Aurora Expeditions Reviews 

297
TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

4.5

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Looking at 45 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Travelers frequently praise the exceptionally knowledgeable, friendly, and professional expedition staff who go above and beyond to ensure passenger safety and enjoyment. Guests also highlight the remarkably comfortable ships, breathtaking destinations, and exceptionally well-organized itineraries that create truly unforgettable memories. Some people were dissatisfied with the food quality and specific meal arrangements during their trips. Reviewers mentioned that certain meals had room for improvement and that evening dinners at hotels were not always included. A few customers also noted occasional problems with large group sizes and equipment malfunctioning during rough sea conditions.

What people talk about most

Staff

Customers consistently note positive experiences with staff, highlighting their professionalism, extensive... See more

Service

Customers had positive experiences with service, highlighting the friendly, professional, and extremely... See more

Holidays

People report positive experiences with holidays, describing them as once-in-a-lifetime journeys. Consumers... See more

Location

Users describe positive interactions with location, highlighting the incredible itineraries and beautiful... See more

Quality

Reviewers highlight positive aspects of quality, noting that food is generally excellent, consistently tasty,... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The people involved in handling the whole program from arrival in Lisbon to departure from Amsterdam. Fran was there at every step to guide us old folks, telling us to stay on the ship or watching out... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Our trip was unforgettable—kayaking beside whales, seals, penguins, and glaciers with guides who felt like walking encyclopedias. We didn't just see Antarctica; we lived it, from the waterline to the... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The expedition staff was truly amazing. Their knowledge of the Antarctic area, its history, the geology, the expeditions & stations, the sea and land animals was really wonderful. The ships crew was... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great ship, Sylvia Earl, crew and staff. All Aurora staff was incredible and knowledgeable, and helped in making for a fantastic vacation. Cabins were spacious, and always clean. Great selection and... See more

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Company details

  1. Cruise Line Company
  2. Adventure Sports
  3. Sport Tour Agency
  4. Tour Operator
  5. Travel Agency

Written by the company

Aurora Expeditions is an Australian-owned adventure company specialising in small group expedition-style travel to polar regions and other wild and remote places. We offer travellers the chance to have an intimate experience in these regions with its small ships and flexible, innovative itineraries. With a history of pushing the boundaries of expedition travel, Aurora Expeditions is proud to have pioneered a number of activities such as scuba diving and climbing in Antarctica. The majority of voyages now offer adventure options such as mountain climbing, sea kayaking, photography and camping in various locations; while Aurora's expert naturalists, historians, staff and crew help to unlock the wonders of these special places.

Our Approach

Written by the company

Pioneering Expedition Travel to the Heart of Nature
From the start, Aurora Expeditions was destined to be different. Our passion for adventure, exploring wild places and sharing the experience with friends burns just as brightly as it did 28 years ago, as does our preference for small-group, personal expeditions. Each expedition is accompanied by an expedition team we believe are the world’s best. Remote area specialists, their onboard lectures entertain and expand your knowledge. Whether you’re joining us for the first time or returning for another thrilling adventure, our original goals remain unchanged. Explore wild places that stir the soul, offer personal attention on unforgettable expeditions and welcome new friends into the Aurora family.
Small Groups are Best
We believe that small groups are best. Unlike larger vessels, our smaller ice-strengthened ships allow us the flexibility to land when the best opportunities present themselves. In turn our passengers can experience nature at its very best; maximising time spent exploring ashore.
Expert Guides
Our highly acclaimed expedition specialists are some of the best in the business. Many are recognised world leaders in their fields and enthusiastically share their knowledge to ensure that each moment you spend with us is interesting and educational.
Flexibility and Freedom
We stop for breaching whales! Our itineraries are designed with flexibility in mind. If weather or sea ice block our way, we always have a Plan B, C and D! We're always on the look out for new places to explore and we're not afraid to adjust our schedule if we stumble upon an unexpected wildlife display.
Environmental sensitivity and enrichment
We helped develop international environmental guidelines for the polar regions we visit, and consciously limit the number of people we take to our destinations. The more our remote area specialists share their knowledge about the natural environments we encounter, the more rewarding your experience.
Our Spirit of Adventure
We were the pioneers of some previously unheard of activities such as polar diving, polar kayaking and camping on the ice in Antarctica. Photograph ice-tipped peaks in Patagonia, scuba dive or snorkel amidst glistening icebergs, sea kayak with whales or enjoy a feast of tundra berries. No matter where we are in the world, we encourage a true sense of exploration.
Our Experience
It's been more than 25 years since our co-founders, Greg and Margaret Mortimer, first started taking small groups of friends and keen travellers to Antarctica. Aboard small, ice-strengthened vessels, they took groups of intrepid explorers to places that few, if any, had been before, pioneering a long list of 'firsts' along the way.
Full Service Travel Agency
We operate an accredited travel agency offering friendly, one-on-one service and deep expertise. We plan comprehensive itineraries that complement our expedition to remote places, so no matter where you’d like to go, we can suggest the best things to see and do to make your expedition even better. So why not add a Patagonia Discovery Trek, take a self-driving tour around Iceland or add a stopover at the mysterious Easter Island?
Added Extras
Whether it’s a polar jacket and photo book to keep; flights for our Fly/Sail Antarctic program; pre/post voyage accommodation in South America; or high Arctic activities in Longyearbyen, our inclusions are what most others would consider extras.

