Secret Atlas
MV Aureum
About this vessel
Purpose-designed for only 36 guests — the first ship of this size in Antarctica.
An ice-class (1C) vessel with fin stabilisers and hybrid diesel-electric propulsion that cuts emissions and underwater noise. Four Zodiacs mean every guest is ashore within minutes. With 26 crew and six senior polar guides for 36 guests (a 1:6 ratio), service is personal by design. Open decks, a forward observation deck and an open-door bridge lounge each offer their own vantage point on the wildlife.
Polarverse guide to MV AureumGuide
Specifications
Year Built
1970
HeritageLength
56m
Guest Capacity
36
Crew
24
Ice Class
1C
IAATO Classification
Category 1
Operator
Secret Atlas
Minimalist
At least one instrument rated D or below — every promise is kept at a cost.
Polar Luxury Index
How luxuriously MV Aureum lives — suites, crew-to-guest service, dining, wellness, and design, independent of fare.
Field Experience Score
How efficiently MV Aureum converts time at sea into exploration — staging, landing rotations, and guide density.
Drake Comfort Coefficient
How comfortably MV Aureum handles open-ocean swells — displacement mass, transit speed, stabilization, and hull shape.
Onboard
Life on board.
A curated look at the dining, lounges and outdoor spaces that shape daily life aboard MV Aureum.
Dining
1 spaceDining Room
An intimate dining room serving freshly prepared dishes with warm hospitality.
Bars & Lounges
1 spaceLounge
A guest lounge for lectures, daily expedition briefings, reading and conversation over coffee.
Spa & Wellness
1 spaceWellness Area
A wellness area for guests to unwind.
Outdoor Decks
2 spacesForward Observation Deck
An unobstructed forward observation deck at the bow, offering front-row access to the most dramatic scenery and wildlife sightings.
Hot Tub
An on-deck hot tub for relaxing after a day of exploration.
Other
2 spacesBridge Lounge
An open-door bridge. Step in any time to read ice charts, watch the route decided in real time and spot wildlife alongside the captain and expedition team.
Mudroom
A mudroom with direct access to the Zodiacs for seamless landings.
Curious if this vessel suits you?
Our polar specialists can help you match the right vessel to your expedition goals — from capacity and cabin preference to seasonality and route style.
What's included
Inclusions
✓ Included · ◐ Complimentary use · + Additional fee
Onboard Services
Wi-Fi
Included
Food & Beverage
Dining
Included · Full board: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Beverages
Included · Beverages served during meals and while on board.
Expedition Gear
Polar Boots
Included
Destination experiences
Activities
✓ Included · ◐ Complimentary use · + Additional fee
6 activities
Shore Landings & Hikes
Step ashore onto remote beaches and tundra, walking among penguin rookeries, historic huts and dramatic geological formations with expert guides.
Polar Plunge
The legendary polar plunge — a bracing, supervised leap into polar waters, followed by a hot drink and a certificate to mark the moment.
Sea Kayaking
Paddle silently among icebergs and along sheltered coastlines at water level — the most intimate way to encounter the polar environment.
Available on selected voyages
Zodiac Cruising
Glide through brash ice and sculpted bergs in a stable inflatable Zodiac, exploring coves, glacier faces and wildlife haul-outs unreachable by ship.
Lectures & Presentations
Daily talks from naturalists, historians and scientists on polar ecology, exploration history, glaciology and the wildlife you'll encounter.
Photography Workshops
Hands-on field tuition from resident photographers — mastering exposure in snow, capturing wildlife behaviour and refining composition in polar light.