A different kind of Mediterranean cruise: Aurora Expeditions adds new small-ship voyages

Aurora Expeditions is known for its voyages to wild destinations like Antarctica and the Arctic. But the company will offer new adventures beginning in 2026 – this time a bit less remote.

Aurora is launching a new slate of small-ship cruises to the Atlantic Coast, Mediterranean and Southeast Asia, marking firsts for the operator.

“Adventure means different things to everyone, and we are committed to giving our passengers immersive, educational and adventurous small ship experience, no matter where they choose to explore,” CEO Michael Heath told USA TODAY in an email. “We are excited to bring the ‘Aurora style’ of experiential small ship travel to these new regions and will be doing them differently.”

The popularity of the company’s existing non-polar voyages to places like Costa Rica and Scotland “bolstered our confidence in offering an increased variety of destinations and styles of exploration,” Heath added.

Where will Aurora’s new cruises go?

Highlights of the new sailings include the 13-day Moor than a Myth itinerary from Marrakech, Morocco to Barcelona, Spain. The cruise will include stops in Casablanca, Seville, Palma de Mallorca and more.

Passengers will “explore the labyrinths of Morocco’s medinas, Moorish architecture, Spanish citadels and Andalucian villages,” Aurora said in a news release.

The 11-day The Luck of the Irish cruise will sail round-trip from Dublin, Ireland with stops including Cork and Galway – with planned sailing along the Cliffs of Moher – while the Myths of the Mediterranean itinerary from Athens, Greece to Naples, Italy gives guests 18 days to enjoy ports like Mykonos, Santorini and Dubrovnik, Croatia.

All three sailings will take place on the brand’s new Douglas Mawson ship – set to launch next year with an average of 154 passengers – and will include land programs before and after the cruise. A full list of itineraries can be found on Aurora’s website.

What can guests expect?

Exploration is in Aurora’s DNA, and that will extend to its small-ship cruises – even if guests aren’t hopping in and out of Zodiac boats the whole time.

“The curated programming will be more focused on cultural immersion, culinary experiences and of course education by our specialist onboard storytellers,” said Heath. “They will include options for guided shore excursions such as exploring ancient cities nearby to our ports, farm and vineyard visits, tours to iconic sites such as the Alhambra in Granada, Spain, perfume making in France and much more.”

Guests can choose from as many as three excursions in each port.

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How much do the cruises cost?

Prices vary by itinerary, sailing date and other factors. Aurora’s Mediterranean small-ship cruises, for example, currently start at $9,116 per person based on double occupancy, while Atlantic Coast sailings start at $11,196.

Fares include meals, drinks like wine and beer with dinner, Wi-Fi, entry fees for tourist and historic sites and more.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: This adventure cruise company will offer a different way to see Europe