Prices on this page are indicative rates
Final price may change due to currency fluctuations. Choose to pay in NZD, AUD, GBP, USD or EUROs. Contact us today and secure your small ship cruise.
Thank you for joining Aurora Expeditions on our special Antarctic Feast: Circle in Depth Culinary Christmas and New Year sailing expedition. Explore deeper and journey further, pushing south below the Antarctic Circle. Witness the change in landscape and the shift in wildlife that call this region home when you venture beyond the northern Peninsula. Zodiac-cruise through mirror-like waters and take in scenes of ice-clad mountains. This is a Christmas and new year adventure that you’re likely to remember and talk about for many years to come.
Highlights
• Celebrate a white Christmas like no other and new year with like-minded adventurers and new friends.
• Experience a toast with the crossing of the Antarctic Circle at latitude 66°33' South (approximately).
• Witness bustling penguin colonies with chicks hatching as predatory skuas pick off vulnerable prey.
• Tantalise your tastebuds with our elevated cuisine and enjoy cooking demonstrations with our culinary team.
-
Day 1 Arrive Ushuaia
Arrive in Ushuaia, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred with your fellow expeditioners to your assigned pre-voyage hotel. If you are already in Ushuaia, we ask you to make your way to your hotel. Check-in is from 3.00 pm. This afternoon, visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk in the hotel lobby, between 3.00 pm and 7.00 pm, to collect your luggage tags, and confirm if you wish to join our pre-embarkation tour tomorrow. Our team will confirm details regarding your embarkation day, answer any questions and provide you with information on where to dine or purchase last minute items.
We encourage all expeditioners to arrive by 5.00 pm to enjoy our group welcome dinner this evening. Expeditioners arriving after 7.00 pm will find a welcome pack waiting for them at check-in. We ask you to visit our hospitality desk tomorrow between 8.00 am – 10.00 am.
This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at La Cravia restaurant, located at Arakur Resort & Spa. At Arakur, the “Haute Cuisine” shines in a unique environment with an unparalleled view of the bay and the city, the Beagle Channel, valleys, mountains, and the Vinciguerra Glacier. La Cravia delivers typical flavours from Tierra del Fuego, offering Argentine and international meals.
Assigned accommodation: Arakur Resort & Spa
-
Day 2 Embarkation
This morning, enjoy breakfast and check-out. Please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Take your cabin luggage to hotel reception, prior to, or at check-out. Your luggage will be stored and transferred directly to the port for clearance, to be placed in your cabin ahead of your arrival on board. Please keep any valuables or personal items with you throughout the day.
Those wishing to join our tour today, please meet in the hotel lobby at 8.45 am. Enjoy some free time there before returning to Ushuaia for ship embarkation.
Alternatively, enjoy your day at leisure and meet at your hotel lobby or from the meeting point at the parking lot near the pier (details will be given by our ground staff at the hotel), to be transferred to the pier for embarkation.
Once onboard, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin before our important mandatory briefings. As the ship pulls away from port, we’ll gather on the deck to commence our adventure with spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego.
This evening get to know your fellow expeditioners and friendly expedition team and crew at a welcome dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure to Antarctica.
-
Day 3-4 Drake Passage Crossing
As we commence the Drake Passage crossing, we make the most of our time getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. Our expedition team prepare you for our first landing with important wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures and start our lecture program to help you learn more about Antarctica’s history, wildlife and environment.
Our wildlife experiences begin as we enjoy watching and photographing the many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels following our vessel. On sea days, you can enjoy the facilities on board the vessel including the gym, sauna and jacuzzis or relax in one of the observation lounges.
Nearing the South Shetland Islands and the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula on the afternoon of day four, the excitement is palpable with everyone converging on one of the observation decks watching for our first iceberg. The ocean takes on a whole new perspective once we are below the Antarctic Convergence and are surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice sculptures. The memory of your first big iceberg sighting is likely to remain with you for a lifetime. Time and weather permitting, we may attempt our first landing in Antarctica by late afternoon.
-
Days 5-12 Antarctic Peninsula & Antarctic Circle
It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever.
Once we arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are ours to explore, and we have a host of choices available to us. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish.
Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.
You will want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of our favourite spots along the peninsula.
While ashore we aim to stretch our legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an optional activity, you will have the option to do that whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters - conditions permitting!
In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or feeding. This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendour. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve their way from summit to sea. Take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white continent.
On this voyage, conditions permitting, we plan to cross the Antarctic Circle, an imaginary line located at the Antarctic Circle at latitude 66°33' South (approximately). Crossing below The Circle is certainly a special highlight for many people, and the moment will be celebrated with a toast out on the deck (weather permitting). You have earned some boasting privileges, joining a small group of lucky adventurers who have ventured to this part of the world. As we approach and cross the Antarctic Circle, you will notice subtle changes in the landscape, and also in the distribution of wildlife. The waters at this time of year are rich with krill and we hope to see plenty of whales - particularly humpbacks and minkes and enjoy the spectacle of penguins feeding their ravenous chicks.
Expect a Christmas celebration like no other, on this voyage. No matter where we are along the peninsula, we will enjoy some festive landings before savouring a special Christmas feast in our beautiful restaurant surrounded by the most spectacular views of the icy landscape that you could ever imagine.
-
Days 13-14 Drake Passage Crossing
Enjoy a final morning landing in the South Shetland Islands before we re-enter the Drake Passage for our return journey to South America.
