Aurora Expeditions launches 2028 Northern Hemisphere season with 29 departures

Aurora Expeditions has opened bookings for its Northern Hemisphere 2028 programme, expanding its expedition offering with 29 departures across 20 countries and territories and introducing 7 new Cultural Expeditions.

The programme will operate aboard the purpose-built expedition ships Douglas Mawson and Sylvia Earle, combining 16 Polar Expeditions, 6 Discovery Expeditions and the new Cultural Expeditions. The voyages will visit 161 ports across the Arctic, Europe and Central America, extending Aurora's established small-ship expedition model into destinations where history, heritage and local culture form the principal focus. Aurora currently describes its programme as encompassing polar expeditions, discovery voyages and small-ship cruising beyond the polar regions.

The Cultural Expeditions represent a broader interpretation of expedition cruising for Aurora, which has developed its business over 35 years around small ships, expert-led exploration and access to remote destinations. The new itineraries will concentrate on historic coastlines and lesser-visited locations across Europe, combining established cultural attractions with local communities and destination-based experiences.

The seven inaugural Cultural Expeditions include voyages through the British Isles, the Mediterranean, the Atlantic coast of Europe and Scandinavia. Among them is The Isles of the British Isles, departing London for Dublin aboard Sylvia Earle on April 19th, 2028. The 11-day itinerary includes Sark, the Isles of Scilly, Lundy, Anglesey, the Isle of Man, Mull, Skye and Rathlin Island, alongside visits focused on maritime, royal and clan history.

Douglas Mawson will operate Valletta to Lisbon: The Mediterranean: Beyond the Icons, departing May 31st, 2028. The 15-day voyage will combine destinations in Sicily, Sardinia, Morocco and Portugal, with visits ranging from the Valley of the Temples and Palermo to Tangier and the Algarve.

Another new itinerary, A Northern Saga, will sail from Amsterdam to Bergen from June 26th, 2028. The 14-day voyage will follow northern European and Scandinavian routes associated with Viking history, Hanseatic trading centres and maritime exploration, including calls connected with Berlin, Copenhagen and Oslo before continuing through Norway's fjords.

Aurora's 2028 programme will also retain a strong polar component, with 16 Polar Expeditions scheduled for the Northern Hemisphere season. Two new itineraries will focus on Norway, Svalbard and Greenland.

Norwegian Fjords & Svalbard Explorer will depart Tromsø for Oslo via Longyearbyen on June 8, 2028, combining Norwegian fjords and coastal communities with the glaciers, tundra and wildlife of Svalbard. The itinerary includes Zodiac excursions and guided walks, with opportunities to search for Arctic wildlife.

Wild Greenland: An Active Arctic Expedition will depart Reykjavík on August 23rd, 2028, for a 9-day expedition centred on West Greenland. The programme includes hiking, the Greenland Ice Sheet, Disko Island and Ilulissat Icefjord, the latter forming part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The returning polar programme includes Jewels of the Arctic: Svalbard & East Greenland, sailing from Oslo to Reykjavík, and a Northwest Passage expedition linking the Canadian Arctic with Greenland. These voyages will continue Aurora's emphasis on wildlife encounters, historic expedition routes and access to remote Arctic landscapes. The company's current Arctic programme similarly centres on Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland and the Northwest Passage, using small ships and expedition teams to reach remote areas.

The Discovery programme will comprise 6 voyages combining nature, wildlife, landscapes and coastal heritage. A new Northern Lights & Wild Isles: Iceland, Greenland to Scotland voyage will cross the North Atlantic from Reykjavík to Aberdeen in September 2028, while the returning Wild Scotland programme will explore the Hebrides, St Kilda, Orkney and Shetland.

Cultural and Discovery departures will also incorporate Aurora's Your Choice Inclusive Experiences, allowing passengers to select from included small-group activities according to their interests and preferred level of activity. The programme will cover subjects ranging from local cuisine and traditional crafts to UNESCO-listed sites, hiking and regional history.

Aurora Expeditions said the 2028 programme is intended to provide three distinct approaches to expedition travel: remote polar exploration, active Discovery voyages and culturally focused itineraries. The expansion follows the company's wider move beyond traditional polar expedition cruising; its current portfolio already includes small-ship voyages combining culture, history and exploration in destinations such as Scotland and the Mediterranean.

Bookings for the Northern Hemisphere 2028 season are now open. Aurora is offering savings of up to 25% on selected departures for bookings made and deposited by October 31st, 2026, subject to the applicable terms and conditions.