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Top 10 Bucket List Onboard Experiences

With an intimate and relaxed onboard atmosphere alongside a spirit of adventure, adventures with Aurora are all about shared experiences and making new friends. After making enriching discoveries off ship, return to relax and learn more on board.

From waking up to the most extraordinary views, to joining fascinating lectures about the surrounding natural wonders, the moments on board the ship are just as special as the ones ashore.

Whether you are on the Greg Mortimer or the Sylvia Earle, here are the top 10 bucket list experiences you can have onboard our purpose-built ships:

10. Toast with the Captain

Each voyage begins with welcome drinks with the Captain and Expedition Team. Buzzing with excitement for the voyage to come, enjoy complimentary beverages and cocktail appetisers, followed by a three-course meal. At the end of the voyage, you will have the opportunity to toast with the Captain for another successful expedition at farewell drinks. 

9. Feel at home in the comfort of your spacious stateroom or suite

Our staterooms & suites are beautifully appointed with a simple, neutral colour palette taking inspiration from nature. Most rooms feature a balcony and all include private bathrooms with heated floors, which are a standout for travel in the polar regions.

8. Get ready for adventure

Whether you are venturing out on a Zodiac, going paddling or on a guided hike, our mud room and activity preparation area make adventure activities even easier. In the mudroom, store your complimentary expedition gear and equipment in your personal locker, with cleaning stations to prepare for each landing. Then move onto our expedition team-designed activity preparation area with a sea kayak launch platform and accessible zodiac docks, to get you out exploring off ship quickly and efficiently.

7. Relax and unwind in the comfort of our well-stocked library

With floor-to-ceiling windows, the library is a peaceful sanctuary where you can find non-fiction books to read up on the day’s destinations, plug in and organise your photos or play board games with newfound friends. Choose from our range of informative nonfiction titles, wildlife guidebooks, travel journals, novels and a selection of board games. Each stateroom also receives a complimentary Primer booklet so you can learn more about the region you are visiting.

6. Improve your Photography with World’s Best

Whether you’re a smart phone user or a semi-professional shooter, take the opportunity to hone your craft before venturing out on a landing or excursion. Learn how to set up your camera, improve your composition and pick up technical tips from one of our expert Photography Guides aboard every voyage. Capture otherworldly landscapes of remote coastlines, travelling seabirds soaring above the ship and memories with like-minded travellers on board. Check out Scott Portelli’s top photography tips.

5. Dine on delicious farm-to-table meals while making lifelong friends

Through our soon-to-be-launched sustainable food program, we have sourced the freshest, most delicious food from regional farmers and producers so that you will be fuelled for your expedition with tasty meals prepared by our onboard chefs. Mealtimes are a great opportunity to soak up the expedition camaraderie in our open-seating dining area, meeting fellow travellers to discuss the events of the day. Learn more about our Sustainability in Action goals.

4. Take time for self-care in our jacuzzis, gym and sauna

Soothe your body at the end of a day of adventuring in one of our self-care facilities. Rejuvenate in between landings with some downtime in the sauna, recharge with a session in the gym or watch the world go by in one of the top deck Jacuzzi’s. Remember you are on holiday, so treat yourself!

3. Get involved with our Citizen Science Program

Learn more about wildlife and nature as part of our Citizen Science Program, a hands-on and transformative experience that will not only fire your imagination but show how you, too, can help to protect the beauty and majesty of our planet.  We travel to some of the most unique and remote places on the planet. It is challenging for scientists to spend time in these areas, so any observations we contribute can be extremely valuable. Gathering and sharing data is also a great way to engage and educate ourselves in pressing issues that concern us at a local, regional and global level. This immersive program includes activities like completing a seabird survey at sea, participating in cloud data collection and studying samples for microplastics.

2. Learn about nature, science and history

Join our Expedition Specialists or Special Guests and be enthralled by tales of terror, triumph and human endeavour in these remote corners of the world. Our team comprises some of the best experts in fields of nature, science and history, so join in their series of informative lectures to deepen your understanding of the region you are visiting.

1. Experience the incredible sights and wildlife

As we cruise some of the most remote and rugged destinations on our planet, find a spot on deck or in the observation lounge to experience the beauty of the surrounding environment. It is not uncommon to spot dolphins frolicking off the bow, humpback or minke whales surfacing at sea, or majestic albatrosses and petrels soaring overhead. Grab a pair of binoculars, get out where the action is and make sure you do not miss a thing!

Set sail and start ticking off your Bucket List experiences.

View our new season brochure to inspire your next adventure, or contact our expert team.

25-26 Antarctic Season Brochure

Dive into the world’s wildest places in our brand new brochure. Choose from 32 voyages, including 8 new itineraries aboard one of our three purpose-built small ships, including the newly-launched Douglas Mawson.

Arctic & Beyond 2025-26 Brochure

Set sail on Aurora Expeditions’ brand-new Arctic & Beyond season, promising more small ship adventures in more ways than ever before.

Featuring 42 departures across three purpose-built small ships, exploring the shores of Svalbard, Greenland the Northwest Passage, Indonesia, Borneo, Costa Rica, the Mediterranean, Atlantic Coast and much more.

Experience our unique style of exploration, with more time off-ship, small groups, immersive activities, and thoughtful enrichment programs, all with a proudly carbon neutral company committed to responsible travel.

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