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  • Aurora Expeditions Svalbard Cruise Review [2025 Guide]

    Aurora Expeditions Svalbard Cruise Review [2025 Guide]


    Svalbard sits on the edge of the map, a land of glaciers, polar bears, and remote fjords where the Arctic Ocean meets the pack ice.

    At 78° North, this Norwegian archipelago is one of the wildest places on Earth, and joining a Svalbard cruise with Aurora Expeditions is the best way to experience it.

    Being fortunate enough to work in the polar regions since 2017, with over 20 expeditions to Antarctica and 5 to the Arctic under our belts, it’s safe to say we have developed a deep passion for the far reaches of the planet.

    Yet still the attraction remains stronger than ever, and with Svalbard being arguably the icon of Arctic travel, we couldn’t be more thrilled to finally visit together.

    In August 2025 we boarded the Greg Mortimer for their 11-day Svalbard Odyssey voyage through Spitsbergen and the high Arctic, chasing polar bears, walrus, reindeer, ivory gulls, beluga whales, and countless seabirds.

    READ MORE: Check out our full Greg Mortimer ship review!

    Along the way we explored historic sites like Ny-Ålesund and Virgohamna, cruised beneath towering glaciers such as Lilliehöökbreen and Negribreen, and pushed as far north as 82°39’ into the drifting sea ice.

    No two polar expeditions are ever the same. The itinerary in Svalbard changes daily, dictated by weather, ice, and wildlife.

    This is our detailed review of the Aurora Expeditions Svalbard itinerary, showcasing the landings, wildlife encounters, and onboard life that made our voyage unforgettable.

    If you’re planning a trip to the Arctic and want to know exactly what to expect on a Svalbard cruise with Aurora Expeditions, this guide covers everything: the highlights, the surprises, and the moments that make expedition travel so special.

    EXCLUSIVE – We have partnered with the world’s top polar tour operator, Aurora Expeditions, to offer readers of NOMADasaurus a very special deal on any trip to Antarctica or the Arctic! Contact us (hello@nomadasaurus.com) if you’d like to learn more about these exclusive discounts. Or simply mention the code “NOMAD” when booking direct with Aurora to activate the deal.

    Aurora Expeditions Svalbard Cruise Itinerary
    Epic landscapes and incredible wildlife – there’s so much to experience on an adventure to the high Arctic. Read on to discover what it’s like on an Aurora Expeditions Svalbard cruise itinerary.

    Quick Facts – Aurora Expeditions Svalbard Cruise

    • Operator: Aurora Expeditions
    • Ship: Greg Mortimer (130-passenger, purpose-built expedition ship)
    • Destination: Svalbard, Norway (Arctic)
    • Itinerary: Svalbard Odyssey
    • Duration: 12 days
    • Start/Finish: Oslo, Norway (includes a charter flight to and from Longyearbyen, Svalbard)
    • Focus: Polar bears, glaciers, sea ice, Arctic wildlife, history, and remote landings

    Note: Expedition cruising in Svalbard is highly flexible. Ice, weather, and wildlife dictate where you go each day, so no two voyages are alike. This is a review of our exact journey in August 2025.


    Day 1 – Leaving Longyearbyen Behind

    Few places feel like the edge of the world quite like Longyearbyen.

    Tucked between sharp peaks and glacial valleys at 78° North, this coal-mining town is a curious mix of frontier grit and Arctic charm.

    It’s also the launch point for almost every expedition into Svalbard, and for us it marked the beginning of an adventure we’d been dreaming about for years.

    Arriving at the pier there was a buzz of energy. Expedition jackets, tripods, backpacks, and wide-eyed excitement all mingled together as we caught our first glimpse of the Greg Mortimer – the sleek expedition ship that would carry us deep into the Arctic Ocean.

    The crew met us at the gangway with warm smiles, inside the hotel staff welcomed the expeditioners with trays of canapés and genuine enthusiasm.

    The first hours onboard slipped by in a blur. Bags were dropped into cabins, cameras laid out for the days ahead, and before long we were sitting in the lecture theatre for introductions.

    Alesha Taking Photos Longyearbyen
    Alesha out on deck photographing the landscapes as we depart Longyearbyen.

    Expedition Leader Isabelle set the tone with calm confidence, introducing her team of guides, historians, scientists, and Zodiac drivers.

    Safety briefings followed, along with fittings for jackets, muck boots, and kayak equipment for those that had signed up.

    It was part orientation, part initiation – the moment where the trip stopped being abstract and suddenly became very real.

    That evening, as the Greg Mortimer eased away from the dock, Longyearbyen’s colourful houses grew smaller against the mountains until they vanished completely.

    Phones were tucked away, chatter quietened, and a hush fell across the decks. The Arctic stretched out ahead – endless, icy, and wild.

    Civilisation was behind us now, and in its place was something infinitely more exciting: the unknown.

    READ MORE: Find out the whether the north or south is for you with our Antarctica vs the Arctic guide.

    Longyearbyen Svalbard Spitsbergen
    Setting sail from Longyearbyen.

    Day 2 – Ice and Science at Ny-Ålesund

    The first full day of our Arctic voyage began with breakfast served against a staggering backdrop – the Lilliehöökbreen Glacier.

    Stretching across Krossfjord in a wall of jagged blue, it was our first real taste of the landscapes that define Svalbard.

    The Greg Mortimer glided slowly past, icebergs drifting silently in the fjord while fulmars skimmed the water’s surface.

    Cameras clicked over coffee cups, and the ship’s railings filled with expeditioners wide-eyed at the scale of it all.

    But before anyone could set foot ashore, there was work to do. In the lecture theatre the Expedition Team ran us through the realities of travel in the high Arctic: how to behave in polar bear territory, the ins and outs of Zodiac operations, and the importance of biosecurity.

    Every backpack was scrubbed, boots vacuumed, and Velcro checked for seeds – a small but vital ritual to keep Svalbard’s fragile ecosystem intact.

    By afternoon the wind was up, but the team had something special planned.

    Zodiacs bounced through choppy water into Kongsfjord, landing us at Ny-Ålesund, one of the northernmost communities in the world.

    Once a mining settlement, today it’s a hub for international Arctic research. Walking between brightly painted buildings, we learned about the polar expeditions that set off from here – dreams of reaching the North Pole etched into the town’s legacy.

    After a guided wander we had time to explore on our own. Some browsed the small museum and shop, while others sent postcards stamped with the magic of the high Arctic.

    That evening we gathered back onboard for the Captain’s Welcome Cocktail, glasses raised in celebration.

    The ship hummed with stories of glaciers and research towns, and as we toasted to the days ahead, it felt like the expedition had truly begun.

    Day 3 – Walrus, Whalers, and Foxes in Raudfjord

    By the third morning at sea the Arctic had revealed its rhythm: a quiet breakfast broken by the hum of Zodiacs dropping into the water, cameras slung over shoulders, and the sense that anything could happen once we left the ship.

    Our destination was Smeerenburg, once the busiest whaling station in the Arctic and now a lonely spit of land at the top of Spitsbergen.

    The name itself translates to “Blubber Town,” and it was here in the 17th century that Dutch whalers rendered countless whales into oil.

    Greg Mortimer Glacier Views
    The Greg Mortimer anchored in front of a large glacier in Raufjorden on day 3.

    Today the furnaces are long gone, replaced by drifting ice and the heavy forms of walrus sprawled across the beach.

    We floated in our Zodiacs just offshore, watching as these enormous pinnipeds rolled over each other, splashed into the shallows, and lifted their tusked heads in lazy acknowledgement of our presence.

    The water was thick with jellyfish and ctenophores, delicate and otherworldly, while Arctic terns and glaucous gulls wheeled overhead.

    History may have emptied Smeerenburg of people, but wildlife has reclaimed it in full.

    Nearby, at Virgohamna, the ghosts of Arctic exploration lingered.

    Here in the early 1900s, adventurers like Salomon August Andrée and Walter Wellman built their bases in a desperate bid to reach the North Pole.

    Neither succeeded, and the ruins of their camps remain as weathered reminders of ambition meeting the reality of the Arctic.

    Around the shoreline we spotted harbour seals stretched on rocks, geese picking through the grass, and black guillemots drifting silently on the water.

    By afternoon the Greg Mortimer nosed into Raudfjord, its peaks reflected on glassy water.

    We landed at Alicehamna, splitting into small groups to explore on foot.

    One of the highlights of travelling the Arctic compared to the Antarctic is the ability to really stretch the legs and enjoy long hikes, under the safety of trained polar bear spotters and rifle handlers, of course.

    We hiked a few kilometres, stopping along the way to hear the expedition team share details of the flora and fauna that make Alicehamna, and Svalbard, so interesting.

    That night, as the ship pointed north toward the ice, conversation over dinner circled back to the day’s sightings.

    The Arctic was revealing itself in contrasts: history and survival, silence and abundance, fragility and resilience.

    READ MORE: Keen to explore elsewhere in the Arctic? Why not check out a Greenland cruise!

    Day 4 – Into the Sea Ice: First Glimpse of the King

    The coastline of Spitsbergen slipped away overnight, and by morning the world outside had transformed.

    The Greg Mortimer moved slowly through bands of drifting fog, the sea flat and glassy, the air sharp enough to sting our cheeks.

    The ship’s coordinates ticked steadily north — 80°, then 81° — each degree a milestone that carried us further from land and deeper into the Arctic.

    Outside the oily slick of the ocean started to become peppered with pack ice, remnants of the long Arctic winter that was now retreating back towards the North Pole.

    The silence was broken by a shout that rippled through the corridors: “Bear!”

    Within moments, the decks were crowded. Cameras and binoculars appeared in every hand, lenses aimed at a single patch of ice where a polar bear wandered around on a floe.

    Polar Bear On Ice Svalbard
    Our first polar bear of the trip – spotted on the sea ice at 82 degrees north. A sighting none of us will ever forget. Shot with a telephoto lens at a distance, adhering to all responsible wildlife viewing regulations.

    It rolled lazily, paws in the air like it had not a care in the world, before standing and ambling across the ice with powerful, unhurried strides.

    For many onboard it was their first encounter with the animal that had drawn them here – a defining moment that would never be forgotten.

    Keeping a safe distance and adhering to all responsible wildlife viewing regulations, we enjoyed our time with the bear and then continued our journey north.

    The ship pressed deeper into the pack, floes scraping along the hull with hollow cracks.

    By midday we had reached 82°39’ North, our highest latitude of the voyage, and the furthest north the Greg Mortimer had ever reached, surrounded by a frozen jigsaw of white and electric blue.

    The fog lifted briefly and the sun broke through, lighting the ice as though we had entered another world.

    At the bow, passengers gathered for a celebratory photo, cheeks flushed from cold and excitement.

    We continued our search for more wildlife, but alas the elusive polar bear did not reappear this time around.

    Conversation buzzed as we relived the morning’s sighting, the bear’s movements already etched into memory and we counted our lucky stars that we had seen one, knowing that some trips never have that opportunity.

    That night at dinner the story was retold again and again, each version carrying the same awe: the moment the Arctic gave us our first polar bear.

    Day 5 – History in Stone, Courage in Ice

    Sunlight poured across the deck as the Greg Mortimer threaded through Beverlysundet, a narrow stretch of water separating Chermsideøya from Nordaustlandet.

    From a distance the island looked like little more than a barren rise of rock, but as Zodiacs touched the shore its history came into focus.

    Etched into boulders above the landing site were markings left in 1928 by the crew of the Russian icebreaker Krasin, who had sailed north in search of the missing Italian explorer Umberto Nobile.

