Aurora Expeditions

Daily Itinerary

1. Day 1

   Valletta

   Malta

   

   Valletta, Europe's smallest capital, is a fortress city of exceptional grandeur raised from bare limestone in just fifteen years after the Knights of St. John repelled the great Ottoman siege of 1565 — its rigid Renaissance grid of sun-drenched streets concealing a density of baroque palaces, gilded oratories, and subterranean World War II shelters unrivaled anywhere in the Mediterranean. The Grand Harbour, framed by golden bastions plunging into startlingly blue water, offers one of the most dramatically photogenic arrivals in the world for arriving vessels. Spring and autumn deliver the most comfortable temperatures for exploring this UNESCO-listed gem.

2. Day 2

   Valletta

   Malta

   

   Valletta, Europe's smallest capital, is a fortress city of exceptional grandeur raised from bare limestone in just fifteen years after the Knights of St. John repelled the great Ottoman siege of 1565 — its rigid Renaissance grid of sun-drenched streets concealing a density of baroque palaces, gilded oratories, and subterranean World War II shelters unrivaled anywhere in the Mediterranean. The Grand Harbour, framed by golden bastions plunging into startlingly blue water, offers one of the most dramatically photogenic arrivals in the world for arriving vessels. Spring and autumn deliver the most comfortable temperatures for exploring this UNESCO-listed gem.

3. Day 2

   Valletta

   Malta

   

   Valletta, Europe's smallest capital, is a fortress city of exceptional grandeur raised from bare limestone in just fifteen years after the Knights of St. John repelled the great Ottoman siege of 1565 — its rigid Renaissance grid of sun-drenched streets concealing a density of baroque palaces, gilded oratories, and subterranean World War II shelters unrivaled anywhere in the Mediterranean. The Grand Harbour, framed by golden bastions plunging into startlingly blue water, offers one of the most dramatically photogenic arrivals in the world for arriving vessels. Spring and autumn deliver the most comfortable temperatures for exploring this UNESCO-listed gem.

4. Day 3

   Porto Empedocle, Italy

   Italy

   

   Porto Empedocle is Sicily’s gateway to the Valley of the Temples—a UNESCO ridge of seven Doric masterpieces including the extraordinarily preserved Temple of Concordia, rivaling anything in Greece. Must-dos include dawn visits to the Valley of the Temples, exploring Camilleri’s Montalbano country, and breakfast granita with brioche. Visit March through June or September through November for comfortable temperatures; evening visits offer illuminated temple views against the Mediterranean sky.

5. Day 4

   Trapani (Sicily)

   Italy

   

   Trapani is western Sicily's sickle-shaped port city where ancient salt flats, cloud-wrapped medieval Erice, and the crystal-clear Egadi Islands converge at the Mediterranean's cultural crossroads. Visit April through October via Seabourn or Windstar for cable-car ascents to Norman-era pastry shops, sunset salt-flat reflections, and the Arab-influenced seafood couscous that distinguishes this coast from anywhere else in Italy.

6. Day 5

   At Sea

   

7. Day 6

   Olbia

   Italy

   

   Olbia, Sardinia's northeastern gateway, offers three millennia of history from Carthaginian trading post to today's vibrant Italian city, too often bypassed in the rush to the Costa Smeralda. Sardinia's ceremonial suckling pig, DOCG Vermentino wines, and Bronze Age Nuragic ruins reward those who explore beyond the beach. AIDA, MSC Cruises, and Oceania Cruises dock at this convenient port where a walkable historic center and world-class coastline meet fiercely independent Sardinian culture.

8. Day 7

   Bonifacio

   France

   

   Bonifacio is a dramatically cliff-perched medieval citadel at Corsica's southern tip, where Genoese ramparts tower above a fjord-like natural harbour in the turquoise Strait of Bonifacio. Visitors should descend the vertiginous Escalier du Roi d'Aragon carved into the limestone cliffs and take a boat excursion to the pristine Lavezzi archipelago nature reserve for world-class snorkelling among sculpted granite formations. The ideal window is June or September, when the Mediterranean light is at its most luminous and the narrow streets of the haute ville remain blissfully uncrowded.

