Sylvia Earle travel tips

The cruise industry is seeing a surge in demand for expeditions that bring us closer to the diversity of wildlife inhabiting some of the most pristine parts of our natural world. From journeys through Arctic waters, expeditions in the Amazon rainforest and island-hopping in the volcanic Galápagos archipelago, we round up 11 of our favourites for the year ahead.

Dream and discover in 2024 through 2025 with Aurora Expeditions.

This fall, cruise lines are preparing for a big boost to their offerings and route maps. If you’re planning travel for 2024, these cruise lines have new options just for you. Now that the pandemic is in the rearview mirror, cruise companies are launching new ships, new itineraries and new amenities.

Australia’s award-winning expedition travel company, Aurora Expeditions, has announced that its voyagers now have access to enhanced connectivity following the rollout of Space X’s Starlink aboard two of its purpose-built ships, the Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle.

As our bus bounced down the winding dirt road, through the Mars-like landscape of King George Island in the South Shetland Islands, a cargo container shelter came into view. On the front porch a crowd was gathering, waving eagerly. At first, I thought they might be residents of the Chilean Frei base, which maintains the rudimentary gravel runway on which we just landed. Scientists, perhaps, or support staff that keep the base functional. But then I saw her—the venerable marine biologist Dr. Sylvia Earle, shepherding passengers from Aurora Expedition's Sylvia Earle, the new polar expedition ship that had just completed its first sailing. We were in the midst of switching places: those on the bus about to embark upon our Antarctic adventure, and those on the porch returning home after theirs. Earle had been onboard to christen her namesake vessel.