    READ MORE: At the other end of the earth, learn everything you need to know about travelling to Antarctica!

    These scratched names and dates, still visible nearly a century later, carried the weight of desperation and hope from an earlier age of polar exploration.

    The expedition team offered a variety of hikes for those who wanted to go to shore and wander the tundra under a pale sky – a long, fast walk, a medium pace, and a short stroll for anyone that felt like just sitting on a rock and contemplating the majesty and history around them.

    Two hours later our fast group was picked up at the other side of the island and the Zodiacs whisked us back to the Greg Mortimer.

    Back onboard the mood shifted from reflective to electric. The call went out for the polar plunge, and more than thirty passengers lined up on the gangway.

    One by one they leapt into the Arctic Ocean, shrieking as the 6°C water clamped around them, surfacing with wild grins before scrambling back to the ladders.

    The cheers from the railings rang louder than the splash of the waves.

    Alesha did the plunge as well, an enormous milestone after her cardiac arrest. Her doctors had originally told her that a polar plunge was something she could never do again, but with her incredible recovery she had been given the approval earlier in the year to do it again, on the condition she slid in, not jump.

    And now she can proudly say she has done the polar plunge in both Antartica and the Arctic AFTER suffering a cardiac arrest.

    Nothing can stop her!

    Alesha Polar Plunge Svalbard
    Alesha about to do the polar plunge above 80 degrees North!

    The afternoon brought a different kind of challenge. The plan was to land at Phippsøya, but the weather closed in fast.

    Fog rolled across the sea until Zodiacs could hardly see one another. Instead, we explored by boat around Parryøya, each group vanishing into the white before reappearing like ghosts on the horizon.

    Out of the haze came flashes of life: the tusks of walrus breaking the surface, a scatter of eider ducklings, and for one lucky boat, the pale outline of a distant polar bear.

    By the time everyone returned to the ship, GPS guiding drivers through the fog, the story of the plunge and the fog-bound cruise filled the dining room.

    History etched in stone, adrenaline in icy water, and wildlife emerging from the mist – it had been a day that captured every side of the Arctic.

    Walrus In Water Parryøya
    A pod of walrus at Parryøya.

    Day 6 – The Bird Cliffs of Alkefjellet

    Rain tapped softly on our hoods as Zodiacs skimmed across choppy water toward Alkefjellet, one of the most dramatic seabird colonies in the Arctic.

    Dark dolerite cliffs rose sheer from the sea, streaked with moss and guano, and alive with the calls of thousands upon thousands of Brünnich’s guillemots.

    The air was filled with movement – birds wheeling overhead, diving into the waves, or balancing awkwardly on narrow ledges carved into the rock.

    Brünnich’s Guillemots At Alkefjellet
    Tens of thousands Brünnich’s guillemots flying overhead at Alkefjellet – one of the Arctic’s most impressive sights.

    Up close, the cliffs seemed to hum. Every ledge was packed with guillemots chattering in a deafening chorus.

    Some chicks had already taken their leap of faith, tiny bundles of fluff paddling beside their fathers on the water.

    Others hurled themselves from dizzying heights, wings flapping furiously before splashing into the sea – a rite of passage repeated for millennia.

    Black-legged kittiwakes soared in the wind, while an Arctic fox darted across the shoreline, searching for any chick unlucky enough to stray.

    It was raw, noisy, messy, and utterly captivating.

    By afternoon the weather had other ideas. The plan was to land at Torrellneset, often a reliable spot for walrus, but the fog thickened until the coastline disappeared entirely.

    Even the Zodiacs could barely keep sight of one another. The decision was made to cancel, a sharp reminder that the Arctic is always in control.

    Torrellneset Glacier Waterfall
    A waterfall tumbles from the Torrellneset glacier.

    Instead, the day turned inward. Back on the Greg Mortimer, naturalist John delivered a powerful lecture on polar bears, weaving together science, photography, and personal stories of encounters in the wild.

    As the fog clung to the ship, his words painted vivid pictures of the King of the Arctic moving across the ice.

    That night the crew rolled out a surprise: a barbecue in the main restaurant. Decked out in wigs and funny hats, we all tucked in to a delectable spread of meats, vegetables and salads with music playing over the speakers.

    Arctic Fox
    Portrait of an Arctic fox.

    Day 7 – Kvitøya: White Island and the Bear Bonanza

    Through the night the Greg Mortimer pressed northeast, swallowed by fog so thick it felt like the ship had been erased from the world.

    By morning, the haze hadn’t shifted – a ghostly white pressing in from every side.

    Then, just as breakfast ended, the curtain lifted. Out of the mist loomed Kvitøya, or “White Island,” a desolate place almost entirely buried beneath an ice cap.

    Few people ever set foot here, and for good reason.

    This remote island is tied to one of the Arctic’s most tragic stories – the doomed 1897 balloon expedition of Swedish explorer Salomon August Andrée, who perished with his companions on these very shores.

    We had hoped to land at Andreeneset, where a memorial marks the site, but the fog rolled back in, smothering the coastline and dashing the chance.

    What we found instead was something far rarer, and far greater. Along the beaches and across the ice, polar bears appeared. Over a dozen!

    Kvitøya Polar Bear
    A polar bear wanders down the rocks at Kvitøya.

    At first it was a shape moving on the shoreline, then another sprawled on a snowbank, then more padding across the rocks.

    Before long, whispers of “another one!” rippled across the Zodiacs until we’d counted at least eleven bears in sight.

    Some lifted their heads lazily to watch us, others wandered with steady, powerful strides, their creamy fur blending into the fog.

    It felt surreal – the Arctic’s top predator, not a distant dream on the horizon but a presence everywhere we looked.

    The landing might have been impossible, but no one minded.

    This was a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, the kind of encounter you hope for but never expect.

    Back onboard, the afternoon was filled with lectures on sea ice, polar bears, and the ship itself, yet the conversation always circled back to Kvitøya.

    That night, the dining room buzzed with a single story, told in different words but always the same at heart: the day the fog lifted, and the Arctic revealed eleven polar bears on a single island.

    Polar Bear Kvitøya Svalbard
    Another bear emerges from the fog.

    Day 8 – Negribreen: Ghost Birds in the Mist

    The morning broke in silence. A pale mist hung over Negribreen, one of Svalbard’s largest glaciers, its jagged front spilling icebergs into the fjord.

    Zodiacs slipped quietly between glowing blocks of ice, each one a sculpture of shifting blues and greens. The world felt still, muffled by fog, every sound softened by the weight of the ice.

    Then came a cry – not from us, but from above. The sharp call of an ivory gull cut through the mist.

    Out of the whiteness, a pair appeared, circling a large berg before settling on its crest.

    Ivory Gull Svalbard Arctic
    An ivory gull soars overhead at Negribreen.

    Their snow-white feathers blended perfectly with the glacier, so pure it was hard to distinguish bird from ice.

    Moments later, more arrived, until a small flock wheeled above us, their movements ghostlike against the sky.

    These elusive gulls are among the rarest seabirds in the Arctic, and seeing them here – so close, so fleeting – felt like witnessing a secret few ever glimpse.

    Back onboard, bird expert Meike brought the encounter to life in an engaging lecture, explaining the fragile future of ivory gulls and the challenges Arctic seabirds face across their long migrations.

    The morning’s magic turned into knowledge, deepening the experience.

    The afternoon brought another change of plans. A landing at Sundneset was cancelled when both reindeer and a polar bear were spotted near the site.

    Instead, the Greg Mortimer pushed toward Hornsund, while onboard life filled the hours: I gave a photo-editing workshop, a North Pole tale from historian Jamie, and a lively game run by the Expedition Team.

    Evening drinks carried on with stories of foxes, birds, and glaciers, but it was the gulls that lingered. They seemed to embody the Arctic itself — elusive, fragile, and unforgettable.

    Day 9 – Bamsebu: Bones and Belugas

    Fog swallowed our morning once again, forcing the Expedition Team to abandon plans for Calypsobyen and divert to Bamsebu, a lonely beach marked by one small cabin.

    From a distance it looked unremarkable – a weathered hut above a seaweed-strewn shore. But as we landed, the truth of the place became clear.

    Scattered across the beach were the remains of more than 550 beluga whales, slaughtered in the 1930s when this site served as a whaling station.

    Whaler's Hut Bamsebu Svalbard
    The old trapper’s hut at Bamsebu.

    The bones lie there still, bleached by the Arctic sun and tide, a haunting monument to an era when wildlife was nothing more than a commodity.

    Walking among them was sobering, a reminder that the Arctic is not only a wilderness of ice and silence, but also a witness to human exploitation.

    Yet, as if on cue, the Arctic offered balance.

    The fog finally lifted, and the fjord opened into a panorama of mountains and islands.

    Kayakers paddled into the wide bay, their bright boats small against the vast landscape. The mood lightened, spirits lifted by the sheer scale of where we stood.

    That afternoon, a second attempt at Calypsobyen was thwarted once again by fog, but fortune redirected us into Recherchefjord.

    There, a dozing polar bear rested on a hillside while reindeer grazed on the next hill.

    Polar Bear At Recherchefjord
    Another polar bear spotted on the hill!

    Overhead, an Arctic tern attacked a flock of kittiwakes with fearless fury, defending its nest against birds much larger than itself.

    Rene cruised us into a berg-filled bay with a stunning glacier emerging amongst the fog.

    The face was active, with small chunks of ice tumbling down and the glacier cracking and groaning as it shifted so slightly into the sea.

    Suddenly an enormous piece of ice calved from the glacier, crashing into the bay and sending waves in all directions.

    Recherchefjord Glacier Calving
    Incredibly luckily to witness this galcier calving at Recherchefjord.

    We cheered and basked in the experience, from a safe distance of course, before making our way back towards the Greg Mortimer.

    And then came the sight none of us expected: a pod of beluga whales, surfacing in the fjord, some with calves at their side.

    Their white backs rolled through the grey water, a living echo to the bones we had seen earlier that day.

    From tragedy to resilience, Bamsebu had shown us both the darkest chapter and the most hopeful future of the Arctic.

    Day 10 – Poolepynten & Alkhornet: The Last Step

    Our final full day in Svalbard dawned clear, the fog that had defined so many mornings finally gone.

    The Greg Mortimer anchored off Poolepynten, a low-lying spit known for its walrus haul-outs.

    But in true expedition style, the animals weren’t there to greet us. Instead, the beach revealed a different kind of drama.

    We walked across soft mosses and driftwood, the air alive with bird calls.

    Kittiwakes filled the sky, while Arctic terns dived fearlessly at anyone who strayed too close to their nests.

    Along a lake, a sly Arctic fox prowled in plain sight, constantly harassed by furious birds intent on keeping it away from their chicks.

    A lonely walrus, weary and battered from an age of battles, dozed on the beach.

    In the distance, reindeer grazed under a low ceiling of clouds, indifferent to our presence. It was a reminder that the Arctic doesn’t always deliver what you expect, but it always delivers something.

    Walrus Poolepynten Svalbard Aurora Expeditions Review
    A resting walrus at Poolepynten.

    By afternoon we sailed into Isfjorden, a sign that civilisation was near.

    Yet before Longyearbyen came into view, we had one last landing — Alkhornet.

    Beneath its sheer dolomite cliffs, thousands of kittiwakes wheeled in chaotic circles, their calls echoing across the fjord.

    On the tundra below, dozens of reindeer wandered, far more than we had seen all trip.