9. Day 8

   At Sea

   

10. Day 9

    Mahon

    Spain

    

    Mahón commands one of the Mediterranean's deepest natural harbours, a fjord-like inlet on Menorca that captivated British admirals, Phoenician traders, and Roman generals in turn — its Georgian townhouses and gin distilleries speaking eloquently to centuries of contested heritage. Explore the clifftop old town's baroque Santa María church with its 3,200-pipe organ, then cross the water to the imposing fortress of La Mola for sweeping harbour views. The island's prized caldereta de langosta, a slow-simmered lobster stew, is best savoured at the fishing village of Fornells. Visit between May and June or September and October for warmth without the summer crowds.

11. Day 10

    Palma de Mallorca

    Spain

    

    Palma de Mallorca announces itself with one of the most spectacular Gothic cathedrals in the world — La Seu, its honey-coloured sandstone buttresses rising directly from the bay, its interior modified by Antoni Gaudí and illuminated by the world's largest Gothic rose window. The old town behind it is a quarter of Arab baths, Renaissance palaces converted into boutique hotels, and the Passeig del Born — a plane-tree-shaded promenade where Balearic life conducts itself with unhurried grace. The local ensaïmada pastry and fresh sobrasada sausage from the island's black pigs are essential breakfast rituals. Visit May, June, or September: warm, brilliant, and measurably calmer than the July–August peak.

12. Day 11

    Valencia

    Spain

    

    Valencia, Spain's luminous third city, dazzles with a creative energy anchored by two thousand years of layered civilization — Roman foundations, Moorish irrigation gardens, a Gothic cathedral housing what many believe to be the Holy Grail, and Santiago Calatrava's futuristic City of Arts and Sciences gleaming beside a park-filled riverbed. The city invented paella over an open fire of orange-wood in the surrounding huerta, and the Las Fallas festival each March — when neighborhoods compete to erect and then ceremonially burn towering satirical sculptures — is one of Europe's most spectacular celebrations. Valencia's Mediterranean climate makes it exceptional year-round.

13. Day 12

    At Sea

    

14. Day 13

    Malaga

    Spain

    

    Málaga distils three thousand years of Mediterranean civilisation into one of Andalusia's most compelling port cities, where the Moorish Alcazaba fortress surveys a modern waterfront of elegant promenades and sun-drenched café terraces. Do not leave without visiting the Museo Picasso — the artist was born here in 1881 — and ascending to the ruined Castillo de Gibralfaro for panoramic views stretching to the Rif Mountains of Morocco on clear days. Malagueta anchovies fried in olive oil and the sweet Pedro Ximénez-laced dessert wine are the city's defining pleasures. The shoulder seasons of April, May, and October offer perfect Mediterranean warmth.

15. Day 14

    Tangier

    Morocco

    

    Tangier is Morocco's storied gateway between Africa and Europe, a city of Phoenician origins where a whitewashed medina, vibrant souks, and a cosmopolitan waterfront converge at the Strait of Gibraltar. Visitors should not miss savouring traditional pastilla in a rooftop riad and exploring the Kasbah's amber-lit ramparts at sunset. The ideal season to arrive is April through June or September through October, when mild Mediterranean temperatures and fewer crowds allow the city's layered beauty to reveal itself at an unhurried, luxurious pace.

16. Day 15

    Cadiz

    Spain

    

    Cádiz, founded by Phoenician traders around 1100 BC and a strong contender for the oldest continuously inhabited city in Western Europe, juts into the Atlantic on a narrow peninsula where honey-colored ramparts frame improbable views of open ocean and the sun sets directly into the sea. The old quarter is an intoxicating labyrinth of baroque churches, hidden plazas, and carnival spirit — Cádiz's annual February carnival is the wildest and most satirically sharp in Spain — while the tapas culture here, centered on fresh Atlantic seafood cooked with Andalusian simplicity, represents Spanish cuisine at its most elemental and joyful. Visit February for carnival or spring for gentle Atlantic breezes. Seville is ninety minutes inland by bus or rail.

