Last month I was invited to the naming ceremony and first “shakedown cruise” for the brand-new Douglas Mawson expedition ship. Not only was this my first experience cruising aboard this new generation of X-Bow ships but it was also an event of huge significance to the ship’s owner and operator, Aurora Expeditions. My ship review here can help you decide if Douglas Mawson is the best fit for you, and also give you a greater understanding of the entire Aurora fleet.
Key Takeaways
- The ship’s two-story honeycomb atrium differs from some previous fleet iterations.
- Decks & viewing areas are well-thought-out for unobstructed views.
- The polar exploration vibe throughout is particularly authentic & rooted in Australian culture.
- Happy crew, happy you. Staff cabins are livable & it shows.
- Cabin design is hotel-forward. I was in a Balcony Stateroom A – see my insights for choosing.
ABOUT THE EXPERT: JUSTIN MASSONI
• AdventureSmith travel expert since 2015
• Experience aboard 16- to 154-guest ships
• Manages our relationships with 75 operator partners worldwide
AdventureSmith Proud to Be Among the First Aboard
There was huge significance to this being the first-ever Aurora Expeditions ship to call at the port of Sydney, the headquarters and spiritual heart of this Australian company. Present to christen the vessel was Emma McEwin, great-granddaughter of the Australian explorer Douglas Mawson, and godmother of this modern expedition ship named in his honor.
Aurora Expeditions has been around for 35 years, but has really become a force for American travelers since 2019, when they added the first of 3 X-Bow new builds to their fleet: Greg Mortimer. Sylvia Earle followed in 2022. These Infinity ships have become the new benchmark for expedition platforms – in the polar regions and beyond – and we are beginning to see them deployed across operators and destinations for good reason.
I really think this is an exciting time in the evolution of polar expedition cruising. Over the course of the past decade, an aging fleet of repurposed coastal ferries and modified oceanographic research vessels built in the 70s, 80s and 90s that were the backbone of the polar fleet have been rapidly replaced by a new generation of purpose-built expedition ships. Of the 43 polar expedition vessels we now offer at AdventureSmith Explorations – more than half have been built since 2011, and more older vessels are phased out by our partners every year.
The Douglas Mawson is a culmination of not only the Infinity Class of X-Bow ships to which it is the newest member, but also of the new breed of vessels designed and built for the express purpose of delivering a superior expedition cruising experience to modern day explorers.
Learn more about Aurora Expeditions and how they’ve followed this familiar arc with their ships since 1991, plus find more reviews.
Authentic Polar Exploration Vibe Throughout
Travelers hailing from elsewhere may not be familiar with Australia’s deep cultural connection to the White Continent. Thanks in part to Douglas Mawson (the man), Australia claims more of Antarctica than any other nation (over 40% of the continent).
Beyond simply the name, this entire ship is imbued with this spirit of polar exploration history. All polar ships hang high-quality photographs of landscapes and wildlife, but Douglas Mawson’s interior feels especially grounded in its purpose: modern exploration.
When I embark on these expeditions, I work hard to ground myself in it as well, and this shipboard atmosphere absolutely helped me to stay in that headspace.
Some of the unique touches include:
- Floor to ceiling maps of Antarctica & the world in the wide companionway leading up to the Deck 8 observation lounge.
- Informational placards located on every passenger deck relating to the Australasian Antarctic Expedition of 1911–1914 and the British Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expeditions of 1929-31—all led by Douglas Mawson.
- Vintage navigational, scientific and personal tools of exploration in the Library and Science Lab.
- Images of the Mawson expeditions throughout, as well as a scale model of Mawson’s Hut, which still stands at Cape Denison.
Passenger Cabins Resembling Compact Hotel Rooms
Hallmarks of this new breed of ship are enhanced cabin amenities and a cabin design more akin to a small hotel room from an upmarket hotel group. Think less maritime and more Marriott (of the JW variety).
I was billeted in Balcony Stateroom A, #607 and my cabin had a spacious private outdoor balcony (as do all within the category), heated bathroom floors, a well-stocked (and re-stocked) minibar, thoughtful storage solutions for all my gear, multiple modern charging ports, a cozy interior seating area for two and hotel-quality linens.
My cabin felt roomy despite the narrowness, and light filled due to the fact that the entire exterior wall is glass. The seating area was perfect for my late-night reading or map gazing, and the desk area is the first I’ve had aboard ship that didn’t feel cramped when you actually try to type.
These popular Balcony Staterooms are divided into three sub-categories – A, B & C – and are available across two decks: 4 & 7. The differences are slight, as are the differences in cost, but there are some characteristics to be aware of:
- A: located amidships
- B: located slightly further fore and aft
- C: located either much further fore and aft, or with truncated square footage.
If you are acutely concerned with seasickness, book a lower deck cabin that is as close to amidships as you can get. If you are not particularly concerned with seasickness (most relevant to me for my recent voyage), book a higher deck with a higher vantage. These Balcony Stateroom decks bracket Deck 5, which holds the dining room, lecture hall and administration (“front”) desk – so access to these important areas is similar.
SEE DECK PLAN & DETAILS
See cabin specs & the deck plan on our ship page,
or view all the itineraries Douglas Mawson sails to get aboard.
I loved seeing the ship’s efforts toward single travelers as well, which is very common in the polar regions it sails. There are six dedicated solo cabins (spread across cabin categories) and capacity-controlled single supplement waivers that allow more solo travelers than ever to book a private cabin without exorbitant added costs. The Stateroom Superior Single I toured was especially lovely, with the views from bed oriented toward the big picture window. Some of the double-occupancy Balcony Stateroom Superior cabins also have this orientation.
Stunning Forward Views
The first several ships in the Infinity series, which includes sister ship Greg Mortimer, were constructed without the “two-story” honeycomb of forward-facing glass spanning Decks 5 & 6 in these later builds. The two levels of this Atrium Lounge space are connected with a rather grand, forward-facing staircase that is bathed in natural light from this novel bank of windows.
The seas were calm on my crossing of the Bass Straight between Australia and Tasmania, but I imagined the thrill that might come with watching the X-Bow cut through heavy green seas on a lively trip through the Roaring Forties on the way to Antarctica.
The cozy library on the upper deck is stocked with hundreds of travel, photography and exploration titles as well as games of all types. The intimate seating pods here were the place I tended to retreat after evening presentation to read my book (Mawson’s Will in this case).
Downstairs is a well-equipped citizen science lab with a brilliantly placed self-serve expresso station.
Another favorite space of mine was Deck 8’s forward observation areas: offering the highest vantage points aboard. An interior lounge is accessed via a ramp from the The Hut restaurant, and the outside observation deck was where I’d take my early-morning coffee prior to the opening of The Hut for breakfast.
Every morning, I’d find the expedition staff most into birding, waiting with big lenses for albatross, shearwaters, gannets, petrels, gulls or whatever else came along. On the first morning, Greg Mortimer himself, the founder of Aurora Expeditions, quietly joined us to enjoy the calm morning sunshine before the rest of the ship awakened.
Thoughtfully Designed Lecture Theater
I’ll also give kudos to Douglas Mawson’s lecture theater. Passengers will be taking a seat in this space at least once a day, much more on sea days. As a passenger that can be hard of hearing in these types of spaces, I sometimes feel that I miss out during presentations if I am not laser focused. I very much appreciated the many flatscreens placed throughout the theater, and the clear sightlines to the speaker and main screen from just about every seat in the house (and I tried them all).
A semi-circular arc of couches, ringed by a constellation of swiveling easy chairs, and backed by a high-top bar with stools at the door, there are seating options for every taste and level of interest in the program at hand. Again here is a touchscreen expresso station, right where you need it most.
There is also a large lounge area just aft of lecture room, perfectly positioned for cocktails before, after or during evening presentations. I found the intimate and private seating pods around the periphery to be great spaces to discuss the presentation with shipmates, and the large open area amidships was perfect for upright mingling after the “show.” The expedition staff aboard did a great job of making themselves available here late into the evening to answer questions about the presentation or the plan for tomorrow, or to simply share a drink and chat about anything under the sun.
OUR EXPERTS WERE HERE
You have questions.
We have answers.
Notably Livable Crew Cabins
No surprise to anyone that your experience will be colored by the standard of living for the people working aboard the ship. These folks work long hours on long contracts, away from their homes for months at a time. The expedition crew cabins on this ship, though lacking view windows and balconies, were built to passenger standard, giving the crew a better space to rest and recharge. There is a move within the modern shipbuilding industry to include these important considerations in new designs, and I felt the enthusiasm from the guides and staff aboard.
Suggested Reading for Sailing Aboard Douglas Mawson
To learn more about the fascinating namesake of this ship, I recommend:
- The Many Lives of Douglas Mawson – By Emma McEwin
- Mawson’s Will: The Greatest Polar Survival Story Ever Written – By Lennard Bickel
- See our list of the best Antarctica books for more recommendations
Comments will be moderated and will appear after they have been approved.