    Reindeer At Alkhornet Svalbard
    Finally we had the chance to see reindeer up close.

    The abundance was overwhelming, a fitting finale that seemed to sum up the richness of Svalbard in a single view.

    As we stood beneath the cliffs, watching the last light soften over the mountains, the journey replayed itself in our minds: walrus sprawled on ancient whaling beaches, guillemot chicks plunging into the sea, ivory gulls circling out of the mist, and polar bears – so many polar bears – etched forever in memory.

    The Arctic had given us everything: beauty, unpredictability, and a raw wildness that cannot be tamed. It was the perfect closing chapter.

    Day 11 – Longyearbyen: The End of the Road

    The mountains of Isfjorden came back into view as the Greg Mortimer eased toward Longyearbyen, the place where it had all begun.

    After ten days in the wild, the colourful houses along the shore looked almost surreal, a reminder that civilisation still existed beyond the silence of glaciers and sea ice.

    Disembarkation was bittersweet. Bags lined the corridors, jackets were handed back, and friends embraced with promises to stay in touch.

    The ship that had become our floating home was suddenly just a vessel again, ready for its next voyage.

    But the memories lingered: the first polar bear rising from a floe, the ivory gulls wheeling out of the mist, the walrus sprawled on beaches, and the reindeer grazing beneath Alkhornet’s cliffs.

    Svalbard had been more than a destination – it was an experience that had reshaped the way we saw wilderness.

    Longyearbyen might have been the end of the road, but the Arctic had already followed us home.

    Aurora Expeditions Team
    Thank you to the legendary expedition team at Aurora Expeditions for a fantastic experience.

    About the Greg Mortimer

    For this voyage we sailed aboard the Greg Mortimer, Aurora Expeditions’ purpose-built expedition ship.

    With its innovative X-BOW® design, the vessel handled the open seas with remarkable stability, giving us a smooth ride even when the Arctic threw its weight around.

    Life onboard was relaxed and welcoming. Days flowed between lectures in the theatre, casual meals in the dining room, quiet moments in the library, and time out on deck watching the scenery roll past.

    The mudroom made Zodiac operations seamless, and the cabins were comfortable sanctuaries to return to after long days in the field.

    We’ve written a full review of the Greg Mortimer, covering the cabins, dining, and onboard experience in more detail — you can read it here: Greg Mortimer Ship Review.

    Greg Mortimer Ship Review Image
    Aurora Expeditions’ first X-Bow vessel at the base of a glacier in Svalbard. Read our full Greg Mortimer ship review to see what life is like onboard.

    Top 10 Tips for a Svalbard Expedition

    Planning a voyage into the High Arctic? Here are our best tips to help you get the most out of your Svalbard expedition cruise:

    1. Pack Layers, Not Bulk
      The weather changes fast – from fog and drizzle to sunshine and snow in the same day. A good base layer, insulating mid-layer, and waterproof shell will cover you for every landing.
    2. Bring a Dry Bag for Your Camera
      Zodiac spray, sleet, and rain are a constant threat. A simple waterproof dry bag (or even a roll-top backpack liner) will keep your gear safe between ship and shore.
    3. Learn Your Camera Before You Go
      Wildlife doesn’t wait while you fumble with settings. Practice at home with your zoom lens, fast shutter speeds, and burst mode so you’re ready when a polar bear steps onto the ice.
    4. Don’t Skip the Biosecurity Checks
      Cleaning Velcro and vacuuming gear may seem tedious, but it’s essential. Svalbard’s ecosystem is fragile, and these steps protect the environment you came to see.
    5. Respect Wildlife Distances
      The Expedition Team sets strict approach limits for good reason. Staying back ensures both safety and natural behaviour – and with long lenses, you’ll still capture stunning photos.
    6. Expect Plans to Change
      Fog, ice, or a wandering bear can cancel a landing in seconds. Embrace the flexibility. Often, the backup plan turns into one of the trip’s highlights.
    7. Take Advantage of the Lectures
      The onboard talks are more than filler – they deepen the experience. Learning about Arctic history, geology, or seabirds makes every landing richer.
    8. Get Out on Deck Often
      Some of the best wildlife sightings happen while the ship is underway. Whales, seabirds, and even polar bears can appear out of nowhere. Always keep your binoculars handy.
    9. Join the Polar Plunge (If You Dare)
      It’s cold. It’s ridiculous. But leaping into the Arctic Ocean is a memory you’ll never forget – and the hot shower afterwards feels like luxury.
    10. Soak It All In
      Between cameras, lectures, and logistics, it’s easy to stay busy. But don’t forget to simply stand on deck, breathe the icy air, and watch the Arctic drift by. These moments of stillness often become the most treasured memories.
    Alesha In Svalbard

    Verdict – Our Thoughts on Svalbard with Aurora Expeditions

    Svalbard is one of those rare places that feels more like another planet than another country.

    From the silence of drifting sea ice to the chaos of bird cliffs, from ivory gulls and walrus to the unforgettable thrill of spotting polar bears, every day brought something different – and often something completely unexpected.

    What stood out most was not just the landscapes or the wildlife, but the way expedition cruising works in the Arctic.

    Plans shifted constantly – landings cancelled, routes adjusted, surprises embraced – yet each change revealed something we might never have experienced otherwise.

    That flexibility is the essence of Svalbard, and Aurora Expeditions handled it with skill, safety, and genuine passion.

    The Greg Mortimer proved the perfect platform: comfortable, welcoming, and designed to take us deep into the ice without sacrificing the intimacy of a small-ship voyage.

    The Expedition Team were exceptional – knowledgeable, approachable, and clearly in love with this wild corner of the world.

    Their expertise turned every landing into more than just a visit; it became an education.

    Would we recommend it? Absolutely. If you’ve ever dreamed of standing at 82° North watching a polar bear pad across the ice, of drifting beneath seabird cliffs so alive they shake with sound, or of kayaking beneath a glacier face glowing blue in the mist, a Svalbard expedition with Aurora delivers it all — and more.

    It’s not just a cruise; it’s an adventure into the unknown, where every day feels like a gift from the Arctic itself.





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  • Aurora Expeditions’ Greg Mortimer Ship Review [2025]

    Aurora Expeditions’ Greg Mortimer Ship Review [2025]


    The Greg Mortimer holds a special place in the world of expedition cruising.

    When it launched in 2019 it wasn’t just another polar ship — it was the first passenger vessel built with the groundbreaking Ulstein X-BOW®.

    That single innovation changed how travellers experience wild seas, setting a new benchmark for comfort and efficiency in the harshest environments on Earth.

    Named after Greg Mortimer, the Australian mountaineer who co-founded Aurora Expeditions, the ship reflects his pioneering spirit.

    It’s designed for people who want adventure at the edge of the world, but don’t want to give up the warmth of a comfortable base when they return from the ice.

    Over the years we’ve sailed on nine different expedition ships, and toured a bunch more through our jobs as photography guides, and the Greg Mortimer really stood out as something special.

    We recently spent 10 days exploring Svalbard in the high Arctic onboard the famous GM, and it surpassed all our expectations.

    It feels slightly more stripped back and adventurous compared to Aurora’s newer Sylvia Earle, but it doesn’t skimp on the essentials: smooth sailing, quick Zodiac operations, great food, and cabins that make you feel at home in some of the planet’s most remote corners.

    Over time the Greg Mortimer has built a reputation as one of the most reliable and comfortable ships in the polar regions.

    It’s luxurious without being pretentious, well-designed, well-run, and consistently delivers the kind of experiences that make an expedition unforgettable.

    So what makes the Greg Mortimer different, and is it the right ship for your Antarctica or Arctic voyage? Let’s take a closer look.

    Special Note: Jarryd will be working onboard the Greg Mortimer for two months in the upcoming Antarctic season as the Expedition Photography Guide. If you’d like to join him drop us a message as we have a special offer we can give to NOMADasaurus readers for any Aurora Expeditions itinerary (whether we’re onboard or not)!

    Greg Mortimer Ship Review Image
    Aurora Expeditions’ first X-Bow vessel at the base of a glacier in Svalbard. Read our full Greg Mortimer ship review to see what life is like onboard.

    Key Takeaways

    • World-first design – The Greg Mortimer was the first passenger ship to feature the Ulstein X-BOW®, cutting through swells instead of slamming over them. The result is a smoother ride, improved fuel efficiency, and less seasickness.
    • Drop-down viewing wings – Unique fold-out platforms extend from the bow, giving guests jaw-dropping views just above the waterline. Perfect for wildlife watching, iceberg photography, or simply soaking in the silence.
    • Capacity of 130 passengers – Small enough to feel personal, large enough to offer multiple landing rotations. Even though the ship can carry 160 passengers, Aurora Expeditions has made the decision to limit numbers to 130 maximum. With IAATO rules limiting shore visits to 100 people at a time, Aurora ensures smooth, fair systems so everyone gets maximum time ashore.
    • Dining setup – The ship’s main restaurant serves buffet-style breakfasts and lunches with à la carte dinners. A second option, the Tuscan Grill, can be booked for a more intimate dining experience in the evenings.
    • Cabin variety – From spacious staterooms to balcony suites and the impressive Captain’s Suite, the Greg Mortimer caters to a wide range of budgets and preferences.
    • Efficient mudroom and Zodiac ops – Large gear lockers and multiple boarding points make excursions quick, safe, and stress-free.
    • Adventure-focused – Unlike the Sylvia Earle, the Greg Mortimer does not have a Citizen Science Lab. Instead, the emphasis is squarely on classic expedition cruising — landings, Zodiac tours, and off-ship adventure activities like kayaking or camping.
    • Wellness and comfort – A gym, sauna, hot tubs, and new transparent domes on the outer decks offer welcome relaxation after long days in the field.
    • Leading cruise line – Aurora Expeditions is recognised as one of the leading cruise lines for polar exploration, with a strong reputation among all companies operating in Antarctica and the Arctic.

    READ MORE: Check out our complete guide to the best Antarctica expedition cruise companies!

    Zodiac Cruising Alkefjellet Brünnich's Guillemots
    Zodiac cruising at Alkefjellet with 60,000 Brünnich’s guillemots. Just one of the incredible wildlife experiences you can have if you travel with Aurora Expeditions to Svalbard, or elsewhere in the polar regions.

    About Aurora Expeditions

    Aurora Expeditions is an Australian-owned company that has been running small-group adventure voyages since 1991.

    Founded by the legendary mountaineer Greg Mortimer and his wife Margaret, the company quickly became known for pushing boundaries in expedition travel.

    Their first trip to Antarctica in 1992 set a precedent, combining scientific curiosity with hands-on exploration.

    Aurora was among the founding members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), and they’ve built a reputation for being both pioneering and responsible.

    Over the years, they introduced new activities to the polar cruising world, including the first commercial climbing trips in Antarctica back in 1995.

    Today, Aurora operates two purpose-built polar vessels: the Greg Mortimer (2019) and the Sylvia Earle (2022).

    A third ship, the Douglas Mawson, will be launching in 2025.

    With these, Aurora continues its tradition of offering immersive, low-impact travel experiences to some of the most remote corners of the globe — from Antarctica and the Arctic to Patagonia, Costa Rica, and the British Isles.

    Aurora’s voyages reach almost every continent, but their specialty remains the wild, hard-to-reach places.

    From Antarctica to the Arctic, their itineraries are designed for travellers who value time in the field over ticking off destinations.