17. Day 16

    Portimao

    Portugal

    

    Portimão is the Algarve's most storied port city, where Phoenician trading heritage meets golden-cliff beaches and Portugal's finest grilled sardine tradition along the Arade River. Visitors should not miss the charcoal-grilled sardines at the riverside churrasqueiras and the dramatic sandstone formations of Praia da Rocha. The port is at its luminous best from May through October, when long Atlantic days bathe the coastline in honeyed light and the August Sardine Festival electrifies the waterfront.

18. Day 17

    Lisbon

    Portugal

    

    Lisbon, Portugal's enchanting capital, stands out for its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant culture. Must-try experiences include savoring local dishes like bacalhau à brás and pastéis de nata at Mercado da Ribeira. The best time to visit is during the spring or fall, when the weather is mild and the city is alive with festivals and events.

19. Day 18

    Lisbon

    Portugal

    

    Lisbon, Portugal's enchanting capital, stands out for its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant culture. Must-try experiences include savoring local dishes like bacalhau à brás and pastéis de nata at Mercado da Ribeira. The best time to visit is during the spring or fall, when the weather is mild and the city is alive with festivals and events.

Cabin Categories

Balcony Stateroom Category A

Balcony

226–288 sq ftMax 2BSAD

Stateroom & balcony combined size: 21.07m2 - 26.77m2 (226.8ft² - 288.2ft2) We have three categories of our Balcony Staterooms. These are classified as A, B or C depending on the stateroom size. Our 25 Balcony Stateroom A rooms are our premium room, and the most abundant on board. These staterooms are located in preferred positions on Deck 4 and 6 which provides easy access between Decks via the internal stairs or elevator.

King or Twin ConfigurationVanity AreaShowerToiletries ProvidedTVSafe+6

View Details ›

Balcony Stateroom Category A – Solo

Balcony

248–288 sq ftMax 1BA1D

Stateroom & balcony combined size: 21.07m2 - 26.77m2 (226.8ft² - 288.2ft2) To support your solo travel adventures, from our 2026 Arctic and Beyond season, we will offer 4 dedicated Balcony Stateroom Category A - Solo cabins on every sailing, with no single supplement. We have three categories of our Balcony Staterooms. These are classified as A, B or C depending on the stateroom size. Our 4 Solo Balcony Stateroom A - Solo rooms are our premium room, these staterooms are located in preferred positions on Deck 4 which provides easy access between Decks via the internal stairs or elevator.

King or Twin ConfigurationLounge AreaVanity AreaShowerToiletries ProvidedSafe+5

View Details ›

Balcony Stateroom Category B

Balcony

226–288 sq ftMax 2BSBD

Stateroom & balcony combined size: 21.07m2 - 26.77m2 (226.8ft² - 288.2ft2) We have three categories of our Balcony Staterooms. These are classified as A, B or C depending on the stateroom size. Our 17 Balcony Stateroom B rooms are our standard room, many fitted with interconnecting features making them great for families or groups. These staterooms are located at the fore and aft of Deck 4 and 6.

King or Twin ConfigurationVanity AreaShowerToiletries ProvidedTVSafe+6

View Details ›

Balcony Stateroom Category C

Balcony

226–268 sq ftMax 2BSCD

Stateroom & balcony combined size: 21.07m2 - 26.77m2 (226.8ft² - 288.2ft2) We have three categories of our Balcony Staterooms. These are classified as A, B or C depending on the stateroom size. Our 15 Balcony Stateroom Category C rooms are our most economical, fitted with all the necessities and comfortable for up to 2 people. These staterooms are scattered throughout Deck 4 & 6.

