Solo adventurers have a rare chance to roam Earth's farthest frontiers without paying extra for privacy. Aurora Expeditions, the Australia-based expedition-cruise specialist, is eliminating the single-occupancy surcharge-better known as the "single supplement"-across every 2025-26 Antarctica voyage and every Arctic or Global Discovery departure through September 2026. The policy, valid on new bookings made by September 30 2025, means independent travelers can secure a private cabin at the same per-person rate couples pay, freeing up funds for gear, airfares, or a longer itinerary.
Key Points
- Why it matters: Removes a 50 percent fee that often prices solos out of bucket-list cruises.
- Applies to all 2025-26 Antarctica sailings plus Arctic and Global Discovery trips until 30 September 2026.
- Fleet capped at 130 guests, fostering quick friendships and Zodiac-quick landings.
- Valid on new reservations booked through 30 September 2025; normal deposit rules remain.
- Ships add solo-friendly touches-flexible cabin layouts, hosted dining tables, and Citizen-Science labs.
Snapshot
Aurora Expeditions' No Solo Supplement promotion waives the customary 50 percent surcharge solo travelers pay for sole use of a stateroom. The deal covers every voyage that departs between October 2025 and September 2026 aboard the ice-class Greg Mortimer, Sylvia Earle, or Douglas Mawson. Fares still include signature extras-loaner polar boots, Hotel night pre-cruise, daily Zodiac excursions, guided treks, lectures, and onboard Wi-Fi. Pricing remains dynamic, yet the absence of a supplement trims thousands of dollars from the final invoice. Availability is first-come, first-served, and the offer excludes Captain, Junior, and Triple Suites. Aurora may withdraw the incentive without notice once allocated cabins sell out.
Background
Founded in 1991 by mountaineer Greg Mortimer, Aurora pioneered small-ship expedition cruising to high latitudes. Its early "base-camp" style trips emphasized expert guides and plenty of time ashore rather than big-ship amenities. Over three decades the brand cultivated a loyal following of photographers, hikers, and science-minded travelers-many of whom journey solo. Historically, however, independent guests shouldered steep supplements because polar ships offer few dedicated single cabins. To woo a growing solo market, Aurora began rolling out sporadic fee waivers in 2022, testing demand on shoulder-season departures. Booking data proved compelling: cabins sold faster, and onboard surveys showed solos rated the social atmosphere higher than couples did. The company therefore expanded the pilot into today's fleet-wide pledge, aligning with broader industry trends that see lines adding solo staterooms and matchmaking roommates to avoid empty berths.
Latest Developments
Aurora's July 2025 announcement transforms a limited-time perk into a universal benefit for at least one full program year. The decision coincides with the launch of the 2026 Arctic & Beyond collection and the inaugural season of the new Douglas Mawson. Three focus areas reveal how the policy reshapes the line's calendar and cabin strategy.
Antarctica 2025-26
The line's dozen-plus Peninsula, Circle, and South Georgia itineraries-spanning 9 to 24 days-now list identical lead-in fares for singles and double-occupancy guests. Prime holiday sailings once commanded up-charges near $6,000; those charges disappear, making longer "Penguins & The Past" routes competitively priced against mainstream ships carrying triple the passengers. Expedition managers expect a higher concentration of solo scientists and photographers, which in turn supports more specialized Citizen-Science outings such as penguin-count transects or phytoplankton sampling.
Expanded Arctic Calendar
From May through September 2026 Aurora will run 18 voyages-its largest Arctic season to date-covering Svalbard, East Greenland, and the Northwest Passage. Ten newly designated solo cabins per ship ensure single guests aren't relegated to inside categories. Aurora's team notes that high adventure add-ons, like polar kayaking or alpine trekking, skew heavily toward independent travelers who enjoy choosing partners spontaneously on board. The waived supplement is expected to lift overall load factors while preserving the social balance that characterizes small-ship life.
Global Discovery Routes
Beyond the poles, the promotion extends to warm-water expeditions in Costa Rica, Scotland's outer isles, and Patagonia's fjords. These 54-to-160-guest sailings feature similar off-vessel activity ratios and carry expedition staff rather than traditional entertainment crews. By equalizing pricing for singles, Aurora brings its "wild coastlines first, buffets last" ethos within reach of retirees and mid-career professionals who cannot align vacation dates with friends. Interest already spikes on survey voyages that trace the Antarctic Convergence northward, offering birders a one-time chance to log both king and macaroni penguins in the same trip.
Analysis
Waiving the solo supplement tackles one of adventure travel's most persistent inequities. Unlike Hotel rooms-where the marginal cost of an extra guest is towels and breakfast-a Cruise cabin is sold per berth. Expedition operators therefore charge solos 125 to 175 percent of the advertised fare to protect revenue. That practice effectively penalizes people who prefer to travel alone or cannot find a like-minded companion with both the budget and the vacation time.
Aurora's blanket policy could reshape consumer expectations across the niche. Competitors have dabbled in partial waivers, yet none match an entire polar program year. If booking pace accelerates-as Aurora's internal testing suggests-other lines may follow, at least on shoulder-season departures where empty cabins hurt profitability most. Travelers stand to gain flexibility: the ability to commit late, tweak itineraries mid-trip, or simply enjoy a private balcony without guilt.
Trip advisors should still vet fine print. The promotion excludes upper-suite categories, and Aurora reserves the right to retract it once inventory tightens. Moreover, airfare to embarkation ports such as Ushuaia or Longyearbyen can eclipse the Cruise discount; coupling the waiver with an early-bird air credit maximizes savings. Pre-existing roommates may also want separate invoices to avoid future friction-if one guest cancels, the other now keeps the fare rather than absorbing a sudden surcharge.
For Arctic dreamers seeking Northern Lights over Svalbard, Norway, the message is CLEAR: book early, pack layers, and relish the freedom that true single pricing provides.
Final Thoughts
Aurora Expeditions has reframed what solo polar travel can cost-and, by extension, who can realistically go. Eliminating the Single Supplement aligns the brand's community-minded ethos with travelers' wallets, inviting independent explorers to chase penguins, pack ice, and midnight-sun horizons on their own terms. Space on these 130-passenger vessels remains finite, so decisive planners will lock in the best cabin choices before the September 30 2025 cut-off. Gear up, secure Travel Insurance, and start building that camera kit. Your private stateroom-and a Zodiac seat to the planet's wildest edges-await with Aurora Expeditions' No Solo Supplement.