Aurora Expeditions

Douglas Mawson

PremiumNew Ship130 Guests

About this vessel

Designed for global discovery, the Douglas Mawson is the last in a line of purpose-built vessels that have redefined small ship expedition cruising to Antarctica, the Arctic and beyond.

Named after the legendary Australian geologist and explorer, it embodies Mawson's pioneering spirit. Featuring the revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW® and purpose-built with enhanced sustainability features, it takes a maximum of 130 adventurers on expeditions and 154 on small ship cruises, all in smooth, quiet comfort. It boasts the most extensive range of staterooms yet across 86 cabins, including a range of single staterooms.

Polarverse guide to Douglas MawsonGuide

Specs Facilities Cabins Inclusions Activities Gallery

Specifications

Year Built

2025

New Ship

Gross Tonnage

8178 GT

Total Decks

Length

104.4m

Guest Capacity

130

Ice Class

1A (PC6)

IAATO Classification

Category 1

Operator

Aurora Expeditions

Star All-Rounder

Balanced strength across at least two instruments.

Polar Luxury Index

AVery Strong

How luxuriously Douglas Mawson lives — suites, crew-to-guest service, dining, wellness, and design, independent of fare.

Field Experience Score

AVery Strong

How efficiently Douglas Mawson converts time at sea into exploration — staging, landing rotations, and guide density.

Drake Comfort Coefficient

CSolid

How comfortably Douglas Mawson handles open-ocean swells — displacement mass, transit speed, stabilization, and hull shape.

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Onboard

Life on board.

A curated look at the dining, lounges and outdoor spaces that shape daily life aboard Douglas Mawson.

Discovery

3 spaces

Citizen Science Center

Deck 7

A dedicated space for the participative Citizen Science Program, where guests contribute to real research projects alongside the expedition team.

Library & Observation Lounge

Deck 7

A library and observation lounge combining a well-stocked reference collection with panoramic views.

Shop

Deck 5

A retail shop offering expedition gear, souvenirs and gifts.

Dining

2 spaces

Main Dining Room

Deck 1 Signature

The main dining room serving freshly prepared meals, with a single seating and unassigned tables for a relaxed, social atmosphere.

The Hut Restaurant

Deck 8 Signature

A speciality restaurant named 'The Hut', offering a distinctive dining experience in homage to the heroic era of polar exploration.

Bars & Lounges

3 spaces

Atrium

Deck 5 Signature

A dramatic multi-deck atrium that serves as the ship's central gathering and circulation space.

Observation Lounge

Deck 7 Signature

A panoramic library and observation lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows, doubling as the ship's main social hub.

Pool Bar

Deck 8

An outdoor bar beside the heated pool, serving drinks with panoramic views.

Spa & Wellness

4 spaces

Gym

Deck 8

A fitness centre with cardio and weight equipment, open to all guests at no charge.

Heated Outdoor Pool

Deck 8 Signature

A heated outdoor pool on the top deck for a warming swim with polar views.

Jacuzzis

Deck 8

Two outdoor Jacuzzis on the top deck with panoramic polar views.

Sauna

Deck 8

A traditional Finnish sauna for warming up after a day of polar exploration.

Outdoor Decks

2 spaces

Mudroom & Activities Platform

Deck 2 Signature

Lockers for expedition gear, rapid drying areas and a dedicated launching platform for all Zodiac and kayak operations.

Observation Areas

Deck 8 Signature

Multiple expansive outdoor observation decks designed to bring guests as close as possible to the environment.

Entertainment

1 space

Lecture Theatre

Deck 7

A dedicated presentation lounge equipped with the latest audio-visual technology for talks by the expedition team.

Other

1 space

Medical Clinic

Deck 3

A small but well-equipped medical clinic staffed by a qualified doctor for the duration of the voyage.

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.

Cabins

Cabin categories.

Captain's Suite

Separate living room; walk-in wardrobe; private balcony

An exclusive and spacious one-bedroom suite with a separate living room, bedroom and private bathroom.

Balcony Stateroom Superior

BSS

A superior stateroom with a private balcony on the top deck, featuring a floor-to-ceiling window and a lounge area.

Balcony Stateroom Category A

BSA

A stateroom with a private balcony on the upper deck, featuring twin beds that convert to a queen and a sitting area.

Balcony Stateroom Category B

BSB

A stateroom with a private balcony on the middle-upper decks, featuring twin beds that convert to a queen.

Balcony Stateroom Category C

BSC

A stateroom with a private balcony on the lower deck, featuring twin beds that convert to a queen.

Aurora Stateroom Superior

ASS

An inside-facing superior stateroom with a picture window, designed for single or shared use.

Aurora Stateroom Superior Single

ASS-S

A single-occupancy superior stateroom with a picture window, designed for solo travellers wanting more space.

Aurora Stateroom Single

AS-S

A dedicated single-occupancy stateroom with a picture window, designed for solo travellers.

Aurora Stateroom Twin Share

AST

An inside-facing stateroom with twin beds and a picture window, designed for solo travellers paired with another guest.

Aurora Stateroom Triple Share

AS3

An inside-facing stateroom with a picture window and a third berth for friends or family travelling together.

What's included

Inclusions

✓ Included · ◐ Complimentary use · + Additional fee

Included

Ship Facilities

Spa Facilities
Included · Sauna and wellness centre available to all guests.
Pool
Included · Heated outdoor pool (Sylvia Earle & Douglas Mawson) and two Jacuzzis with panoramic views.

Suite & Room Amenities

Minibar
Complimentary use · Free stocked mini-bar in suites (polar voyages).

Food & Beverage

Dining
Included · All meals, snacks, tea, coffee, soft drinks and juices throughout the voyage.
Beverages
Included · Premium spirits, cocktails, beer, wine and liqueurs with dinner; house wines, beers and soft drinks included.

Expedition Gear

Polar Boots
Included · Waterproof muck boots provided for all shore landings on polar voyages.
Trekking Poles
Included · Trekking poles available for shore excursions.
Parka / Expedition Jacket
Included · A 3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket per person to keep (polar voyages).
Binoculars
Complimentary use · One free pair of binoculars per suite; loan binoculars available for all guests.

Not includedavailable at additional cost

Ship Facilities

Spa Treatments
Additional fee · Body, facial and wellness treatments at additional cost.

Onboard Services

Wi-Fi
Additional fee · Wi-Fi available for purchase; connection may be slow in remote polar areas.
Self-Service Laundry
Additional fee · Laundry service available at additional cost.

Destination experiences