AE Expeditions expands its Antarctic offerings with new routes for the 2025-26 season, including first departures from Australia and New Zealand in over a decade.
- The new itineraries cover East Antarctica, the Ross Sea, and the New Zealand sub-Antarctic islands, offering unique travel experiences.
- A total of 32 cruises will operate, featuring three purpose-built small ships, including the new Douglas Mawson.
- Special offers including early booking discounts of up to 25% are available for select voyages.
- Unique itineraries include a nine-day express trip, Antarctic expeditions, and a comprehensive 34-day adventure.
AE Expeditions is enhancing its travel portfolio with an expanded range of sailings to Antarctica for the 2025-26 season. Over 32 voyages are scheduled, each operating on specially designed small ships, including the new Douglas Mawson. These voyages are unprecedented, marking the first departures from Australia and New Zealand in 13 years, thereby reconnecting the company with its origins and affording travellers novel opportunities to explore less frequented parts of Antarctica.
The eight newly introduced itineraries span a diversity of regions such as East Antarctica and the Ross Sea. Guests will also have the chance to navigate the New Zealand sub-Antarctic islands and even participate in a complete circumnavigation of Tasmania. An interesting aspect of these voyages is the provision of 36 single berths on the Douglas Mawson—a first for the company—catering explicitly to the growing demographic of solo travellers.
An enticing aspect for potential travellers is the availability of early booking discounts, with reductions of up to 25% on select voyages. This incentive aligns well with AE Expeditions’ commitment to making high-end exploration accessible while underscoring the urgency to plan these extraordinary adventures in advance.
In keeping with the spirit of adventure and exploration, AE Expeditions offers trips varying from a concise nine-day express itinerary to an extensive 34-day journey. The latter departs from Dunedin, sails through the New Zealand sub-Antarctic islands and Ross Sea, heads east to the Antarctic Peninsula, and concludes with crossing the Drake Passage to Ushuaia.
Both first-time visitors and seasoned explorers will find options that suit their expedition goals. Furthermore, to meet popular demand, AE Expeditions introduces two all-inclusive activity voyages. These complement the existing individual activity programmes, which hold significant appeal among adventure enthusiasts.
Hayley Peacock-Gower, AE Expeditions’ Chief Marketing Officer, expressed excitement over the opportunity to enable travel to Antarctica from Australia and New Zealand. She highlighted this as a reconnection with the company’s foundational inspirations and a chance to explore lesser-known regions. Meanwhile, Global Head of Product, Justin Erin, assured that the season’s offerings cater to diverse traveller interests, focusing on adventure and exploration.
AE Expeditions’ new itineraries make Antarctica more accessible and offer diverse experiences for travellers.