With lectures and film presentations to complete our Antarctic experience, there is still plenty of time to enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home. There is time for reflection and discussion about what we have seen and experienced. We hope you become ambassadors for Antarctica telling your family, friends and colleagues about your journey to this magical place, advocating for its conservation and preservation so that they might one day visit the region to experience what you have been lucky to see and do here.
As we approach the tip of South America, our Captain may sail close to legendary Cape Horn, weather and time permitting.
-
Day 15 Disembark Ushuaia
During the early morning, we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where we will be free to disembark around 8.00 am. Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as we all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature.
Upon disembarkation, for those continuing their travels in the region, transportation to the hotel will be arranged exclusively for guests who have booked their accommodations through Aurora or for those staying in downtown areas near the port. Expeditioners departing on flights prior to 12:30 pm will be directly transferred to Ushuaia Airport, those with flights after 12:30 pm will have the opportunity to explore Ushuaia before an afternoon airport transfer, and the transfer procedures and details will be communicated onboard before disembarkation.
Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights departing Ushuaia prior to 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there are delays.
-
Please note:
Itineraries are subject to change.
-
21 December, 2027 to 04 January, 2028
Deck: 3
Cabin size: 15.37m² - 15.97m² (165.4ft² - 171.9ft²)
King bed
Twin beds
Private en-suite
Porthole window
Desk area
Closet space
Room-controlled thermostat
Room safe
42" flat-screen TV
Mini bar
Deck: 7
Cabin size: 13.97m² - 16.17m² (150.4ft² - 174.1ft²)
King bed
Twin beds
Private en-suite
French balcony
Desk area
Closet space
Room-controlled thermostat
Room safe
42" flat-screen TV
Mini bar
Deck: 4 & 6
Cabin and balcony combined size: 21.07m² - 26.77m² (226.8ft² - 288.2ft²)
King bed
Twin beds
Private en-suite
Private balcony
Full size window
Desk area
Closet space
Room-controlled thermostat
Room safe
42" flat-screen TV
Mini bar
Deck: 4 & 6
Cabin and balcony combined size: 21.07m² - 26.77m² (226.8ft² - 288.2ft²)
King bed
Twin beds
Private en-suite
Private balcony
Full size window
Desk area
Closet space
Room-controlled thermostat
Room safe
42" flat-screen TV
Mini bar
Deck: 3
Cabin size: 9.85m² (106ft²)
Twin beds
Private en-suite
Porthole window
Closet space
Room-controlled thermostat
Room safe
42" flat-screen TV
Mini bar
Deck: 4 & 6
Cabin and balcony combined size: 21.07m² - 26.77m² (226.8ft² - 288.2ft²)
King bed
Twin beds
Private en-suite
Private balcony
Full size window
Desk area
Closet space
Room-controlled thermostat
Room safe
42" flat-screen TV
Mini bar
Deck: 3 & 7
Cabin size: 10.97m² - 15.18m² (118.1ft² - 163.4ft²)
Twin beds
Private en-suite
Porthole window
Closet space
Room-controlled thermostat
Room safe
42" flat-screen TV
Mini bar
Deck: 4 & 6
Cabin and balcony combined size: 27.77m² - 36.27m² (298.9ft² - 390.4ft²)
King bed
Twin beds
Private en-suite (wheelchair accessible)
Private balcony
Full size window
Desk area
Closet space
Room-controlled thermostat
Room safe
42" flat-screen TV
Mini bar
Deck: 7
Cabin and balcony combined size: 41.47m² - 41.87m² (446.4ft² - 450.7ft²)
King bed
Twin beds
Private en-suite
Private balcony
Full size window
Separate lounge area
Desk area
Closet space
Room-controlled thermostat
Room safe
42" flat-screen TV
Mini bar
Deck: 4
Cabin and balcony combined size: 45.22m² (486.7ft²)
King bed
Twin beds
Private en-suite
Private balcony
Full size window
Separate lounge area
Desk area
Closet space
Room-controlled thermostat
Room safe
42" flat-screen TV
Mini bar
-
Douglas Mawson
Douglas Mawson
Vessel Type: Small Ship Expedition
Passenger Capacity: 154
Lenght: 104.4 m
Built: 2025
Setting sail in 2025, the Douglas Mawson is the latest addition to Aurora Expeditions’ fleet of purpose-built small ships, designed for global discovery and adventure in comfort. Named after the pioneering Australian geologist and explorer, this state-of-the-art vessel combines cutting-edge technology with elegant design, featuring the revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW® for smoother sailing and enhanced sustainability. With space for up to 154 guests (130 on expedition voyages), it offers an intimate and environmentally conscious cruising experience. Multiple observation areas, a heated pool, Jacuzzis, and a sauna ensure guests enjoy both exploration and relaxation in equal measure.
On board, passengers can delve deeper into their destinations through engaging lectures in the theatre, hands-on learning in the Citizen Science Centre, and peaceful moments in the library or observation lounge. Dining is relaxed and sociable, with open seating, hearty cuisine, and complimentary beverages with dinner. Accommodation options range from luxurious suites with private balconies to well-appointed solo staterooms, catering to every traveller’s style and comfort. Whether navigating the polar regions or exploring the British Isles and Mediterranean, the Douglas Mawson delivers the perfect balance of adventure, discovery, and refined small-ship luxury.
