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Vantage Explorations turns 2, and Aurora Expeditions has big news!

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Michelle Couch-Friedman

Consumer reporter and ombudsman columnist

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.

The bow of the Sylvia Earle, a frontseat view of Antarctica from inside Aurora Expeditions' Sylvia Earle
Cruisers onboard Aurora Expeditions’ Sylvia Earle will have a warm front seat to enjoy a cocktail and view Antarctica. (Photo credit: Michelle Couch-Friedman)

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. 

Aurora Expeditions, Douglas Mawson, new cruise ship
The luxury expedition ship Douglas Mawson has been delivered to Aurora Expeditions and is currently on its way to Sydney.

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

Solo cabins on Aurora Expeditions all-new ocean ship, the Douglas Mawson.
There are six solo cabins on Aurora Expeditions’ new cruise ship, 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 Douglas Mawson deck plan.
Solo Vantage Explorations customers can use this deck plan of the Douglas Mawson to choose their cabin.

Aurora Expeditions took possession of the Douglas Mawson in September 2025. Today, it is sailing to Sydney to join the Aurora fleet.

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.
Aurora Expeditions cruise cabins, Sailing to Antarctica or the Arctic in style
Solo travelers can book (in limited quantities) a Category A balcony cabin on Aurora Expeditions’ Greg Mortimer, Sylvia Earle, or Douglas Mawson without a single supplement for sailings that begin in April 2026. (Photo: Category A cabin on the Sylvia Earle by MCFriedman)

2. Aurora adds new itineraries

The average age of the victims of the VDWT bankruptcy is considerably older than the target customer of a typical expedition cruise line. That has been one of the primary complaints I’ve received over the past year from travelers hoping to spend their credits on a non-expedition adventure. 

The new itineraries announced today 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. 

Sailing to Antarctica, Expedition cruising, Aurora Expeditions, Vantage Explorations
Travelers can cruise to Antarctica aboard one of Aurora Expeditions’ luxury ships. (Photo: Michelle Couch-Friedman)

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 a $2,500 discount.

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 will be taken off the top of the price of your cruise.
  • 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

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Michelle Couch-Friedman

Michelle Couch-Friedman is the founder and CEO of Consumer Rescue. She is a journalist, consumer advocate, travel writer, mediator, and trained psychotherapist. Michelle is also the travel ombudsman columnist for The Points Guy, contributing author at Fodor's Travel and previously served as the executive director of the nonprofit Elliott Advocacy. During her six years managing that organization, she resolved thousands of cases for troubled travelers and other consumers. You can read hundreds of 5-star reviews Michelle earned during her service to the nonprofit on Great Nonprofits. Michelle is a public speaker, and her expert guidance has been cited in the Washington Post, MarketWatch, Consumer Reports, Travel & Leisure, the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Popular Science, CNN, CNBC, Boston Globe, CBS News, National Geographic, Travel Weekly, Reader's Digest and more. You might even catch Michelle on TV reporting on a situation. :) Professionally, Michelle is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), and the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA). Today, she continues to spend as much time as possible fiercely defending consumers and traveling the world. Contact her at Michelle Couch-Friedman or on Linkedin, Twitter or Facebook. You can also check out Consumer Rescue's "What's your Problem?" Facebook group to get quick answers to your consumer questions.