcony Stateroom Category A – Solo Balcony Stateroom Superior Captain's SuiteDeck 3
Medical Clinic Change Room / Mudroom Zodiac Access Points Activity Launching Platform Aurora Stateroom Single Aurora Stateroom Superior Single Aurora Stateroom Twin Share Aurora Stateroom Triple ShareView the official Douglas Mawson deck plans from Aurora Expeditions →
Cabins & suites
| Category | Type | Cabins | Size | Sleeps | Decks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora Stateroom SingleTwo cabins with porthole windows; sold as the single-stateroom category. | Studio (solo) | 2 | 102.25 sq ft | 1 | 3 |
| Aurora Stateroom Superior SingleSingle-occupancy superior staterooms with French balconies; cabin 709 has a French balcony. | Studio (solo) | 4 | 111.94–163.61 sq ft | 1 | 3, 7 |
| Aurora Stateroom Twin ShareWindowed twin-share staterooms. | Oceanview | 2 | 171.14 sq ft | 2 | 3, 4 |
| Aurora Stateroom SuperiorFixed-double-bed staterooms with French balconies. | Oceanview | — | 144.23–168.99 sq ft | 2 | 7 |
Dining, bars & venues
12 included 1 extra cost in the fare, by the line's own published policy.
Dining
Dining Room
Included
Open-seating dining room serving the ship's main meals.
Rockhopper Restaurant
Top-deck restaurant offering a second dining option.
Bars & lounges
Bar
Varies
Bar located beside the central indoor public spaces.
Upper Glass Atrium Lounge
Varies
Indoor glass-sided lounge adjoining the central public areas.
Lower Glass Atrium Lounge
Varies
Lower-level glass atrium lounge for indoor viewing and socializing.
Observation Lounge
Varies
Indoor viewing lounge with destination guides and binoculars.
History & sister ships
Other Infinity Class ships
Where Douglas Mawson sails, month by month
| Oct 26 |
Nov 26 |
Dec 26 |
Jan 27 |
Feb 27 |
Mar 27 |
Apr 27 |
May 27 |
Jun 27 |
Jul 27 |
Aug 27 |
Sep 27 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antarctica | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Northern Europe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Mediterranean | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| South America | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ports it visits most
Explore This Ship
Jump from Douglas Mawson sailings into the broader destination network with cruise line and region hub pages.
Itineraries & Sailings
All 36 itineraries and their departure dates
- A Northern Saga 26 Jun 2028
- A United Kingdom: The Crown and the Clans 8 Jun 2027
- Across the Antarctic Circle: Fly the Drake 8 Feb 2028
- Antarctic Circle in Depth 22 Dec 2027
- Antarctic Explorer 4 Jan 2028, 16 Jan 2028
- Antarctic Explorer Express 8 Jan 2027
- Antarctic Explorer: In Partnership with New Scientist Discovery Tours 1 Feb 2028
- Antarctic Peninsula: Fly the Drake 14 Jan 2027, 11 Jan 2028
- Antarctica Active: All Inclusive Activities 1 Nov 2027
- Antarctica Complete 18 Dec 2026
- Barcelona to Nice: A Mediterranean Canvas 3 May 2027
- Barcelona to Valletta: Storied Shores of the Mediterranean 21 May 2028
- Canary Islands to Barcelona: The Cross and the Crescent Moon 11 May 2028
- Costa Rica & Panama Canal 16 Apr 2028
- Glaciers & Fjords of Southern Patagonia 29 Mar 2027
- Iceland & East Greenland - Under the Northern Lights 9 Sep 2027, 14 Sep 2028
- Iceland: Circumnavigating the Land of Fire & Ice 18 Jul 2027
- In Shackleton’s Footsteps 9 Nov 2026
- Ireland: The Luck of the Irish 18 Jun 2027
- Jewels of the Arctic 6 Aug 2028, 19 Aug 2028, 1 Sep 2028
- Lisbon to Amsterdam: Coasting the Atlantic 14 Jun 2028
- Nice to Rome: La Dolce Vita 8 May 2027
- Northern Lights & Wild Isles: Iceland, Greenland to Scotland 23 Sep 2028
- Northern Lights Explorer 26 Aug 2027
- Panama and Costa Rica: Crossing the Canal 6 Oct 2027
- Sailing 'The Med': A Mediterranean Feast 20 May 2027
- South Georgia, Falklands & Antarctic Odyssey 10 Mar 2027, 11 Mar 2028
- Southern Antarctic Realms: Antarctic Circle & Weddell Sea 25 Feb 2028
- Spirit of Antarctica 18 Feb 2027, 28 Feb 2027, 13 Nov 2027, 4 Dec 2027, 13 Dec 2027
- Spirit of Antarctica: In Partnership with New Scientist Discovery Tours 8 Dec 2026
- Spitsbergen: Realm of Ice & Wildlife 18 Aug 2027, 22 Jul 2028
- Svalbard Odyssey 9 Aug 2027, 13 Jul 2028, 28 Jul 2028
- The Amalfi, Sicily and Malta: The Godfather 12 May 2027
- Valletta to Lisbon: The Mediterranean: Beyond the Icons 31 May 2028
- Wild Antarctica featuring the Weddell Sea 16 Feb 2028
- Wild Scotland 5 Jul 2027
All Upcoming Departures
Douglas Mawson FAQ
What flag does Douglas Mawson sail under?
Douglas Mawson is registered in Bahamas.
How many passengers does Douglas Mawson hold?
Douglas Mawson carries about 154 guests.
How old is Douglas Mawson?
Douglas Mawson entered service in 2025.
What is the dress code on Douglas Mawson?
Onboard dress is informal. Comfortable casual clothing and lightweight walking shoes with good grip are recommended.
What dining is included?
Meals, snacks, tea, coffee, soft drinks and juices are included. House wine and beer are included with dinner, while the ship also has the Rockhopper Restaurant as a second dining venue.
Are gratuities included?
A daily crew gratuity is normally added to the onboard account, and passengers may remove or adjust it when settling the account. Expedition team tipping is not required.
Is Wi-Fi available?
Starlink Wi-Fi is provided at no charge, although connectivity can be unreliable in remote regions.
Does the ship have accessible cabins?
Some Balcony Stateroom Superior cabins have wheelchair-accessible bathrooms. The ship also has an elevator, but expedition landings involve gangways, Zodiacs and uneven terrain.
Are children allowed and is there a kids’ club?
Children from age six may travel, subject to Aurora’s voyage rules, but there is no formal children’s program. Children must travel with a legal guardian.