I’d been reading about the launch of the Aurora Expeditions’ Douglas Mawson ship for years so I couldn’t wait to get onboard its first cruise. The four-night trip from Sydney to Hobart was a preview sailing for travel industry insiders. It would also give the crew a chance to practice their skills on a ship full of passengers for the first time, before the ship’s official itinerary.

I was expecting a few glitches as this was the Douglas Mawson ship’s first trip with passengers onboard plus the ship was very new, but aside from some slightly slow service and an underdone steak on the first night at dinner, and no WiFi in most of the cabins on Deck 4 there were no major issues on our trip. The Wi-Fi was being fixed by a technical team once everyone disembarked, and the dining had evened out by day two. In other words, it was a very impressive inaugural cruise.

Here is what you can expect onboard Aurora Expeditions’ new Douglas Mawson ship, including the best Douglas Mawson food and dining options, tips for Douglas Mawson activities and which Douglas Mawson cabins to book (and which ones you shouldn’t).

Douglas Mawson deck plans

If you’re accustomed to sailing on larger ships, the Douglas Mawson deck plan may initially seem small, but its comfortable design is well thought out. For example, I liked how there were no guest cabins on Deck 5 where most of the ship’s facilities were located, and the mudrooms had space for all your gear and quick drying facilities.

A mid-ships cabin on Deck 3 or Deck 4 is the way to go if you are worried about seasickness as you don’t get as much movement in this lower area. A few first time sailors on our trip experienced some discomfort in cabins on the higher decks as the seas were up. If this happens to you, the ship’s doctor can help with remedies.

If you enjoy an afternoon nap or think you might need one on a busy expedition cruise, there is some noise on Deck 4 from passengers using the corridor to reach the mudroom and excursion boarding area on Deck 3. Being on Deck 4 didn’t bother me at all but I was up and about all day.

Douglas Mawson restaurants and where to eat

Aurora Expeditions’ Douglas Mawson has more dining options than usual for a small expedition ship. At breakfast, lunch and dinner you can dine at the main restaurant on Deck 5 or head up to The Hut on the top deck which has indoor and outdoor seating, an a la carte menu (this stays the same) and more tables for two. My favourite restaurant was The Hut as I prefer a la carte dining over buffets. 

If it’s not too rough or windy, there are pop up dining events like a barbeque on the top deck at the back of the ship as well. The pool bar is open then too so you can grab a complimentary drink with dinner.

Even though I preferred dining at The Hut, the buffet on the Douglas Mawson ship was nicely laid out and very tasty which tempted me to dine here far more than I usually would. The Deck 5 restaurant has a breakfast and lunch buffet, and an a la carte dinner menu that changes daily.

I was sailing solo on this cruise, but I usually cruise with my husband. We both enjoy group dining but also like to have dinner together as a couple every second night or so. It would be nice to see some more tables for two in the main restaurant on Douglas Mawson for travellers who feel the same as we do.

House wines and beer are included at dinner time. At other times, you can purchase a drink at one of the bars or enjoy complimentary soft drinks anytime you like. There are also complimentary drinks available sometimes, like during the Captain’s Welcome Drinks.

For a sweet treat, don’t miss the freshly baked cookies in the jars beside the coffee machine in the lecture lounge. These disappeared rapidly on our sailing and were constantly replenished once people found out how delicious they were!

Douglas Mawson cabins: which one should you book?

Perhaps surprisingly, I’m not going to recommend the top Captain’s Suite. It’s a beautiful cabin but it’s also located on busy Deck 4 right across from the excursions desk. Instead, I’d suggest you book one of the four Douglas Mawson junior suites. These are also beautiful and spacious and located on Deck 7 which is much quieter.

Whichever cabin you choose on Aurora Expeditions’ Douglas Mawson, they all have understated and tasteful décor, private bathrooms with heated floors and most of them have a balcony (either a French balcony or a true balcony that allows you to go outside).

The Category A, B and C balcony cabins are pretty much identical aside from their location on the ship. If money is tight and you have your heart set on a balcony, a Category C cabin will make your holiday dollar go further and your holiday dreams come true.

Douglas Mawson solo cabins and single traveller tips

So, you might be wondering if the Douglas Mawson ship is good for single travellers. If you’re travelling solo, Douglas Mawson is the only Aurora Expeditions’ ship with solo cabins. I would highly recommend these Douglas Mawson single cabins as they’re well priced and very comfortable, and don’t come with the dreaded single supplement. Overall, the ship is a good fit for solo travellers.

If you miss out on a Douglas Mawson single cabin, you can also share a room with another solo traveller of the same sex on Douglas Mawson or any other Aurora Expeditions’ ship. Just ask when you book and Aurora Expeditions will organise it.

If you’re a solo traveller, Douglas Mawson is a sociable ship and it’s easy to meet people. Most of the tables in the main dining room are larger so it’s easy to find someone to sit with at meals without feeling like you’re intruding. You’ll also get to make friends on the excursions like zodiac landings and other paid activities.

Douglas Mawson activities

Speaking of the Douglas Mawson ship activities and excursions, as we were on a short cruise we only had time for one stop. This was a day spent at Freycinet Bay where we had the choice of kayaking or a zodiac trip, and three different hikes.

Even though time was short, our Tasmania expedition operated in the same way as other Aurora Expedition cruises with the aim of having two or three excursions a day. I chose the zodiac trip (morning) and medium difficulty hike (afternoon) which ended up being quite easy. I couldn’t have managed the ‘hard’ hike as it was tough.

The expedition crew was a standout and I was sorry they couldn’t take us on more excursions. I’d recommend a trip on the Douglas Mawson ship for the expedition team alone. They delivered great lectures too, and also shared their knowledge in the Citizen Science Centre.

Complimentary activities like SUP (warm climates only) and scenic zodiac cruises can be booked while you’re onboard the ship. Other chargeable activities like scuba diving, snorkeling, and polar sea kayaking must be booked in advance.

What activities are offered depend on the itinerary, and also the weather during the voyage. However, the chargeable ones can be good value. If you’ve booked one of these and the weather plays along, you can do it as often as you like.

Douglas Mawson ship entertainment options

You won’t find any big name shows or other musical entertainment on Douglas Mawson (or most small expedition ships). Instead, the focus is on chatting, educational lectures and citizen science activities plus the daily expeditions. Trust us, you won’t get bored!

Disclosure: The writer travelled as a guest of Aurora Expeditions.

Want more great cruise advice? Check out our tips for choosing the perfect cruise, cruising with grandchildren, cruising with tweens and cruising with kids of all ages, solo cruising, the best activities on Ovation of the Seas, doing a Transatlantic cruise with kids, cruising in Australia or Papua New Guinea, Iceland cruise tips, cruising on a megaship, scoring a bargain cruise fare, cruising the Mediterranean, making the most of a cruise ship kids club, luxury cruising with kids, and the Byron Beach Club on Carnival Cruises. We have also reviewed Disney Wonder, Viking Vesta, Douglas Mawson, Carnival Encounter, Celebrity Edge, Carnival Adventure, Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, Carnival Splendor, Voyager of the Seas, Nieuw Statendam, Viking Helgrim, Pride of America, Coral Expeditions in Tasmania and the Great Barrier Reef, Celebrity Solstice, and Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth.