Published: Updated:
Aurora Expeditions’ subsidiary Vantage Explorations just turned two years old. To celebrate this milestone, the cruise line has big news and a $2,500 booking bonus for cruisers.
Here’s what’s next for Vantage Explorations and Aurora Expeditions.
How Vantage Explorations came to be
For those unfamiliar with how Vantage Explorations came to be, let me give a brief overview.
In June 2023, after months of speculation about what was going on, the Boston-based Vantage Deluxe World Travel (VDWT) suddenly canceled all its trips, fired its employees, and announced bankruptcy.
In the bankruptcy court, Aurora Expeditions bid to purchase the customer list of the bankrupt company – and won. As part of that agreement, Aurora provided a generous rescue plan for the victims of the Vantage Travel bankruptcy:
- Each customer received a future travel credit equal to 100 percent of what VDWT owed them at the time of the bankruptcy.
- Customers can use travel credits to pay for up to 50 percent of an ocean cruise but just 20 percent of a river cruise ( (The river cruises are operated by a third party: VIVA Cruises).
- Customers can continue to spend their credits on additional trips at the same rate until they are all gone or until the credits expire.
- These credits have a generous five-year shelf life (Expiration date: Nov. 30, 2028).
- They can be shared with friends and family, but can’t be sold.
You can read the full details of the purchase of the assets of Vantage Travel by Aurora Expeditions here.
Two years ago, Aurora Expeditions launched the U.S.-based Vantage Explorations to facilitate using those travel credits.
What travelers can expect from Vantage Explorations and Aurora Expeditions in 2026 and beyond
In honor of this birthday celebration, Vantage Explorations and Aurora Expeditions are making several important announcements.
1. The Douglas Mawson arrives
A significant number of the 10,000 people with Vantage Explorations credits are solo travelers. This posed a problem since the current two ocean ships operated by Aurora Expeditions do not have solo cabins.
However, the brand new ship that’s on the way does.
The Douglas Mawson, named after the famed Australian explorer, has just 86 cabins (6 of those cabins designed specifically for solo travelers). This luxury cruise ship, with a heated outdoor pool, jacuzzis, and more, will take its passengers around the world in style.
Solo cabins on the Douglas Mawson
Douglas Mawson offers four types of cabins with no solo supplements:
- Aurora Stateroom Superior Single
- Deck 3 (2 Portholes): 314, 316, 318
- Deck 7: (French Balcony) 709
- Aurora Stateroom Single
- Deck 3: 322, 324
- Double Occupancy Cabins Balcony A (Note: Solo travelers can only book these without a single supplement for sailings starting from April 2026)
- Deck 4: 407, 409, 410 and 412.
Aurora Expeditions took possession of the Douglas Mawson in September 2025. Today, it is making its way to Sydney, where it will join the Aurora fleet in November.
Its sister ships, the Sylvia Earle and the Greg Mortimer, will begin dedicating ten cabins per sailing to solo travelers for global sailings starting in April 2026.
As neither vessel has any accommodations designed for just one passenger, Aurora is earmarking the following ten cabins for solo travelers.
- Balcony C cabins 611 and 614,
- Balcony B cabins 606 and 603
- Balcony A cabins 407,409, 410, 412, 607 and 610.
2. Aurora adds new itineraries
The average age of the VDWT bankruptcy victims is considerably older than the target customer of a typical expedition cruise line. Over the years, that has been one of the primary complaints I’ve received from travelers hoping to spend their credits on a non-expedition adventure.
Aurora’s new itineraries aim to address that issue. Travelers who wish for a bit less physical action can choose trips in the Discovery and Explorations categories.
It’s worth noting that even on an expedition adventure with Aurora, there are always varying levels of activity. On my recent cruise aboard the Greg Mortimer on Aurora’s Jewels of the Arctic, the expedition team offered two to three styles of excursions each day. On Greenland and Svalbard, our leaders arranged strenuous hikes (five to seven miles over rough terrain) for some, shorter and less strenuous walks for others, and passive sight-seeing excursions in a zodiac for the rest.
So if a journey appeals to you, make sure to ask questions about the activities that will be offered during the cruise before rejecting an expedition outright.
3. Discounts for passengers to celebrate a special birthday
Aurora Expeditions is offering its customers a gift to celebrate the 2nd birthday of Vantage Explorations.
From now until October 31, 2025, travelers who book a new ocean cruise with Vantage Explorations will receive $2,500 in bonus credit.
So, here’s how the promotion works:
- As per the sale agreement, each Vantage Explorations customer can pay for up to 50 percent of their cruise using their cruise credits. That part will not change.
- This promotion is valid on trips if you book between September 10, 2025, and October 31, 2025.
- The $2,500 discount is offered as an additional cruise credit.
- You can pay up to 50 percent of the cruise balance with your credits.
- You can’t apply the discount to river cruises as a separate company operates those. (VIVA Cruises)
The bottom line
If you have some credits to spend with Aurora Expeditions, now is a great time to spend them.(Michelle Couch-Friedman, Consumer Rescue)
Before you go: Here are 10 amazing to see and do on an Arctic cruise to Greenland
