Expedition cruise company, Aurora Expeditions, has released their exciting new 2012/13 Antarctica program. With 20 voyages encompassing the highlights of Antarctic Peninsula, the Weddell Sea, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands, this season is set to be their biggest and best ever.

The 2012/13 season has a variety of new features, including a choice of two ships, with the addition of Akademik Shokalskiy to the Antarctic Peninsula program.  The increased capacity also allows for a greater variety of voyage lengths (8 to 20 days), and more opportunities for adventure activities with kayaking offered on 16 voyages.

With successful uptake of the Fly & Sail options in 2011/12, Aurora Expeditions have increased their Fly & Sail options in 2012/13, allowing passengers to see more in a shorter amount of time, and cutting out one sea crossing. These voyages will include either a flight in from Santiago or Punta Arenas in Chile, or a flight out from King George Island or Stanley in the Falkland Islands.

Celebrating one of the greatest survival stories in Antarctic exploration, Aurora Expeditions has created a brand NEW voyage that will follow in the wake of Sir Ernest Shackleton. In comfort and safety, ‘South Georgia & Weddell Sea - Shackleton’s Odyssey’, will shine a light on Shackleton’s heroic expedition. Passengers will also have the option to complete the ‘Shackleton’s Crossing’, an alpine traverse of South Georgia’s interior from King Haakon Bay to Stromness, completed by Shackleton himself, on his historic journey.

As one of the world’s most experienced small-ship adventure cruise companies, carrying a maximum of 54 passengers, Aurora Expeditions’ voyages are more akin to expeditions than conventional cruises. No matter which voyage you choose, or which ship you wish to sail, all of their voyages offer the best experience possible of this incredible region. For the more adventurous there are a range of activities on offer, such as scuba diving, kayaking, photography, camping and ice climbing.

Prices for the 2012/13 Antarctic season start from US$6365 per person based on a triple cabin for an 8 day cruise.