Aurora Expeditions is taking its polar-honed style of immersive travel into Europe in a major way, launching its largest-ever European small-ship cruising season with 19 voyages and more than 120 ports across the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Northern Europe and the UK & Ireland. Better yet, there’s a companion sails free offer on selected 2026 departures – which is about as close as you’ll get to being paid to bring your favourite travel buddy along.
From April to October 2026, most sailings are aboard the new Douglas Mawson, bringing Aurora’s expedition DNA – small ships, big depth, more time ashore – to sun-drenched islands, story-soaked coasts and character-filled port towns.
Small Ship Europe, Aurora-Style
Aurora has made its name in Antarctica and the Arctic, so this European programme isn’t about ticking off ports from a megaship balcony. Instead, think intimate ships, Master Storytellers onboard (historians, genealogists, art experts, cultural specialists) and Your Choice included excursions ashore that let you personalise how you discover each region. You’re not just seeing places; you’re unpacking why they are the way they are.
To explore the full 2026–27 programme, start here:
https://www.aurora-expeditions.com
Itinerary Highlights with Personality
Ireland: The Luck of the Irish
Map of Ireland & Scotland cruise itinerary from Dublin to Edinburgh with ports like Belfast, Derry, Galway, and Troon
Dublin roundtrip | 8–18 May 2026 & 16–27 June 2027
It’s hard to beat Ireland’s coastline when you’re seeing it from the water – cliffs, castle ruins and fishing villages sliding past like scenes from your favourite period drama. This voyage loops through both Ireland and Northern Ireland, layering in stories of folklore, feuds, poets and rebels as you wander through pub-lined streets and wind-battered headlands.
More info: https://www.aurora-expeditions.com/expedition/luck-of-the-irish
Ireland & Scotland: Saints, Saviours and Secrets
Dublin to Edinburgh | 15–28 May 2026 & 24 June – 7 July 2027
If you love your history served with a side of intrigue, this one leans into the big themes: faith, famine, independence and identity. You’ll thread your way from the Republic and Northern Ireland up to Edinburgh, connecting religious figures, political leaders, writers and everyday locals whose stories shaped the islands – then step into Scotland’s own layered past to round it all off.
Details: https://www.aurora-expeditions.com/expedition/saints-saviours-secrets
Canary Islands to Lisbon: The Sands of Time
Colorful bustling souk in Morocco with vibrant textile stalls and reed-covered walkways
Santa Cruz de Tenerife to Lisbon | 24 April – 7 May 2026 & 15–28 May 2027
This is for travellers who like their sunshine with a side of big history. You’ll trace the shared story of the Canary Islands, Morocco, Spain and Portugal, where trade routes, empires and migrations have crossed for centuries. Expect medinas and markets, whitewashed Andalusian towns, Gibraltar’s famous rock and the Algarve coast, plus plenty of reflection on the Moorish legacy and the Age of Exploration.
Voyage page: https://www.aurora-expeditions.com/expedition/sands-of-time
The Amalfi, Sicily and Malta: The Godfather
Colorful cliffside buildings of Amalfi Coast overlooking the blue Mediterranean Sea
Rome to Valletta | 8–19 July 2026 & 10–27 May 2027
Yes, the name is a wink – and yes, it’s absolutely cinematic. From the jaw-drop cliffs of the Amalfi Coast to the volcanic drama of Sicily and the honey-stone fortresses of Malta, this voyage connects the dots between ancient trade routes, buried cities, invading empires and modern Mediterranean life. One day you’re wandering an archaeological site; the next you’re people-watching over an espresso in a sun-drenched piazza.
Trip details: https://www.aurora-expeditions.com/expedition/the-godfather
Three Purpose-Built Ships, One Philosophy
Douglas Mawson expedition ship by Aurora Expeditions on water
Europe is just one chapter of Aurora’s wider 2026/27 global programme, with Greg Mortimer, Sylvia Earle and Douglas Mawson sailing everywhere from the Antarctic Peninsula and Arctic to these new European small-ship cruises. The through-line: intimate voyages, more time off the ship and a focus on responsible travel that encourages travellers to engage more deeply with the places – and people – they visit.
To celebrate the season launch, Aurora is offering a limited-time “companion sails free” deal on select 2026 small-ship cruises, making it a very good time to nudge that friend or partner who keeps saying, “One day we’ll do a proper trip together.”
Check current eligible departures and full terms:
https://www.aurora-expeditions.com
