Aurora Expeditions has put its 2028-29 Antarctic programme on sale, and it's a big one: 37 voyages running from October 2028 through March 2029, spread across the company's three small ships — the Greg Mortimer, Sylvia Earle and Douglas Mawson. Trips range from quick eight-day peninsula hops to a full 23-day deep dive, and there are four brand-new itineraries plus seven Special Edition departures in the mix.
Early bookers get rewarded. Selected departures are discounted by up to 25 percent if you book and pay a deposit by January 31, 2027 — a long runway, but Antarctic cabins and the best-priced stateroom categories tend to go early for peak season sailings.
The headline new itinerary is "Antarctica: Behind The Lens", an 11-day documentary-themed sailing departing the Greg Mortimer from Buenos Aires on January 17, 2029. It pairs the usual expedition days with wildlife and conservation storytellers on board, aimed at anyone who'd rather come home with proper photos and footage than a phone roll. It's priced from $17,756 per person twin share, down from a $22,195 brochure rate.
Three more new routes round out the season. "Gentle Giants of the Antarctic: A Whale's Tale" is the affordable entry point — 10 days from Buenos Aires, departing March 15, 2029, from $15,756 per person, timed for late-season whale activity. For the full sub-Antarctic experience, "South Georgia & Antarctica Active: All Inclusive Activities" runs 21 days from October 31, 2028, from $27,356, bundling kayaking, climbing and other activities into the fare. And "The Edge of Wild Frontiers" covers South Georgia and the Falklands over 17 days from February 27, 2029, from $22,571 — the one to pick if king penguin colonies are the main draw.
If none of those fit, the classic programme stays intact: Spirit of Antarctica, Across the Antarctic Circle, the South Georgia, Falklands & Antarctic Odyssey, Antarctica Complete, and a Patagonia & Chilean Fjords combination that adds a South American overland flavour.
Why it matters: an Antarctic trip is a serious financial commitment, and a 25 percent early-booking discount can knock several thousand dollars off a cabin. It also gives planners a rare chance to lock in specific dates and ships more than two years out — useful for 2029 departures like the whale-focused March sailing, where timing makes a real difference to what you'll see. Photographers will want the Behind The Lens departure; first-timers on a budget should look hard at the 10-day whale itinerary.
All voyages listed above sail return from Buenos Aires aboard the Greg Mortimer, which keeps flights and pre-cruise logistics straightforward — fly into Argentina's capital, allow a night or two on either side, and the operator handles the charter to the port and the Drake Passage crossing. Pack for summer temperatures that still sit near freezing on the water, and remember Antarctica landings are strictly governed by IAATO rules, so itineraries stay flexible by design. The early-bird offer runs until January 31, 2027.
Story via Cruise Industry News.