    Greg Mortimer X-Bow Pack Ice
    Greg Mortimer’s ‘X-Bow’ navigating through the pack ice at 82 degrees north

    Our Greg Mortimer Ship Review

    The Greg Mortimer is a vessel built for explorers. At 104 metres long with a capacity of just 130 passengers, it’s large enough to offer modern amenities while remaining intimate and expedition-focused.

    Unlike traditional cruise ships, everything about the Greg Mortimer is designed to maximise time in the field.

    The Zodiac loading points (two on the port side, two on the starboard side and the large marina deck on the rear) make boarding fast and safe.

    The mudroom is spacious and efficient, and the drop-down hydraulic wings create a front-row seat to the polar wilderness.

    Inside guests will find comfortable cabins, a welcoming main restaurant, a small grill for specialty dining, a lecture theatre, lounges, a gym, sauna, Jacuzzis, and even new domes to to enjoy the views without being affected by the elements.

    The ship also features a dedicated observation deck, providing panoramic views of the surrounding polar landscapes. Even though it’s luxurious, it’s about providing the perfect base between adventures.

    The ship was the first passenger vessel in the world to feature the Ulstein X-BOW®, a wave-piercing hull design that improves stability and reduces slamming in heavy seas.

    his is particularly important in notorious stretches like the Drake Passage, where a smoother ride makes all the difference.

    Greg Mortimer vs Sylvia Earle – Which Ship is Right for You?

    Travellers might ask: should I choose the Greg Mortimer or the Sylvia Earle? Both ships are modern, eco-conscious, and purpose-built for polar exploration, but they offer slightly different onboard experiences.

    Feature Greg Mortimer Sylvia Earle
    Launched 2019 2022
    Passenger Capacity 130 130
    Citizen Science Lab ❌ No ✅ Yes
    Dining Main restaurant + Tuscan Grill Gentoo Restaurant + Rockhopper Restaurant
    Atmosphere Slightly more adventure-focused, streamlined design Slightly more modern, with expanded social/educational spaces
    Key Differences Drop-down hydraulic wings Glass atrium at bow

    Our take: Both ships are truly special, and choosing one or the other really does come down to essentially which itinerary you want on what dates.

    However if you want a ship that feels a bit more rugged and pioneering, go with the Greg Mortimer. If you prefer a vessel with more scientific and educational facilities, the Sylvia Earle edges ahead. Either way, both deliver a world-class polar expedition.

    • Aurora Expeditions’ Sylvia Earle Ship Review

      This Sylvia Earle ship review gives you a full rundown on what to expect from this eco-friendly, state-of-the-art expedition vessel by Aurora Expeditions. Find out about its key features and onboard experiences right here.

    • Aurora Expeditions’ Greg Mortimer Ship Review

      Curious about Aurora Expeditions’ first X-BOW vessel? In our Greg Mortimer ship review we reveal the highlights, quirks & adventures from onboard.

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    READ MORE: Our full guide on Antarctica vs the Arctic is now live! Check it out to help you make your choice for your next polar adventure.

    Sylvia Earle Ship Tour
    The Sylvia Earle at Cuverville Island.

    Cabins on the Greg Mortimer

    Life on an expedition ship shouldn’t be about ornate chandeliers or sprawling penthouses. What matters most is having a warm, comfortable space to call your own after a day out among glaciers and polar bears.

    While some companies prioritise the onboard experience, where you need to get dressed up for meals and the hotel staff are the stars of the show, Aurora Expeditions and their Greg Mortimer ship has found the balance between offering a luxury base while making the guest feel at home.

    With just 76 staterooms, the ship feels personal and unhurried.

    Every cabin comes with an ensuite, storage for bulky gear, and large windows, or in most cases private balconies, that keep you connected to the outside world even when you’re indoors.

    The design is simple but smart: functional, uncluttered, and built for travellers who value exploration over extravagance.

    Balcony Cabin Greg Mortimer
    Our Balcony Cabin onboard the Greg Mortimer.

    Our Balcony Stateroom

    During our voyage we stayed in a Balcony Stateroom, and it hovered seamlessly between comfort and practicality.

    The private balcony became our morning ritual spot – Stepping outside as soon as we’d wake to check the weather, watch seabirds skim the waves, admire the views, and enjoy a quiet moment as sea ice drifted by.

    Inside the room had everything we needed without wasted space. A king bed (that could split into twins), a small lounge corner, and enough storage to keep jackets and camera gear organised.

    The bathroom was compact but well designed, with good water pressure, space to move around and even heated floors.

    Electrical outlets are universal, so we could plug our Australian chargers directly into the wall without the need for an adaptor.

    Balcony Suite Greg Mortimer Views
    Alesha enjoying the pack ice from our private balcony.

    Cabin Categories

    • Aurora Staterooms (Twin/Triple/Single) – The most affordable option, with portholes or large windows. Perfect for travellers who just need a cozy base.
    • Balcony Staterooms – Spacious cabins with private outdoor seating, available in different configurations.
    • Junior Suites – A step up in size and finish, with a larger living space, more storage, and priority services.
    • Captain’s Suite – The most exclusive cabin onboard, with separate bedroom and lounge areas, plus the best balcony on the ship.

    No matter which cabin you choose, the focus is the same: a quiet, comfortable place to unwind, with the polar wilderness always within sight.

    Bedroom Balcony Cabin C Greg Mortimer Ship
    The bed is incredibly comfortable, and even in this standard cabin there is ample storage room for all your gear.

    Social Spaces and Lounges

    Expedition ships spend plenty of time at sea, so the places where guests gather, learn, and relax matter just as much as the cabins.

    The Greg Mortimer keeps things simple but smart, with welcoming lounges, an impressive lecture theatre, and a few unique design elements that make the experience stand out.

    Life at sea on the Greg Mortimer is surprisingly social. Between lectures, casual chats in the lounge, and spontaneous wildlife sightings from the deck, the days flow naturally.

    Lecture Theatre Greg Mortimer Ship Tour Review
    Meike, one of the expedition guides, gives a presentation on the seabirds of Svalbard.

    The Lecture Theatre

    Every evening and many afternoons are centred around the ship’s Lecture Theatre, a comfortable space designed for daily briefings, science talks, and guest presentations.

    The layout is straightforward; tiered seating, a large screen, and high-quality AV systems, ensuring everyone has a clear view.

    The expedition leader, along with the rest of the team, brings a wealth of knowledge and ensures each session is both informative and engaging.

    This is where the expedition guides share their knowledge: marine biology, glaciology, polar history, and practical information about the next landing.

    It’s the intellectual heart of the voyage, and the talks are as engaging as the adventures outside.

    For those who prefer a quieter evening, most sessions are also streamed to cabin TVs.

    Lecture Theatre Greg Mortimer
    Lots of space in the lecture theatre for everyone to see the presentations.

    Observation Lounge and Bar

    On Deck 8 you’ll find the Observation Lounge, one of the ship’s most inviting spaces. With panoramic windows wrapping almost the entire room, it’s the perfect place to sip coffee while scanning the horizon for whales, or to unwind with a glass of wine in the evenings.

    The adjoining bar quickly becomes the social hub after dinner, with bartenders remembering names and favourite drinks, and expedition guides often mingling with guests.

    This would be our first point of call on early mornings, where we’d grab a coffee from the barista machine and then hit the decks with binos in hand to search for wildlife.

    Greg Mortimer Observation Lounge
    The Observation Lounge in a rare, empty moment.

    Dining on the Greg Mortimer

    Just because you’re travelling to the most remote corners of the planet doesn’t mean meals should feel like an afterthought.

    Meals are something to look forward to after a long day in the elements. The galley team does a remarkable job given the remoteness, serving food that’s hearty, fresh, and satisfying.

    The Greg Mortimer has two main dining options: a relaxed main restaurant where everyone gathers for daily meals, and a more intimate Tuscan Grill that you can book for something special.

    Greg Mortimer Main Restaurant
    The main restaurant onboard the Greg Mortimer.

    Main Restaurant

    The main restaurant is the ship’s culinary centrepiece, serving buffet breakfasts and lunches before transitioning to full table service at dinner.

    Floor-to-ceiling windows line the walls, so every meal comes with a view – whether that’s icebergs drifting past in the Antarctic Peninsula or seabirds wheeling over the Svalbard coastline.

    Breakfast is casual and plentiful, with made-to-order eggs, fresh fruit, pastries, and a rotation of hot dishes. Lunch follows the same style, with salads, soups, and international flavours that keep things varied and satisfying.

    In the evenings the atmosphere shifts to a more formal feel, with multi-course à la carte dinners.

    Menus always include meat, seafood, and vegetarian options, with a few staples (like steak and pasta) available every night.

    Wine, beer, and soft drinks are included with dinner, making it a relaxed but refined way to end the day.

    The Tuscan Grill

    For a smaller, more exclusive setting, guests can book into the Tuscan Grill, a specialty venue adjacent to the main restaurant.

    It’s a cosy spot with limited seating, so reservations are required.

    Meals at the Tuscan Grill are thoughtfully presented in several courses, enhancing the overall dining experience.

    The menu is a little more specialised here – think fresh seafood, grilled meats, and chef’s specials that change throughout the season.

    Highly recommend the calamari and lamb chops!

    Dining at the Grill feels less like a group expedition meal and more like a private dinner party, perfect if you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply want a quieter evening.

    As a bonus tip feel free to invite one of the expedition guides who you might be getting along with. While the guides eat in the main restaurant every night, they can only dine in at the Tuscan Grill when invited by a guest.

    It’s something they’ll really appreciate, and it’s a great way to connect with the team at a deeper level.

    Food Quality and Service

    Considering the logistical challenge of serving fresh, varied meals in the Arctic and Antarctica, the Greg Mortimer’s galley team does an impressive job.

    Dishes lean toward hearty and nourishing, designed to keep energy levels up for long expedition days.

    The service is warm and personal, with staff remembering names and preferences quickly. By the second day you’ll likely have a favourite server who knows how you take your coffee or which dessert you’re waiting for.

    The overall atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, more expedition-focused than luxurious, but consistently enjoyable.

    The Tuscan Grill Greg Mortimer
    The Tuscan Grill is adjacent to the main restaurant.

    Expedition & Zodiac Operations

    The Greg Mortimer was purpose-built for expedition cruising, and nowhere is that more obvious than in its off-ship logistics.

    Every element of its design is geared toward maximising time in the field – whether that means launching Zodiacs quickly, making boarding safe in rough seas, or storing gear efficiently so guests can focus on the adventure rather than the hassle.

    We’ve travelled on more expedition vessels than most, and believe us when we say that zodiac operations aren’t always seamless.

    One ship in particular that we worked on (that shall remain nameless) would take up to 45 minutes to get all the zodiacs on and off the ship.

    Compare that to the Greg Mortimer, which can have all zodiacs on the water in around 15 minutes, and you understand just how much more time you will have for adventures when doing multiple excursions a day.

    Zodiac Operations Glacier Greg Mortimer Aurora Expeditions
    The Zodiac operations on the Greg Mortimer are fast, efficient and safe.

    The Mudroom – Gear Up and Go

    The mudroom, located on Deck 3, is where every excursion begins and ends.

    Each cabin is assigned its own dedicated locker for wet-weather gear, boots, and lifejackets.

    Having a personal space for your expedition equipment is more than just a convenience – it’s essential to keeping cabins clean and dry, and it makes the turnaround time between excursions incredibly efficient.

    Benches line the room so guests can sit to put on boots and layers, while wide aisles reduce the bottlenecks that are common on older ships.