King or Twin ConfigurationVanity AreaShowerToiletries ProvidedTVSafe+5

View Details ›

Balcony Stateroom Superior

Balcony

298–390 sq ftMax 2SBSD

Stateroom & balcony combined size: 27.77m2 - 36.27m2 (298.9ft2 - 390.4ft2) With a bit more room to stretch the legs, the Balcony Stateroom Superiors are perfect for polar adventurers who travel with plenty of gear. Located on Deck 4 and 6, the Staterooms feature floor to ceiling windows, en-suite bathrooms and a comfortable desk area. Some of these rooms are equipped with wheelchair accessible bathrooms.

King or Twin ConfigurationVanity AreaShowerToiletries ProvidedTVSafe+5

View Details ›

Aurora Stateroom Single

Outside

106 sq ftMax 1AS1D

Stateroom size: 9.85m2 (106ft2) There are two Aurora Stateroom Single cabins featuring portholes, all with private en-suites. Located on Deck 3, they're close to the mudroom and loading platforms.

One Single BedVanity AreaToiletries ProvidedTVSafeDesk+4

View Details ›

Aurora Stateroom Superior

Balcony

150–174 sq ftMax 2SASD

Stateroom size: 13.97m2 - 16.17m2 (150.4ft2 - 174.1ft2) With a bit more room to stretch the legs, the Aurora Stateroom Superior are perfect for polar adventurers who travel with plenty of gear. Located on Deck 7, the Staterooms feature french balconies, floor to ceiling windows, en-suite bathrooms and a comfortable desk area.

King or Twin ConfigurationVanity AreaShowerToiletries ProvidedTVSafe+6

View Details ›

Aurora Stateroom Superior Single

Outside

118–163 sq ftMax 1SA1D

Deck 3 Stateroom size: 15.18m2 (163.4ft2) Deck 7 Stateroom size: 10.97m2 (118.1ft2 ) There are four Aurora Stateroom Superior Single cabins featuring portholes, all with private en-suites. Located on Decks 3 & 7.

One Single BedVanity AreaShowerToiletries ProvidedTVSafe+5

View Details ›

Aurora Stateroom Twin

Outside

165–171 sq ftMax 2AS3D

Stateroom size: 22.57m2 (242.9ft2) There are two Aurora Stateroom Triple cabins featuring portholes, both with private en-suites. Located on Deck 3, they're close to the mudroom and loading platforms.

Sofa BedKing or Twin ConfigurationVanity AreaShowerToiletries ProvidedTV+7

View Details ›

Aurora Stateroom Twin

Outside

165–171 sq ftMax 2AS2D

Stateroom size: 15.37m² - 15.97m² (165.4ft² - 171.9ft²) The Douglas Mawson features two Aurora Stateroom Twin cabins featuring windows, all with private en-suites. Located on Deck 3, they're close to the mudroom and loading platforms, perfect for adventurers who are looking for a comfortable base that's close to the action.

Sofa BedKing or Twin ConfigurationVanity AreaShowerToiletries ProvidedTV+7

View Details ›

E Team Share

outside

E2D

E Team Share

View Details ›

ETeam Single

outside

E1D

ETeam Single

View Details ›

Captain's Suite

Suite

486 sq ftMax 2CSD

Stateroom & balcony combined size: 45.22m2 (486.7ft2) The largest of all our rooms, the singular Captain's Suite will take you to the polar regions in ultimate style and comfort. Complete with large lounge area, balcony, walk-in wardrobe and en-suite, you'll need to get in early to secure this suite.

King or Twin ConfigurationLounge AreaVanity AreaShowerToiletries ProvidedSuite Benefits+7

View Details ›

Junior Suite

Suite

446–450 sq ftMax 2JSD

Stateroom & balcony combined size: Up to 41.47m2 - 41.87m2 (446.4ft2 - 450.7ft2) The four Junior Suites take in some impressive scenery from their vantage points on Deck 7. When you aren't enjoying a landing, you can relax in the suites' separate lounge area, or just watch the world float by from the private balcony.

King or Twin ConfigurationLounge AreaVanity AreaShowerToiletries ProvidedSuite Benefits+6

View Details ›