Contact info

4.5

Excellent

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

297 reviews

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4.5

All reviews

(297)

44 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Aurora Expeditions has marvellous journeys.

I have travelled to Antarctica and the Arctic with Aurora expeditions and have enjoyed marvellous adventures. This is aided by the variety of talks of the areas and excursions in the zodiacs to landings to view animals and flora and landscape. I recommend Aurora for their variety of holidays and their good customer service in arrangements for customers.

11 September 2019
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Exceptional Aurora Experience

I had a wonderful holiday with Aurora. The crew were friendly and always happy, food exceptional and Aurora staff were outstanding. They went out of their way to include everyone and had limitless knowledge of the areas we visited. Aurora staff could not be faulted.

11 September 2019
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Polar Pioneer Expedition

Ship staff went out of their way to inform, educate and generally provide us with great zodiac and on shore experiences. Also hotels booked by Aurora for pre expedition activities were perfect.

11 September 2019
Unprompted review
Rated 4 out of 5 stars

A wonderful expedition

I love being on a small ship with only 50 passengers. The expedition crew are wonderful - knowledgeable, engaging, generous and bring a lot of good humour to each day

10 September 2019
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I have traveled with Aurora Expeditions many times

I have traveled with Aurora Expeditions to the Antarctic, South Georgia, Arctic and even down the Amazon river on the great ship Polar Pioneer since 2003. I have had amazing crews and expedition staff. The captains were always amazing at getting us to some of the most unique places. The expedition staff has always been top notch. ranging from amazing mountain climbers and maverick/pioneer in Antarctic adventure travel, Penguin and Albatros experts as well as amazing historians and young professors in glaciology. The itineraries have always been adventuresome taking into account all of the wants and needs of all the passengers. Aurora always attracts an interesting collection of passengers that are fun to travel with their adventurous spirit. Having been to the Antarctic twice, the Arctic and Amazon with Aurora you can bet you will have the trip of a lifetime, and maybe you will need to travel with them more than one.

10 September 2019
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Small boat benefits

Love the small boat community feel made even more so the personal touch from the staff that made the trip a corker!

10 September 2019
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The whole experience exceeded our…

The whole experience exceeded our expectations. The organisation, careful planning, pleasant and knowledgeable staff, great food and general friendliness made the trip very special for us.

10 September 2019
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

What an amazing experience

What an amazing experience. The staff went out of their way to make the experience one to never forget.

Each staff member was a wealth of knowledge and knew about all the local flora and fauna.

We had very good weather which also made the experience all the more perfect. I would highly recommend exploring Greenland with Aurora.

7 September 2019
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Trip of a lifetime.

This trip really exceeded my trip of a lifetime expectations! The staff leading the hikes were so patient with my many questions about our environment and genuinely shared an awe of the surroundings. I felt the trip leaders were extremely experienced, had excellent communication skills and safety standards were high. Food and accommodation were great. The kitchen staff were very helpful re dietary requests.
Really lovely team and the small group size allowed for a great family feel and contributed to making many new friends.