    At the exits biosecurity is taken seriously, with boot-wash stations and sanitisation points ensuring no snow, seeds, or foreign matter are carried between ecosystems.

    It’s not glamorous, but it’s a vital part of expedition cruising, and the Greg Mortimer does it well.

    *When you book a polar trip with Aurora Expeditions a waterproof outer layer, down jacket, waterproof/insulated muck boots and a PFD are included.

    Marina Deck – Smooth Zodiac and Kayak Launches

    At the stern you’ll find the marina deck, one of the most practical innovations on board.

    This wide, low-level platform sits just above the waterline, creating a stable staging area for Zodiacs and kayaks.

    When conditions are calm two boats can be loaded at the same time, which keeps operations moving fast and minimises waiting around in heavy gear.

    For paddlers, the marina deck is a game-changer.

    Instead of clambering awkwardly into kayaks in rolling swells, the flat surface allows for smooth, controlled launches and recoveries.

    Guests step into the craft at deck height and are gently pushed off into the water, making the whole process far safer and more enjoyable.

    Marina Deck Loading
    Loading from the Marina deck is very stable and safe.

    Side Gate Loading – Safe and Reliable

    Most landings though are handled through the two port or starboard boarding platforms, with one side used at a time depending on which direction the wind and swell is coming from.

    Guests descend interior stairways sheltered from the weather until they reach pontoon level, where the Zodiacs are held steady alongside the ship.

    Sailors and guides assist passengers getting in and out of the Zodiacs with a firm sailor’s grip, making the step across straightforward even in lumpy conditions.

    This design eliminates the slippery gangways used on older ships, significantly reducing the risk of falls.

    Side Gate Loading Greg Mortimer Ship
    The expedition team and ship crew can load and unload two Zodiacs at a time at the side gates.

    Zodiac Cruising and Shore Landings

    Once the boats are on the water the real adventure begins.

    Zodiacs are the workhorses of polar exploration, and Aurora carries enough to keep the schedule flexible and efficient without overloading them.

    Scenic cruises through iceberg fields, whale-watching runs, and wet landings on remote beaches all form part of the routine.

    Because the Greg Mortimer carries a maximum of 130 passengers, almost everyone can land in Antarctica at the same time.

    his is a huge advantage under IAATO regulations, which cap the number of visitors at any one site to 100.

    With kayakers and paddlers out in smaller groups, it means no one is left waiting onboard while others explore.

    The end result is more time in the field, less queuing on deck, and a smoother overall experience – exactly what you want from a purpose-built expedition ship.

    Zodiac Landing Svalbard
    Smaller guest numbers and fast operations means more time off the ship.

    Outdoor Spaces and Viewing Platforms

    One of the biggest joys of expedition cruising is simply being outside, breathing in the crisp polar air, watching seabirds glide overhead, or spotting whales surfacing in the distance.

    The Greg Mortimer was designed with outdoor viewing in mind, and it offers a variety of decks and platforms where guests can connect with the landscapes in different ways.

    Out on deck it’s all about the open air, magnificent landscapes and the wildlife.

    Guides are often outside with binoculars to point out a distant polar bear or a petrel circling the bow, like you’ve been given front-row seats to nature.

    Outer Deck Pack Ice Svalbard Greg Mortimer Ship Review
    There’s no shortage of deck space to admire the views.

    Deck 8 – Panoramic Vistas

    The highest open deck on the ship is Deck 8, which wraps around the Observation Lounge.

    Elevated high above the waterline, it provides a wide-angle perspective across the horizon.

    This is the place to be during dramatic sail-throughs like the Lemaire Channel in Antarctica or when approaching the rugged coastlines of Svalbard.

    Because the deck connects directly to the lounge, it’s easy to dash outside with a camera when the expedition team announces a surprise sighting.

    The railings are thoughtfully positioned so photographers can rest long lenses without obstruction, a detail that makes a big difference during long days of wildlife watching.

    Panorama Views Svalbard
    Views from the top deck with the drop-down wings below.

    Deck 7 – Jacuzzis and the Best Seat in the House

    Just below, Deck 7 features two hot tubs. While it might sound indulgent, soaking in warm water while watching glaciers drift by is one of the most memorable experiences you can have on an expedition ship.

    Guests often gather here in the late afternoons or after the polar plunge, swapping stories from the day’s landings with a glass of champagne in hand.

    The surrounding deck space is also excellent for wildlife viewing. Being slightly lower than Deck 8, it offers a closer angle to the water – perfect for photographing penguins porpoising through the surf or seals lounging on ice floes.

    Hot Tub Jacuzzi Greg Mortimer
    How could you say no to a hot tub with glacier views?

    Deck 6 – Transparent Domes

    New to the Greg Mortimer are two transparent “igloo” domes located on deck 6.

    By day they offer immersive 360° views of the seascape and wildlife; by night, when darkness falls, they transform into serene cocoons where you can settle in with a hot drink and watch the midnight sun, Aurora Borealis or constellations dance across the polar sky.

    The gentle hum of the ship below combined with cozy lighting and plush seating, makes these igloos one of the most memorable hideaways onboard.

    Transparent Igloo Domes Greg Mortimer Deck
    The outdoor domes are a new addition and quickly became a favourite place to relax on chilly days.

    Decks 4 and 6 – Quick Access for Wildlife Encounters

    For more immediate access to the outdoors, Deck 4 and the stern of Deck 6 are ideal. These lower-level viewing areas put guests closer to the waterline, giving a different perspective for photography.

    Deck 4 in particular is a favourite among photographers, as it provides a stable, less windy location to capture images of whales surfacing or seabirds skimming the waves.

    The stern on Deck 6 is another popular gathering place, especially during crossings when albatross and petrels follow the ship’s wake.

    With quick access from cabins, it’s easy to step outside at a moment’s notice when wildlife is spotted.

    Puffin Svalbard
    A puffin flies past the Greg Mortimer. Having quick access to the outside from most of the cabin decks allows you to get shots in a hurry.

    Drop-Down Hydraulic Wings – A Signature Feature

    One of the Greg Mortimer’s most innovative features – and something that sets it apart from the Sylvia Earle – are its drop-down hydraulic viewing platforms, located just forward of the bow.

    These wings extend out over the ocean, giving passengers a thrilling front-row position just meters above the water.

    Our captain dropped the wings during our transit through the pack ice at 82 degrees north in Svalbard, and watching the ice pass underneath us just 750km from the North Pole was simply mesmerising.

    The wings are also a gift for photographers, offering unique vantage points that aren’t possible from the main decks.

    It’s a feature that perfectly embodies the ship’s philosophy of bringing guests as close to the environment as safely possible.

    Greg Mortimer Ship Review Hydraulic Drop Down Wing Platforms
    Alesha out on the drop-down hydraulic wing platforms. Definitely the best seat in the house when the captain lowers them!

    Wellness and Fitness Facilities

    Exploring the polar regions can be surprisingly physical. Days often involve long hikes, clambering in and out of Zodiacs, and hours out in the elements.

    The Greg Mortimer balances this adventurous side with a set of wellness and fitness facilities designed to keep guests both active and rejuvenated between landings.

    READ MORE: Learn about all of our favourite things to do in Antarctica!

    The Gym – Compact but Functional

    Tucked away on deck 7, the gym is a bright and practical space with everything you need for a solid workout at sea.

    Large windows flood the room with natural light and give sweeping ocean views, which helps turn a morning run on the treadmill into something far more inspiring than staring at a blank wall.

    The equipment selection is well-rounded: treadmills, stationary bikes, and rowing machines cater to cardio lovers, while a small range of free weights and resistance machines support strength training.

    Mats are available for stretching, yoga, or mobility work – a handy option for those who like to loosen up before heading out on landings.

    While it isn’t the biggest gym you’ll find at sea, it’s far more comprehensive than many other expedition ships in this class.

    Guests who don’t want to lose their fitness routine on a long voyage will find it perfectly suitable.

    Sauna – Warming Up After the Cold

    Few things feel better after hours in the snow than stepping into the sauna.

    Located near the wellness area, the Greg Mortimer’s sauna offers the perfect post-expedition recovery. The heat soothes tired muscles, helps circulation, and warms you to the core after an icy Zodiac cruise.

    The layout here is straightforward rather than luxurious, but it does the job, especially with the vistas you can enjoy., as a large window provides a view outside so you don’t feel cut off from the landscapes you came to see.

    The tiny change rooms feel like more of an afterthought than a dedicated space you’d expect with a sauna, but it’s a small inconvenience compared to the beauty of having one onboard at all.

    Many guests find themselves lingering here after landings or in the evenings, chatting quietly while the chill melts away.

    Sauna Greg Mortimer
    Sauna with a view!

    Hot Tubs

    Out on Deck 8 you’ll find two Jacuzzis, which is absolutely decadent (and much appreciated) on those icy Arctic days.

    Watching seabirds wheel overhead or spotting whales from a hot tub is one of those surreal travel moments that stays with you forever.

    Spa and Wellness Treatments

    The ship also has a small wellness centre where guests can book treatments such as massages and facials.

    Availability is limited, so reservations are recommended early in the voyage.

    While not the primary focus of the ship, it’s a nice touch for those who enjoy combining adventure with relaxation.

    Spa Greg Mortimer Ship
    The spa is small, but the onboard therapist is always incredible.

    Innovative Design Elements

    When Aurora Expeditions launched the Greg Mortimer in 2019, it set a new benchmark for what an expedition ship could be.

    Purpose-built for exploring some of the most remote and inhospitable corners of the planet, the vessel is packed with design innovations that improve comfort, safety, and sustainability.

    Ulstein X-BOW® – A Smoother Passage

    The Greg Mortimer was the first passenger ship in the world to be built with the Ulstein X-BOW®, a revolutionary inverted bow design more commonly found on offshore supply vessels.

    Instead of riding up and slamming down over waves like a traditional bow, the X-BOW slices cleanly through swells, dramatically reducing vertical motion and hull slamming.

    For passengers, this translates into a noticeably smoother experience on notorious crossings like the Drake Passage or during open-ocean transits in the Arctic.

    Seasickness is reduced, fuel efficiency is improved, and there’s less strain on the vessel overall.

    It’s a game-changing design element that has since been adopted by newer expedition ships, but the Greg Mortimer was the trailblazer.

    Greg Mortimer X-Bow Aurora Expeditions
    The X-Bow looks very different to a traditional ship, but it’s innovation has now been proven.

    Sustainability Innovations

    Aurora Expeditions designed the Greg Mortimer with a strong emphasis on environmental responsibility.

    Beyond the X-BOW’s improved fuel efficiency, the ship also features a low-energy management system, advanced waste-handling protocols, and dynamic positioning technology that reduces the need for dropping anchor, protecting fragile seabeds.

    Single-use plastics are banned onboard, recycling programs are in place, and the expedition team works closely with passengers to ensure strict compliance with IAATO and AECO conservation guidelines.

    A Purpose-Built Platform for Exploration

    Every aspect of the Greg Mortimer’s design, from its spacious mudroom to its unique viewing wings, reflects its role as a pioneering expedition vessel.

    It was the first of a new generation of small ships built for serious exploration, and while Aurora has since launched the Sylvia Earle and will soon welcome the Douglas Mawson, the Greg Mortimer remains iconic for its bold innovations.

    For travellers, these features aren’t just technical details – they directly shape the comfort, efficiency, and intimacy of the expedition experience.

    Greg Mortimer At Alkhornet Svalbard

    Itineraries & Adventure Activities

    Expedition ships aren’t built for shuffleboard and stage shows – they’re built for adventure.

