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Secret Atlas announced the addition of Aureum to its portfolio for the 2027/28 and 2028/29 Antarctic and South Georgia seasons.
The 36-passenger ice-class vessel will operate under the Secret Atlas banner as part of a long-term partnership with Antarpply Expeditions, featuring the inaugural 'Antarctica By Air' and 'South Georgia In Depth' micro cruise programs.
The vessel's interiors have been purpose designed for the voyages.
The vessel comprises 22 passenger cabins, which will include spacious suites and eight dedicated single cabins with no single supplement.
It has a panoramic observation lounge, bridge lounge, expansive outdoor viewing decks, open observation bow, wellness area with sauna and outdoor hot tub, and a restaurant where all passengers dine together in a single sitting, reinforcing the intimate onboard atmosphere.
"The introduction of Aureum represents a significant milestone for Secret Atlas and our expedition micro cruise concept," explained Michele D'Agostino, co-founder of Secret Atlas. "As demand grows for meaningful, small-group polar expeditions, Aureum enables us to bring our distinctive explorer-led approach to Antarctica and South Georgia on a vessel purpose-designed for just 36 guests.
"By expanding beyond the Arctic and launching our inaugural Antarctic and South Georgia expeditions, we're building on the principles that have defined Secret Atlas from the beginning: exploration in small groups, deeper wildlife encounters and access to experiences that larger ships simply cannot replicate. Aureum is the ideal platform to deliver that vision."
Journeys include one experienced polar guide for every six passengers, offering expert insights from experienced expedition leaders, scientists and naturalists.
"As part of this exciting new chapter, Antarpply Expeditions is pleased to announce a long-term strategic partnership with Secret Atlas, a specialist in premium small-group polar expeditions," said Teodoro Gounaris, CEO of Antarpply Expeditions.
"Under this collaboration, Secret Atlas will operate its expedition micro cruise programmes aboard Aureum, reflecting a shared vision of authentic exploration, responsible tourism, operational excellence and exceptional guest experiences."
Secret Atlas micro cruises to Antarctica and South Georgia aboard Aureum are now open for bookings for the 2027/28 and 2028/29 seasons. Passengers can choose from a range of expeditions, including the 'South Georgia In Depth Expedition' voyage and the 'South Georgia & Antarctica – Shackleton Special Expedition' cruise.
The new Antarctica By Air program offers travellers a fresh alternative to traditional Antarctic voyages. Operating through the Secret Atlas expedition hub in Puerto Natales, Chile, passengers fly directly to Antarctica, significantly reducing time spent crossing the Drake Passage and maximising time exploring.
These expeditions include the 'Antarctic Circle By Air Expedition' cruise, or the 'Antarctic Peninsula By Air & Sea' cruise. The 'By Air & Sea' departures sail one way from Ushuaia with focus on the traditional sites.
Aureum complements ice-strengthened vessels Freya and Vikingfjord. Secret Atlas recently unveiled two exclusive Northern Lights photography tours to the Arctic this September, offering 12 passengers per cruise the opportunity to photograph the Northern Lights during optimal late September conditions in Scoresbysund.
Passengers receive hands-on tuition from polar photographers Randy Hanna and Virgil Reglioni throughout the expedition.
"We built these as dedicated photography expeditions, rather than adding a photographer to a general itinerary, because aurora photography really only works if you can hold position and adjust plans around the sky," said D'Agostino.
"Randy and Virgil work closely with the captain, planning around the sky and the ice to put guests exactly where they need to be with the needs of photography in mind. That flexibility is what makes our micro cruises the ideal base for this kind of photography, we get guests the shot."
Randy Hanna's tours aboard Vikingfjord depart September 21 and 28, 2026, whilst Virgil Reglioni's tour aboard Freya departs September 28, 2026. These nine-day Fly and Cruise expeditions from Longyearbyen offer opportunities to photograph East Greenland's wilderness and encounter musk ox, Arctic foxes, Arctic hares, polar bears, and narwhals.