6 September 2019
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Svalbard Odyssey and Jewels of the Arctic - Polar Pioneer (Jul-Aug 2019)

My first time traveling with Aurora Expeditions on Polar Pioneer was an amazing experience. We chose the back to back option of Svalbard Odyssey (11 days) and Jewels of the Arctic (14 days) Longyearbyen (Svalbard) - Reykjavík (Iceland).

Traveling on a small ship with a small number of passengers (54) gave us the feeling of being part of a real expedition. This allowed for friendly interaction between our fellow passengers, the expedition team and ship crew. The size of Polar Pioneer allowed us to enter smaller Fjord and experience close up views of this wonderful region and heighten our awareness to protect it.

Wow!! Being able to get aboard Zodiacs twice a day enabled us to cruise near magnificent glaciers, icebergs and visit islands. We saw the local animals, birds, flora and walked across the tundar to view magnificent scenery, and historical areas all under the protection of our experienced guides.

I enjoyed hanging out on the ship's bow with the other passengers always on the lookout for polar bears, seals, walrus on the pack ice, majestic whales welcoming us to their Arctic and taking hundreds of photos. We gathered in the bar to talk about that day's adventure and share photos as well as celebrate 'Welcoming drinks' and 'Captain's Drinks' nights. But nothing beats a party on deck dancing under the midnight sun.

Meals were excellent, well prepared and presented by the staff. The captain and crew were always friendly and helpful. We had a twin cabin on Deck 3 and found it very comfortable. Sharing public facilities and showers was no problem with always plenty of hot water. I swear the housekeeping staff cleaned them every hour. Great service girls.

Thank you to our expedition team Gary, Robyn, Roger, Chris, Justine, Ulyanna, Dr Sophie, Tarn and Ben for making this an experience of a lifetime. You all shared your knowledge and experience with us and we loved the informative talks in the lecture room. You have seen this all before many times but I loved your enthusiasm and excitement while sharing it with us.
Well done team...hope to see you again soon.

5 September 2019
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Had a great time again!

Had a great time again. Reliably well organised trips to Arctic (Svalbard, E Greenland, Iceland) and Antarctic (peninsula). We were always kept informed as to what to expect (including the unexpected). Zodiac outings were well guided. All staff were super friendly, approachable and knowledgeable. Food was great.

5 September 2019
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I recently enjoyed a fabulous trip to…

I recently enjoyed a fabulous trip to the Arctic - Greenland and Svalbard with Aurora Expeditions. They are a really well organised company - all pre-departure communication was excellent and the Aurora team on board were very professional, passionate and went out of their way to make it the best trip for us passengers in a friendly, “no fuss” manner. I’d highly recommend them to anyone considering travelling to the Arctic or Antarctic, as I also travelled with them “down south” in February 2018.

5 September 2019
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Unbelievable experience

Combining the Svalbad Odyssey and Jewels of the Arctic was perfect for me. I greatly enjoyed the trips especially the animal sightings on both and the huge icebergs in Greenland. I like the combination of history, nature and adventure experienced on the cruise. The staff shared their vast knowledge of the area and nature to maximise the experience.

4 September 2019
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Farewell Polar Pioneer

The 2 tours (Across Arctic Circle and Svalbard Odyssey) completely lived up to my expectations based on previous expedition cruises on the Polar Pioneer with Aurora Expeditions. It was a treat be able to cruise again on this particular vessel. She will be missed. I really loved the 5-star expedition style service we were given

15 August 2019
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Amazing Experiences

Greatly enjoyed the cruise and learnt a huge amount about pre- and early history of Scotland. Carol Knott is a wonderful guide/expert who we've also had the pleasure of being with on previous Polar Pioneer trips (Nordic areas). Coastal and island scenery was amazing and we particularly enjoyed the several enthralling zodiac journeys amongst the imposing rock outcrops, sea caves and arches with many opportunities to spot and photograph the huge variety of birds. On-board accommodation and services first class. No negatives at all but sad that this ship will soon leave the services of Aurora.

14 August 2019
Unprompted review

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