    The Greg Mortimer follows this philosophy perfectly, offering itineraries that take travellers deep into the world’s last great wilderness areas and pairing them with activities that turn a trip into a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

    Itineraries

    The Greg Mortimer sails on a variety of routes throughout the year, with a strong focus on the polar regions.

    • Antarctica – Most voyages begin in Ushuaia, Argentina, and cross the infamous Drake Passage before reaching the Antarctic Peninsula. Longer itineraries combine the peninsula with the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, unlocking some of the richest wildlife experiences on the planet. There’s also the ‘Fly the Drake’ options, where you fly one way between King George Island and Punta Arenas in Chile, sailing back, or sometimes flying both ways.
    • South Georgia – During the southern summer some itineraries to Antarctica also visit South Georgia, which is known as the ‘Serengeti of the Southern Ocean’ and one of the planet’s most incredible wildlife destinations. We highly, highly recommend booking a trip that includes South Georgia.
    • The Arctic – In the northern summer months the Greg Mortimer heads north, with routes exploring Greenland, Svalbard, Iceland, and the Canadian Arctic. These journeys focus on polar bears, walrus, massive glaciers, and the history of early Arctic exploration.
    • Other Destinations – Aurora also operates voyages outside the polar regions, including to Patagonia, the British Isles, and parts of Central America. As of 2026 they will also be exploring the Mediterranean and the South Pacific on their other vessels.

    No matter the destination, the focus is always on maximising time off the ship. That means daily landings, Zodiac cruises, and spontaneous diversions whenever wildlife is spotted.

    Glacier In Svalbard
    From the Antarctic Circle to 82 degrees north and now in the South Pacific and Mediterranean – Aurora Expeditions now operates all around the world.

    Adventure Activities

    For those who want to push beyond the standard landings, the Greg Mortimer offers a range of optional adventure activities that take the expedition to another level.

    • Sea Kayaking – Reserved for small groups of experienced paddlers, this program runs throughout the voyage whenever conditions allow. Paddling past icebergs or quietly floating alongside penguins is one of the most intimate ways to experience the polar regions.
    • Day Paddling – A gentler introduction for those who want to try kayaking just once. Using stable sit-on-top kayaks, these outings are perfect for beginners and provide a taste of being on the water without committing to a full program.
    • Camping in Antarctica – On certain early-season voyages, guests can spend a night ashore on the ice, bundled into expedition sleeping bags under the stars. There are no tents — just the raw, unforgettable silence of the polar night.
    • Polar Snorkelling – With specialist dry suits and expert guides, snorkelling in Antarctica gives travellers a glimpse beneath the surface. It’s cold, yes, but it opens up an entirely different world of ice formations, kelp forests, and curious seals.

    Zodiac Cruising & Shore Landings

    Even if you don’t opt into the extra activities, every guest will experience daily Zodiac excursions.

    These might be wet landings onto a beach bustling with penguins, or cruises alongside breaching humpbacks and towering icebergs.

    The Greg Mortimer’s efficient boarding systems mean groups get off the ship quickly, maximising time where it matters most — out in the wilderness.

    Zodiac Cruising Svalbard
    Zodiac cruises are always a huge highlight.

    Crew & Guide Expertise

    Even with all the design innovations, comfortable cabins, and clever expedition systems, what truly makes a voyage on the Greg Mortimer unforgettable is the people.

    The ship’s success rests on the shoulders of its expedition team, hotel staff, and ship crew – each group working together to create a seamless and enriching journey.

    Expedition Team – Experts Who Bring the Wilderness to Life

    At the heart of every expedition is the guiding team.

    On the Greg Mortimer, this means naturalists, marine biologists, geologists, historians, ornithologists, and photographers who live and breathe the polar regions.

    Their role isn’t just to get you ashore safely – it’s to interpret the landscapes, wildlife, and history in ways that deepen your understanding and appreciation of these fragile environments.

    Each day begins and ends with briefings and recaps, where the guides share wildlife sightings, weather updates, and plans for upcoming landings.

    During the voyage, they deliver fascinating lectures on everything from penguin courtship behaviour to glaciology, or the incredible survival stories of Shackleton and Scott.

    But the real magic happens outside the lecture theatre. Guides are always on deck with binoculars, pointing out whales breaching in the distance, or standing in the snow explaining walrus haul-outs.

    Their passion is contagious, and their accessibility, whether chatting over dinner or helping adjust a camera on a Zodiac, makes the expedition feel personal and immersive.

    Greg Mortimer Aurora Expeditions Team
    The legendary expedition team onboard the Greg Mortimer.

    Hotel & Dining Staff – Warm Service in Remote Places

    Behind the adventure is a hotel team that makes life at sea feel effortless. The restaurant and bar staff quickly learn passengers’ names and preferences, greeting guests with a smile after a long day in the elements.

    They remember dietary needs, pour your favourite drink without asking, and keep spirits high even when the seas get rough.

    Cabins are cleaned daily by a housekeeping team that works quietly in the background, ensuring every space feels fresh and welcoming.

    It’s the kind of detail that often goes unnoticed until you stop and realise how smooth everything has been running.

    The small size of the Greg Mortimer allows for service that feels genuinely personal. By the end of the voyage, the staff don’t feel like strangers working behind the scenes; they feel like part of the journey itself.

    Greg Mortimer Hotel Team
    The hotel team are amazing.

    The Ship’s Crew – Quietly Keeping Everything Running

    Then there’s the nautical crew, the unsung heroes who keep the ship moving safely through some of the harshest waters on Earth.

    From the captain and bridge officers navigating through sea ice to the engineers below deck ensuring the engines hum steadily, their expertise is what makes every expedition possible.

    On the Greg Mortimer, the officers are approachable and visible throughout the voyage.

    You might see them at dinner, in the lounge, or giving an update from the bridge about ice conditions or whale sightings ahead.

    This transparency builds trust and gives passengers a deeper appreciation for the complexity of polar navigation.

    Deckhands and engineers are equally essential. They’re the ones rigging boats in all weather, handling lines in icy swells, and ensuring every operation is safe and efficient

    Without them, there would be no landings, no kayaking, no smooth days at sea.

    A Team That Defines the Experience

    Ask anyone who has sailed on the Greg Mortimer what stood out most, and the answer often isn’t the X-BOW or the cabins – it’s the people.

    The expedition team, hotel staff, and crew turn a voyage from a checklist of destinations into a living, breathing experience.

    They are the bridge between the ship and the wilderness, between the landscapes and the travellers who come to witness them.

    For many passengers, the friendships formed with guides, crew, and staff are just as memorable as the wildlife encounters and iceberg-studded views.

    Alesha And Fiona Aurora Expeditions
    The expedition team really do become friends by the end of the trip. Here’s Alesha and Fiona (photography guide) in a rare moment where they don’t have their cameras up.

    Room for Improvement

    No expedition ship is flawless, and while the Greg Mortimer delivers an excellent overall experience, there are a few areas where adjustments could enhance the journey even further.

    These aren’t deal-breakers by any means, but they’re worth noting for travellers weighing up their options.

    No Dedicated Citizen Science Lab

    Unlike her sister ship, the Sylvia Earle, the Greg Mortimer does not feature a dedicated citizen science lab.

    While the guides still run science-focused projects and encourage participation in initiatives like cloud monitoring or wildlife surveys, there isn’t a specific onboard space for guests to dive into hands-on research.

    For travellers who enjoy the idea of microscopes, plankton samples, and structured lab sessions, this might feel like a gap.

    That said, the educational content delivered in lectures, briefings, and informal conversations on deck is still world-class, and many passengers will find it more than enough.

    Citizen Science Lab Dr Leo
    Dr Leo giving a citizen science talk in the lab onboard the Sylvia Earle. The Greg Mortimer doesn’t have a dedicated science area.

    Dining Variety

    The food quality onboard is consistently high, but some travellers have noted that the second dining venue (the Tuscan Grill) can feel a little limited.

    While it’s a nice alternative to the main restaurant and a welcome change of pace, the capacity is small and reservations can fill quickly.

    On longer voyages, expanding the menu rotation could add a touch more variety.

    Evening Entertainment

    The Greg Mortimer isn’t a traditional cruise ship, and it doesn’t try to be.

    Still, some guests may find the evenings a little quiet once dinner wraps up.

    We talked about this after our Antarctic journey on the Sylvia Earle, but compared to some other operators, Aurora Expeditions doesn’t have much of a focus on evening entertainment.

    Aside from the bar scene and occasional bar talks or film screenings, there isn’t much in the way of structured entertainment.

    For many, this isn’t an issue – the days are so full that a relaxed drink and early night are welcome.

    But for those who prefer a livelier post-dinner atmosphere, even small additions like trivia nights, short cultural talks, or casual music sessions could elevate the social side of the voyage.

    Mudroom Congestion

    The mudroom system is efficient overall, with plenty of space for storing gear and multiple Zodiac loading points.

    However, when guests are called down by deck or cabin side, congestion can build up in certain locker areas.

    This is a minor operational quirk, but adjusting the system to stagger groups more evenly would make the process even smoother.

    These points are small in the bigger picture, and none of them overshadow the strengths of the Greg Mortimer.

    But Aurora Expeditions has a reputation for innovation, and small tweaks like these would push the onboard experience closer to perfect.

    Svalbard Map
    A map of our adventure around Svalbard with Aurora Expeditions.

    Final Thoughts on the Greg Mortimer – 8.5/10 Expedition Ship

    We hope you found our Greg Mortimer ship review useful!

    The Greg Mortimer set a new benchmark when she launched in 2019, and even today she remains one of the most capable and comfortable ships sailing in the polar regions.

    Purpose-built for expedition cruising, she combines smart design – like the pioneering Ulstein X-BOW and fold-down viewing platforms – with a small passenger capacity that ensures every guest gets the most out of each landing.

    Life onboard is easy and engaging. The ship feels spacious without losing its intimate, expedition-focused atmosphere, and the expedition team are outstanding at turning every outing into a meaningful learning experience.

    The hotel staff and crew deliver warm, attentive service that never feels forced, and the Zodiac operations run like clockwork.

    The Verdict: If you’re looking for a modern, comfortable, and expertly run ship to explore Antarctica, South Georgia, or the Arctic, the Greg Mortimer is an excellent choice.

    She’s innovative, well-equipped, and passenger-focused, delivering a memorable balance of adventure and comfort.

    Greg Mortimer Ship Review
    Greg Mortimer Ship Review Tour Aurora Expeditions Hero Image

    Curious about Aurora Expeditions’ first X-BOW vessel? In our Greg Mortimer ship review we reveal the highlights, quirks & adventures from onboard.

    Product Brand:
    Aurora Expeditions

    Pros

    • X-BOW design
    • High-end dining options
    • Industry-leading expedition team
    • Efficient and safe operations
    • Sustainable company and design

    Cons

    • No citizen science lab
    • Sauna and spa could be better



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  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Review

    Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Review


    Picture of Nomadic Matt holding his Delta Reserve Credit Card

    Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

    For Delta loyalists who want a VIP experience, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is your best option. I’m a huge fan of Delta and I fly them almost exclusively when I’m traveling around the United States. I find them to have the best in-flight experience, food, entertainment, and seats.

    If you’re a Delta fan and fly them a lot, then I really think the Reserve card is must to have. While it has the highest annual fee, it also has most comprehensive set of benefits, including Sky Club access, upgrade priority, and faster elite status earning. It’s very much worth the cost and I have gotten way more value out of it than the fee.

    Here’s my review of the card!

    Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card Overview

    The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is Delta’s premium card that offers frequent travelers a host of benefits and perks and is meant for people who fly a lot on the airline and want more perks as well as faster elite status earning. The annual fee is $650 (See Rates and Fees.) but I think the perks of the card outweigh the cost.

    This card offers:

    • 70,000 Bonus Miles after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
    • 3x miles on Delta purchases
    • 1x miles on all other spending
    • 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and unlimited visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
    • Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
    • Free checked bag on Delta flights
    • Earn 1 MQD for every $10 spent on the card
    • Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year
    • A domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate
    • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
    • Up to $240 Resy credit (up to $20 monthly in statement credits)
    • Up to $120 Rideshare credit(up to $10 monthly in statement credits)
    • Up to $200 Delta Stays credit
    • 15% off Award Flight redemption through delta.com and the Fly Delta app
    • 20% back on eligible in-flight purchases in the form of a statement credit

    In short, there’s a lot of perks with this card and I find that, unlike a lot of other premium cards, they are useful perks! I love the the MQD boost, the hotel credit, the the 15% back on award redemptions, and especially the lounge access. I tend to use the majority of the perks on this card, making the value of it well worth the fee.

    Using Your Delta Points

    Delta uses dynamic pricing for their rewards. That means that the number of points it takes to book a flight isn’t a set number. Instead, the rate varies based on the cash price of a flight. You can also redeem your points as cash at checkout at the rate of 1 cent per mile but I never find that a good redemption and only rarely ever do that. I only ever do this if I am low on points and don’t have enough to redeem a flight but want to save money off the cash price.

    The 15% off on award redemptions makes flights a lot more affordable so be sure to have your card connected to your SkyMiles account. If you are flexible with your dates, you can use their award calendar to see the best points fare as mixing and matching your dates can lead to better deals.

    Additionally, Delta offers a lot of award sales so keep an eye out for them. Thrifty Traveler and Point.me are two good websites that can send you alerts. I find Delta miles to be the best for U.S. domestic economy and comfort plus redemptions. Unless there’s a sale, I never book for business or international flights. The redemption value is terrible.

    Is the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Worth It?

    If you’re a frequent Delta flyer who values lounge access, wants to earn elite status quickly, and appreciates upgrade priority, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card can be worth every penny. For casual travelers, however, the $650 fee will be hard to justify, especially with limited category bonuses.

    Pros:

    • Sky Club access and Centurion Lounge access with Delta flights
    • Companion certificate
    • MQDs at double the Platinum earning rate
    • Upgrade priority
    • Free checked bag and priority boarding
    • 15% off award flights

    Cons:

    • High annual fee
    • Few bonus categories for everyday spending
    • Lounge access has visit limits

    ***

    The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is for the most dedicated Delta travelers who want the best experience possible. Between lounge access, upgrade priority, and rapid MQD earning, it offers elite-level travel without having to fly your way there entirely. If you’re in airports and on Delta planes regularly, the Reserve delivers unmatched perks.

    Click here to learn more and sign up!

    If the fee is too high or you don’t fly Delta enough, check out the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card which may better suit your needs at a lower cost.

    Stop paying full price for travel!

    Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to use points and miles for free travel! It’s how all the pros travel so much! In this guide, I’ll show you:

    • How to Pick a Credit Card
    • How to Earn Up to 10x Miles on Your Spending
    • How to Redeem Your Points
    • And a Ton of Other Money Saving Tips!
    Points and Miles

    Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

    Book Your Flight
    Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

    Book Your Accommodation
    You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

    Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
    Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

    Want to Travel for Free?
    Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

    Need a Rental Car?
    Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip!

    Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?
    Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

    Ready to Book Your Trip?
    Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.



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  • Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Review

    Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Review


    picture of a delta airplane at the gate ready for take off

    Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

    If you fly a few times a year, you know the pain points: baggage fees that add up quickly, boarding last and finding no overhead bin space left, and earning miles at a snail’s pace. That’s where the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card can really change your travel experience. I’m a believer that if you fly one airline at least a few times per year (or have a favorite airline), you should at least get the airline’s lowest tier credit card as it comes with enough perks to justify the cost and will make your travel experience better.

    If you’re a Delta casual flier who wants solid perks with a $0 intro annual fee the first year, then $150, Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is the card for you. (See rates and fees.)

    In this review, we’ll break down the benefits, costs, and potential drawbacks so you can decide if this card is worth adding to your wallet.

    [TOC]

    What is the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card ?

    Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is Delta’s most basic credit card offering and is for people who want to make their airport and flying experience easier but don’t want to pay a high annual fee. The annual fee for this card is $150 per year but is a $0 intro annual fee the first year.

    This card offers:

    • Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership
    • 2x miles on Delta purchases
    • 2x miles at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide
    • 1x miles on all other purchases
    • Free checked bag on Delta flights
    • $200 Delta flight credit after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year
    • 15% off Award Travel redemptions on Delta flights
    • Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights
    • Up to $100 Delta Stays credit
    • 20% back on eligible in-flight purchases savings in the form of statement credits.

    Using Your Delta Points

    Delta uses dynamic pricing for their rewards. That means that the number of points it takes to book a flight isn’t a set number. Instead, the rate varies based on the cash price of a flight. You can also redeem your points as cash at checkout at the rate of 1 cent per mile but I never find that a good redemption and only rarely ever do that. I only ever do this if I am low on points and don’t have enough to redeem a flight but want to save money off the cash price.

    The 15% off on award redemptions makes flights a lot more affordable so be sure to have your card connected to your SkyMiles account. If you are flexible with your dates, you can use their award calendar to see the best points fare as mixing and matching your dates can lead to better deals.

    Additionally, Delta offers a lot of award sales so keep an eye out for them. Thrifty Traveler and Point.me are two good websites that can send you alerts. I find Delta miles to be the best for U.S. domestic economy and comfort plus redemptions. Unless there’s a sale, I never book for business or international flights. The redemption value is terrible.

    Is the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Worth It?

    If you fly Delta two or three times a year and don’t have elite status, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card can pay for itself just through the free checked bag benefit as that can save up to $70 on a round-trip per person. For a family of four that’s a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight. Add in priority boarding, the 15% award discount, and occasional statement credits, and you’re getting solid value for a relatively modest annual fee.

    ***

    Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card hits a sweet spot for casual-to-regular Delta fliers. The free checked bag alone can offset the annual fee, and the priority boarding and award discount make travel more pleasant and affordable. While it doesn’t offer premium perks like lounge access, it delivers enough value for its price point. If you fly Delta but aren’t ready to commit to a high-fee premium card, this is an easy choice to consider.

     

    Stop paying full price for travel!

    Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to use points and miles for free travel! It’s how all the pros travel so much! In this guide, I’ll show you:

    • How to Pick a Credit Card
    • How to Earn Up to 10x Miles on Your Spending
    • How to Redeem Your Points
    • And a Ton of Other Money Saving Tips!
    Points and Miles

    Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

    Book Your Flight
    Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

    Book Your Accommodation
    You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

    Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
    Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

    Want to Travel for Free?
    Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

    Need a Rental Car?
    Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip!

    Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?
    Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

    Ready to Book Your Trip?
    Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.



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  • Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Review

    Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Review


    A Delta One Suite seat picture
    Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

    If you fly Delta frequently and want to earn toward elite status while enjoying more travel perks than their Gold card offers but don’t want to pay the high fee of the Reserve, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is likely the best fit for you. It’s a step up in both annual fee and benefits, giving you tools to reach Medallion status faster, plus credits that can offset travel costs.

    Here’s my review of the card!

    Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Overview

    The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card has an annual fee of $350. (See Rates and Feees.) That is a pretty high annual fee for a lot of people but I would say that if you fly the airline enough to hit their gold status then you are definitely going to want this card over their other ones as it will give you a lot of perks and make your Delta flying experience better.

    This card offers:

    • Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
    • 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels
    • 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
    • 1x Miles on all other purchases
    • Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card.
    • $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year
    • 1 MQD for each $20 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
    • $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee
    • 15% off award travel redemptions on Delta flights
    • Up to $120 Resy credit (up to $10 monthly in statement credits)
    • Up to $120 Rideshare credit(up to $10 monthly in statement credits)
    • First checked back free

    How to Redeem Delta SkyMiles

    Delta uses dynamic pricing for their rewards. That means that the number of points it takes to book a flight isn’t a set number. Instead, the rate varies based on the cash price of a flight. You can also redeem your points as cash at checkout at the rate of 1 cent per mile but I never find that a good redemption and only rarely ever do that. I only ever do this if I am low on points and don’t have enough to redeem a flight but want to save money off the cash price.

    The 15% off on award redemptions makes flights a lot more affordable so be sure to have your card connected to your SkyMiles account. If you are flexible with your dates, you can use their award calendar to see the best points fare as mixing and matching your dates can lead to better deals.

    Additionally, Delta offers a lot of award sales so keep an eye out for them. Thrifty Traveler and Point.me are two good websites that can send you alerts. I find Delta miles to be the best for U.S. domestic economy and comfort plus redemptions. Unless there’s a sale, I never book for business or international flights. The redemption value is terrible.

    Is the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Worth It?

    For regular Delta flyers aiming for Medallion status, the The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is a clear upgrade from the Gold card. The companion certificate alone can offset the annual fee. Add in the TSA PreCheck credit, higher earning rates, and MQD boosts, statement credits, and the 15% off rewards and the card pays for itself. I’m a huge fan of this one. I have the business version of it as I have the Reserve for personal use since I am heavy Delta flier but if you’re not, then get this Platinum card.

    Pros and Cons

    Pros:

    • Companion certificate each year
    • MQD earning through card spend
    • Higher earn rates on Delta and hotel purchases
    • TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit
    • Free checked bag for you and companions
    • 15% off award flights

    Cons:

    • Higher annual fee at $350
    • No Sky Club lounge access
    • Companion certificate is domestic main cabin only

    ***

    The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is best for travelers who fly Delta often and are either chasing or maintaining Medallion status. Between the companion certificate, free checked bags, and the ability to earn MQDs on spending, it offers more than enough perks to justify the higher fee for frequent flyers. If you want lounge access or premium upgrades, however, you might want to look at the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card card instead.

    Click here to learn more and sign up!

     

    Stop paying full price for travel!

    Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to use points and miles for free travel! It’s how all the pros travel so much! In this guide, I’ll show you:

    • How to Pick a Credit Card
    • How to Earn Up to 10x Miles on Your Spending
    • How to Redeem Your Points
    • And a Ton of Other Money Saving Tips!
    Points and Miles

    Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

    Book Your Flight
    Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

    Book Your Accommodation
    You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

    Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
    Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

    Want to Travel for Free?
    Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

    Need a Rental Car?
    Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip!

    Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?
    Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

    Ready to Book Your Trip?
    Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.



    Source link

  • GoPro HERO 13 Review – The Ultimate Camera Guide [2025]

    GoPro HERO 13 Review – The Ultimate Camera Guide [2025]


    We’ve been busy putting the latest action camera to the test in our GoPro HERO 13 review! Let’s dive into the new features, mods and upgrades to see if it’s worth upgrading your gear to the newest GoPro HERO13 Black.

    The wait is over, and it was worth it. We’ve had our hands on the GoPro HERO13 Black for a few weeks now, and it’s everything we hoped for and then some.

    This isn’t just an incremental tech upgrade – it’s a serious leap forward complete with new creative accessories that’s going to change how you capture your adventures.

    Whether you’re diving into the deep blue or scaling mountain peaks, the GoPro HERO 13 is your ultimate sidekick, ready to deliver jaw-dropping footage every step of the way.

