Aurora’s Douglas Mawson to Operate in Europe in 2026 – Cruise Industry News

The Douglas Mawson is set to operate a summer season for Aurora Expeditions in Europe in 2026.

After debuting in the South Pacific in late 2025, the new 186-guest ship will arrive in the region in late April for itineraries to the Mediterranean, the British Isles and Western Europe.

According to Aurora, the operation is part of a new product named “Small Ship Cruises,” which features guided experiences, pre- and post-land programs and shore excursions.

For its first sailing in the Mediterranean, the Douglas Mawson offers a 14-night itinerary to the Canary Islands, Spain, Portugal and the UK, which also includes a land tour in Morocco.

After spending one night ashore, passengers are set to embark on the ship in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on April 24, 2026.

The cruise then starts with visits to Las Palmas, Arrecife and Agadir – where guests disembark the ship for an overnight stay at a hotel in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Aurora’s package also includes a transfer to Casablanca, where passengers will return to the Douglas Mawson.

Before ending with an overnight stay at a hotel in Lisbon, Portugal, the itinerary also includes visits to Tangier, Gibraltar, Cádiz, Seville and Portimão.

The deployment then includes cruises to the British Isles and France between early May and mid-June before returning to Southern Europe.

In July, the Douglas Mawson repositions to the Eastern Mediterranean for itineraries to the Adriatic, the Greek Islands and Turkey.

Upon completing its schedule in the region in late October, the vessel is scheduled to offer expedition cruises to Antarctica starting in early November.

Aurora’s 2026 deployment also includes expeditions to the Arctic onboard the Greg Mortimer and the Sylvia Earle, in addition to itineraries to the North Atlantic, Latin America, Oceania and Asia.

Currently under construction in China, the Douglas Mawson is scheduled to be delivered by the CMIH shipyard in the third quarter of 2025.