Aurora Expeditions vs Polar Latitudes: which is better?

No score and no verdict of ours: what Aurora Expeditions and Polar Latitudes each publish on their own websites, read 9 November 2026, topic by topic, each line linked to the page it came from.

Aurora Expeditions vs Polar Latitudes: which is better?

Neither is better for everyone: Aurora Expeditions carries 130 passengers on expedition on each ship and prices Spirit of Antarctica from US$15,436 per person twin share for departures from December 2026, while Polar Latitudes takes 80 to 178 guests per ship and prices The Pure Expedition, 4 February 2027, from US$8,817.

What is each line?

Aurora Expeditions runs small-ship expedition voyages under its own name and was founded in 1991 by Greg and Margaret Mortimer. Source

Polar Latitudes runs small-ship expedition cruises as Polar Latitudes Expeditions, which it says joins Polar Latitudes and Albatros Expeditions. Source

Which ships does each line sail?

Aurora Expeditions sails three ships under its own name: the Greg Mortimer (built 2019), the Sylvia Earle (2022) and the Douglas Mawson (2025). Source

Polar Latitudes lists four ships as its fleet, Ocean Albatros, Ocean Victory, MV Discoverer and Ocean Nova, without saying whether each is owned or chartered. Source

How many guests are on board?

Aurora Expeditions carries 130 passengers on expedition on each ship; maximum capacity is 130 on the Sylvia Earle, 148 on the Greg Mortimer and 154 on the Douglas Mawson. Source

Polar Latitudes carries from 80 to 178 guests per ship, with a maximum of 80 on Ocean Nova; it gives no maximum for each of the other ships. Source

Where does each line sail?

Aurora Expeditions sells named voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula, the Antarctic Circle and the Weddell Sea, the Ross Sea, South Georgia and the Falklands, Svalbard, Norway, the Scottish isles, the Northwest Passage and southern Patagonia. Source

Polar Latitudes sells named voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula and the Antarctic Circle, the Falklands and South Georgia, Svalbard, Greenland, Norway's Lofoten, the North Atlantic isles and Patagonia's Chilean fjords. Source

Who leads the landings?

Aurora Expeditions gives an Expedition Team-to-Expeditioner ratio of 1:7 and a staff-to-expeditioner ratio of 1:1.5; its team includes naturalists, historians, marine biologists and geologists. Source

Polar Latitudes' expedition team has one member for every seven to eight guests and averages a dozen years' experience, with marine biologists, environmental scientists and ornithologists among them. Source

How much time ashore?

Aurora Expeditions says IAATO and AECO limit landings to 100 people ashore at a time; it aims for two to three landings a day in Antarctica and includes daily Zodiac cruises and guided walks, weather permitting. Source

Polar Latitudes takes guests off the ship twice daily, weather permitting, for an average of six hours each day; it does not say how many go ashore at once. Source

What can you do off the ship?

Aurora Expeditions includes the polar plunge, Zodiac cruising and guided walks; kayaking, diving, snowshoeing and camping are optional extras, each needing a deposit of 25% of the activity cost. Source

Polar Latitudes includes the polar plunge and hiking; camping, Discover Kayaking, Immersive Kayaking, snowshoeing and the Immersive Photography Program cost extra, with a free photography coach on every voyage. Source

What does a voyage cost?

Aurora Expeditions prices Spirit of Antarctica, 11 days, from USD $15,436 per person twin share (brochure price $19,295), with departures in December 2026 and February, November and December 2027. Source

Polar Latitudes prices Antarctic Peninsula: The Pure Expedition, 10 days/9 nights on Ocean Victory from Ushuaia departing 4 February 2027, from US$8,817 per person. Source

What does the fare include?

Aurora Expeditions' fares include all meals, drinks with premium spirits and wine (from the 2026/2027 Antarctica season), Starlink wifi, a 3-in-1 polar jacket, use of Muck boots, daily shore excursions and Zodiac cruises, port surcharges and landing fees; optional activities cost extra and a gratuity of USD $20 per person per day is added to the onboard account. Source

Polar Latitudes' fares include all landings and Zodiac cruises, all meals, beer, wine and soft drinks with dinner, a waterproof expedition jacket to keep, boots on loan, 1GB wifi and taxes and landing fees; flights, optional activities, gratuities (it suggests USD 20 per person per day) and the mandatory insurance are extra. Source

What do solo travellers pay?

Aurora Expeditions offers dedicated solo cabins with no single supplement, 10 on the Greg Mortimer and the Sylvia Earle and 4 on the Douglas Mawson, plus a stateroom-sharing service; the usual solo supplement is 50%. Source

Polar Latitudes pairs solo travellers in a shared cabin with another of the same gender, or charges the per-person cabin rate times 1.7 to stay single; MV Discoverer has three Solo Vista Staterooms with no single supplement. Source

How much is the deposit?

Aurora Expeditions asks a deposit of 25% of each ticket within 7 working days of booking; final payment is due at least 120 days before departure. Source

Polar Latitudes asks a 20% non-refundable deposit to confirm a booking, with final payment due 120 days before departure. Source

What happens if you cancel?

Aurora Expeditions keeps the deposit if you cancel 121 days or more before departure and 100% of the ticket price from 120 days; its Voyage Assurance Program instead offers a credit equal to the deposit (121 days or more) or to 50% of the fare (90 to 120 days), valid for 24 months. Source

Polar Latitudes charges $1,250 USD per person to cancel 181 days or more before departure, loss of the 20% deposit from 180 to 120 days and 100% of the total cost under 120 days. Source

Is your money protected?

Aurora Expeditions places all voyage deposits in a separate trust account, the Aurora Passenger Trust, under its Deposit Protection Program; deposits are released from the trust 180 days before departure. Source

Polar Latitudes does not publish this on the pages read.

What insurance do you need?

Aurora Expeditions requires comprehensive travel insurance with medical and emergency evacuation cover of at least USD $250,000, with proof emailed no later than 60 days before departure. Source

Polar Latitudes requires travel insurance bought at the time of booking, with at least $150,000 USD cover for medical expenses, evacuation, emergency repatriation and pre-existing conditions. Source

Can children come?

Aurora Expeditions takes bookings from age 6; under-18s must be with an adult at all times and children aged 6 to 15 pay the adult price unless a promotion applies. Source

Polar Latitudes takes children from 12 years old as a rule, with ages 8 to 11 considered case by case with prior approval and a parental waiver; under-18s must room with a guardian over 21. Source

When is each not the fit?

The limits below are published by each line on their own websites.

• Aurora Expeditions: not the fit if you may cancel late: from 120 days before departure the cancellation fee is 100% of the full ticket price. Source
• Polar Latitudes: not the fit if you use a wheelchair: it says its vessels are not built to be wheelchair accessible, though Ocean Victory and Ocean Albatros have accessible cabins. Source

How do their reviews compare?

Their figures per platform, read 9 November 2026, each from a listing under the line's own name; a whole-company profile is marked. Figures are never added together.

• Aurora Expeditions: Google: 4.4 out of 5 from 107 reviews. Read 9 November 2026.
• Polar Latitudes: Google: 4.1 out of 5 from 7 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.7 out of 5 from 189 reviews, newest 8 November 2026. Read 9 November 2026.

The lines at a glance

One card each, as on every Uncompromised Travel expedition page: what each sells, why to choose each, what to ask for and the limits each publishes.

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 9 November 2026 · updated 9 November 2026