If a small ship expedition cruise is on your radar in 2026, Aurora Expeditions is offering a compelling incentive ONLY to my clients. Save an extra 10% off the public price on select sailings to Svalbard, Greenland, Norway, and Antarctica! Plus every booking comes with a $250 per person onboard credit (A perk of using a Virtuoso Travel agent!)
Aurora has built a strong reputation among expedition travelers for its small ships, capable ice-strengthened fleet, and a focus on actual exploration rather than “cruise ship sightseeing.” If you’ve been waiting for a reason to pull the trigger on a polar voyage, this may be it. I just did my own 22 day trip with Aurora expedition to Antarctica and it was 10/10 amazing! We only had 99 guests on board which really made a HUGE difference for landings and activities.
I am really a BIG aurora expedition fan, I wrote a blog about how they really are the brand for the active traveler. If you want to explore the Arctic this summer or Antarctica this November, I have private deals for you!
Looking for a different destination? Contact me. Every booking I make on Aurora Expedition comes with a $250 per person onboard credit.
Why Aurora Expeditions?
Aurora Expeditions sits in a sweet spot for experienced travelers and those looking for their first expedition. With stricter regulations in Svalbard which limit operations to ships with less than 200 people, Aurora is the perfect Answer. Or in Antarctica and South Georgia where landing sites limit 100 people on land at a time or less, Aurora’s small ships mean more time on land for you and less time on the ship!
Aurora Expedition three ships, Sylvia Earl, Greg Mortimer, and Douglas Mawson are all brand new polar class ships. Built in 2019, 2022 and 2025. With a max capacity of 130 people, these PC5 ships allow you to explore more and witness more on land than you can on larger ships. They don’t push the limits of regulations. In fact, in polar regions they always sail with a max capacity of 130 guests. They also offer solo cabins and pricing/deals which mean they often sail with less than 130. Often closer to 95-110 people!
Aurora Expeditions offers
- Small ships with strong ice capability
- Zodiac‑heavy itineraries with frequent landings
- Expedition teams that prioritize exploration over entertainment
- A track record in polar regions going back decades
- All inclusive pricing
These are real expeditions, not luxury cruises masquerading as adventure travel. If you want to see more, experience more, and get the best experience. Really Aurora is top notch. Plus they offer amazing service and food onboard, a great hotel team, and stunning ships. They blend luxury ships with real adventure. You don’t have room service, but if you’re going to be out exploring you don’t really need it. You want an expedition team and ship focus on adventure, not serving you wine or breakfast in bed.
Every trip includes the following built into the price:
- All airport transfers mentioned in the itinerary.
- One night’s pre-cruise hotel accommodation including breakfast
- Onboard accommodation during voyage.
- 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.
- Starlink Wi-Fi
- 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
I honestly think Aurora Expedition gives Lindblad-Nat Geo a run for their money. They have more expedition team members per passenger, more zodiacs, and honestly better itineraries. They also have world class lectures, an amazing photographer on board and more. I love my experiences on Lindblad, but I honestly do think Aurora does it better.
Arctic – Iceland, Greenland, Norway & Svalbard
Head North this summer Dates 17 Jun 2026 – 28 Jun 2026 on the Svalbard Odyssey | Svalbard in-depth Cruise. Aurora is already offering 25% off via their anniversary sale. I’m giving you $500 per cabin of onboard credit + another 10% off!
Public price that is currently 25% from: $14,921 triple or $16,721 balcony.
My Price: $13,429 Triple or $15,049 balcony.
Take 10% off ALL ROOMS! But only when you book via Rocky at Scott & Thomas Travel.
Svalbard remains one of the best places on Earth to see polar bears in the wild, along with walrus, seabirds, and dramatic glacial scenery. This expedition focuses on deep exploration of the archipelago’s fjords and ice edges, combined with Zodiac landings and guided walks and hikes ashore.
Aurora’s operation in Svalbard tends to emphasize time off the ship, flexible routing, and real wildlife tracking rather than fixed itineraries. If Arctic ice, remote coastlines, and serious expedition credentials are what you’re after, this voyage checks the right boxes.
I’ve been to Svalbard twice now and loved every moment of each trip. This is a perfect opportunity to save bit and travel.
Northern Lights Explorer
Seeing the Northern Lights from sea level in the Arctic, far from city light pollution, is still one of the most reliable (and underrated) ways to experience the aurora. If you want to see the lights Aurora Expeditions is named after, this is a golden opportunity. Plus you’ll get to explore Iceland, remote Greenland, Jan Mayan island and famous Lofoten Islands of Norway! This epic trip checks so many boxes it’s honestly amazing its all 1 trip!
This itinerary is designed around prime aurora latitudes, with expedition-style cruising by day and northern lights chasing at night. As always with Aurora, nothing is guaranteed but Aurora Expeditions stacks the odds in your favor with expert guides, flexible routing, and minimal artificial light.
Travel 02 Sep 2026 – 19 Sep 2026, on the Northern Lights Explorer from Tromso, Norway to Reykjavik, Iceland.
Public offer: 30% savings reduced to $17,777 for a balcony cabin.
Antarctica – Save big on the White Continent
Everyone is talking about going to Antarctica. I went with Aurora Expeditions in Dec 2025 and it was amazing. This was my 3rd trip in 3 years to Antarctica. My favorite place on earth. If you’re looking for small ship expeditions, lots of time on land, and a very experience expedition team, Aurora expedition is going to knock your socks off! Similar to Artic, I can offer a bonus 10% discount on two sailings for the 2026/2027 season. If you’re considering heading across the Drake passage this is an offer not to be missed.
Across the Antarctic Circle
Save nearly 35% on 13 Nov 2026 – 25 Nov 2026 when you travel with Aurora expedition across the Antarctica circle and spend 13 days of travel in pure bliss.
Most Antarctic cruises never cross the Antarctic Circle. This one does. Which is a bucket list item for many people. It wasn’t until I traveled with Aurora that I was able to cross the Antarctic Circle. Multiple other trips to the peninsula never got me anywhere close. So this was a huge win on my last trip
Some of stayed up until after midnight to celebrate the crossing. Then in the morning we had a celebration during the daylight hours.
Crossing 66°33′ South isn’t just a line on a map, it typically means fewer ships, fewer people, and landscapes that feel noticeably more remote. Expect massive icebergs, rarely visited landing sites, and wildlife encounters that feel far removed from the more frequently visited Antarctic Peninsula stops.
This is one of Aurora’s stronger offerings for travelers who want something beyond the standard first‑time Antarctica itinerary. You will not only make it to the Antarctica Peninsula, but you’ll go further south than most travelers and explore more. See the Adele penguin colonies that thrive further south and cross the circle!
Aurora Price: $14,021 for triple shared room or $15,671 for a balcony (double occupancy)
My Savings: 10% off the public price. Currently that is $12,619 for a triple share cabin or $14,104 for a balcony cabin. Plus $250 per person onboard credit. Pricing subject to change based on public price offer.
Looking for a suite or something else? You also get 10% off those rooms too!
In Shackleton’s Footsteps
This voyage follows the route of Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance expedition, blending Antarctic exploration with the raw, dramatic landscapes of South Georgia.
South Georgia alone would justify the trip for its king penguin colonies, elephant seals, and towering mountains rising straight out of the Southern Ocean. Add Antarctica and Shackleton history, and you get one of the most compelling expedition itineraries available today. Plus this is a rare trip that calls on Elephant Island. Where Shackleton’s team was stranded for many months.
It’s longer, more ambitious, and more expensive than standard Antarctic cruises, making the 10% savings especially meaningful here.
Current public price is 30% off! Triple Staterooms from $21,207, Balcony rooms from$23,027.
My price: 10% off the public price + $250 onboard credit per person. That means Triple staterooms start at just $19,087 and balcony rooms are $20,725.
Plus if you do this trip, it’s highly likely that you’ll be able to do part of the famous Shackleton hike from Fortuna Bay to Stromness!
Bottom Line
Aurora Expedition is known for their immersive small ship experience with lots of time off the ship and some of the best guides and expedition teams in the world. I can offer you a bonus 10% off savings off the public price on Aurora Expeditions for select Antarctica and Arctic trips. See my mailer or join my mailing list for more information and deals. This is a solid opportunity for travelers who already know they want to go north or south and want to do it right.
Eligible voyages:
If you are looking to see more this year, this is your change to get away from it all and explore where the world is mostly just animals. Disconnect from reality and take nature in. Save 10% off public prices now through May 2026. Lock in the best prices of the year. Contact me today to book.
Not looking for a polar trip, but interested in a different Aurora expedition trip? We offer a bonus $250 onboard credit per person on EVERY Aurora expedition booking. Contact me to book one of these trip one any trip with Aurora expedition. From Costa Rica to Greece, Greenland to Raja Ampat. I have you covered. Also consider joining my private facebook group for even more deals, where I share deals more frequently.