    There’s a hell of a lot to be excited about.

    The new 1900mAh battery is a game-changer, giving us up to three hours of recording time at 1080p. Or two full 1-hour scuba dives in Palau on the one battery – yep, honestly.

    No more worrying about your camera dying mid-shoot. The HERO 13 is built to keep up with your most epic adventures.

    And then there’s the new lens mods. There’s the Ultra Wide Lens—capturing a 177-degree field of view which like seeing the world in a whole new way.

    Perfect for those expansive landscapes or getting up close and personal with your subject, without losing any of that sharp detail.

    Like getting up close though? Throw on the Macro Lens Mod for, you guessed it, insane macro shots with an incredibly short focus point.

    Or get real creative with the new Neutral Density (ND) filters, where you can slow the shutter right down in the middle of the day to introduce motion blur.

    And if you’re into cinematic shots, the new Anamorphic Lens Mod is a dream come true, which creates widescreen footage with signature lens flares – like having a Hollywood camera in the palm of your hand.

    But where the HERO 13 really shines is in its usability. The new magnetic latch system makes mounting the camera a breeze, and it feels more secure than ever.

    Plus they’ve thrown in a new magnetic door latch with power cable so you can keep the unit charged up in the elements during long time lapses.

    All of this, plus the continued excellence in stabilisation with HyperSmooth 6.0, makes the GoPro HERO 13 a must-have for anyone serious about capturing life in the most vivid, dynamic way possible.

    But we’re in 2025 after all, and it’s expected for a camera to get better and better every release.

    And with so much competition coming from the likes of Insta360 and DJI, does the new GoPro cut it?

    That’s what we set out to discover by putting the camera to the test. Welcome to our GoPro HERO 13 review, where we’ll dive into all the latest features, how they perform in the real world, and most importantly, is it worth upgrading if you are still rocking an older model.

    (If you’re interested, you can also check out our detailed HERO12 review from last year.)

    SPECIAL DEAL: We have an epic deal happening for NOMADasaurus readers right! Use the code “nomadasaurus10” at checkout to unlock a further 10% discount on top of the already special deals GoPro have available. This discount is exclusive to us. Simply Click the button below to check out the special pricing and bonus items.

    Jarryd Diving Gopro Hero 13 Review
    Straight from the box to underwater in Raja Ampat – all part of the job of testing out the newest camera in our GoPro HERO13 Review.

    Our Honest GoPro HERO 13 Black Review

    Whether you’re upgrading from an older model or jumping into the GoPro ecosystem for the first time, the HERO 13 is up the challenge.

    All the new bells and whistles sound fancy, but what the hell is a neutral density filter anyway and why do you need one?

    And is 1900mAh of battery really that much better than 1720mAh?

    Magnetic latches and improved UI? HLG HDR? Burst Slo Mo?

    Sounds like a bunch of things that aren’t really necessary.

    Or are they?

    Read on to discover everything there is to know about this absolute beast of a camera.

    The Latest Features

    Here is a rundown of the new features on the new GoPro Hero 13.

    We’ll go into more detail on some of these key features later on, but here is a summary of the highlights!

    • Four new HB-Series Lens options to completely revolutionise how you capture content
    • Ultra Wide Lens Mod with new 1:1 aspect ratio
    • New Macro Lens Mod with 4x closer focus than the standard lens
    • New Anamorphic Lens Mod with widest ever FOV – 21:9!!
    • New battery with massive life improvement some settings
    • GPS is back!!! Yep, we asked, they delivered
    • New magnetic door and power cable kit – allows you to easily use external power
    • A third way to mount with the magnetic bottom
    • HLG HDR Video colour profile
    • New burst Slo-Mo feature in 720p400, 900p360, 5.3K120
    • 40% faster Wifi speeds
    • Customisable presets
    • Audio tuning

    And then all the best features that we saw on the 12, such as:

    • Bluetooth
    • 3 microphones and 3-mic processing
    • 4k wide and 1080p wide video settings
    • 2.7K Linear + Horizon Lock
    • 8:7, 16:9, 4:3, and 9:16 video settings
    • Time lapse and night lapse photo options
    • 27 megapixels for photos
    • Hypersmooth 6.0 video stabilisation
    Us Raja Ampat Gopro Hero13
    Interval photo mode shooting a raw image every 3 seconds makes capturing selfies in epic places easier than ever.

    The New HB-Series Lenses – Transforming the GoPro into a Versatile Unit

    One of the most exciting upgrades, and the most obvious really, that we’ll dive into with our GoPro HERO13 Black review is the introduction of new lens mods, each designed to expand your creative possibilities and make capturing incredible footage easier than ever.

    These mods aren’t just accessories – they’re tools that transform the way you shoot, opening up new perspectives and artistic opportunities that were previously out of reach with a standard action camera.

    Let’s see what they have released…

    Macro Lens Mod

    Let’s start with the Macro Lens Mod. This little powerhouse lets you get up close and personal with your subject, capturing intricate details that have always been impossible with previous GoPro models.

    Ever see something awesome and get your GoPro real close to it, only to find out later that the entire subject is out of focus?

    Yep, happens to us all the time. Normally you’d have to shoot far back and crop in heavily, assuming you could even see it properly if you aren’t close.

    That’s where this new mod comes in.

    Whether you’re filming small insects, intricate textures, or any small subject that demands attention to detail, the Macro Mod delivers stunning clarity and sharpness.

    The 3x magnification lets you fill the frame with your subject, turning ordinary shots that were once not possible into extraordinary ones.

    Imagine capturing the dewdrops on a leaf or the texture of a butterfly’s wings in perfect focus. Game changer!

    Macro Shot Taken On Gopro 13
    Using the HB-Series Macro Lens opens up a whole new world of creative possibilities.
    Ultra Wide Lens Mod

    Next up, the Ultra Wide Lens Mod.

    We haven’t managed to get our hands on this one yet, but have been using the Max Lens Mods on the HERO12 for a while and love it.

    With a 177-degree field of view, this mod is the go-to for capturing epic, sweeping landscapes or immersive action shots.

    Whether you’re mountain biking down a gnarly trail dropping in to a sheer face, the Ultra Wide Mod ensures you capture everything in your frame.

    And best of it all it now opens up a new 1:1 aspect ratio too, so you can crop later for social media or YouTube with the one clip.

    It’s perfect for when you want to convey the sheer scale of your environment, bringing a dynamic, cinematic quality to your footage that pulls viewers right into the scene.

    Anamorphic Lens Mod

    The Anamorphic Lens Mod is a bit more niche, but for those that like to add a cinematic flair to their videos, it’s going to be an essential tool.

    This lens gives your footage that widescreen, letterbox look, complete with those gorgeous horizontal lens flares that you usually only see in big-budget movies.

    Picture shooting a sunset or a city skyline at night, and the Anamorphic Mod adds a level of drama and professionalism that’s bound to impress.

    Click here to read more about how to take better GoPro photos in our ultimate guide.

    ND Filters

    And let’s not forget the ND filters. These might not sound as flashy as the other mods, but they’re essential for controlling exposure in bright conditions.

    If you’re capturing video on a sunny day or dealing with tricky lighting situations, ND filters help you maintain that cinematic motion blur by letting you shoot with slower shutter speeds, even in harsh light.

    They’re perfect for creating smooth, professional-looking footage without the dreaded overexposure.

    Or if you’re a photographer, using an ND Filter to slow down the shutter speed allows you to shoot a long exposure in bright conditions.

    Think silky smooth waterfalls or motion blur from cars. The possibilities are endless.

    You can still manually adjust your settings and use Motion Blur Protune to choose the level of blur you want. But the filter does most of the work for you.

    The ND Filter kit comes with 4 different stop levels: ND4, ND8, ND16 and ND32.

    Auto Detection

    What makes these lens mods even more awesome is the new auto-detection feature.

    The HERO13 Black is smart enough to recognise which lens mod you’ve attached and automatically adjust its settings to optimise performance.

    No more fiddling with menus or worrying about whether you’ve got the right setup – the camera does the hard work for you. This means you can focus on what really matters: capturing incredible footage with ease.

    Gopro Macro Lens
    The HB-Series Macro Lens mounted on the front of the GoPro HERO 13 Black.

    Bigger Battery Life

    While the GoPro HERO12 took the already pretty awesome battery life to a new level, the HERO 13 Black takes it a step further thanks to its brand new 1900mAh Enduro Battery, compared to last year’s 1720mAh battery.

    With the most powerful and durable battery that GoPro has ever made, you can enjoy a much higher battery capacity and improved power efficiency.

    That means you can spend longer adventuring out in hot or cold environments because the GoPro HERO 13 can last longer than any other GoPro.

    I’ve been testing this new battery out while scuba diving around Raja Ampat, Palau and Micronesia, and can happily say that one full charge easily lasts two dives, with enough life left to shoot a bunch of b-roll on the way back to land.

    This new battery can now record for more than 2.5 hours at 1080p30, and more than 1.5 hours at 4K30 / 5.3K30.

    The biggest difference with the new battery is how well it performs when there is no airflow though, such as when it’s in a housing.

    Gopro Hero 13 Black Enduro Battery Improvement Chart
    A quick rundown at the battery life improvements with airflow on the new 1900mAh Enduro Battery on the HERO13 Black.
    New Gopro Enduro Battery Hero13 No Airflow
    And this is how well the new Enduro battery performs without airflow compared to the older battery.

    GPS

    When the GoPro HERO12 hit the market in 2023, there was one massive feature omitted for the first time in almost a decade – GPS.

    This strange decision to not include it left millions of diehard action cam lovers scratching their heads as to why.

    Well, never fear, fellow content adventurer! GPS is back in the GoPro HERO13 Black!

    For filming on the go, you can now share your speed, path, terrain, altitude, and g-force overlap from the Quik app. There is also a geo-tagging feature which can help you find your favourite content in your third-party photo library apps.

    For those who often film while biking, hiking, or doing any sort of outdoor or travel activity, the GPS is a great feature to have.

    Contacto Magnetic Door and Power Cable Kit

    The GoPro HERO 13 introduces a slick new accessory that’s going to make powering your camera easier and more reliable than ever—the Contacto Magnetic Door and Power Cable Kit.

    This isn’t just a minor upgrade; it’s a smart solution that simplifies the way you keep your GoPro charged during those long shoots or intense adventures.

    Previously to keep the camera charged doing overnight time lapses for example, we’d have to open up the door and run the risk of water, condensation or dust getting inside.

    Not any more.

    The Contacto Magnetic Door is a practical replacement for the standard battery door, integrating magnetic contact points directly into its design.

    This allows for a seamless connection with the Magnetic Power Cable, letting you charge the camera without opening the door and exposing the internal components.

    This new cable perfectly pairs with the new door, snapping into place effortlessly with a strong magnetic connection.

    The cable itself is tough, designed to handle the rough and tumble of outdoor adventures, while also providing fast charging to keep your always GoPro ready for action.

    Don’t forget to use our GoPro discount code ‘nomadasaurus10’ at checkout to get a further 10% off on the latest camera and accessories!

    Improved Slo-Mo Capabilities

    The new HERO13 has boosted slow-motion video capabilities so you can capture every detail in your shots.

    Find the highest resolutions and highest frame rates with the GoPro HERO 13’s new Burst Slo-Mo, which shoots smooth and crisp short clips in slow motion.

    You can play back 720p400 in 3-minute, 20-second clips, 900p360 in 3-minute clips, and 5.3K120 in 20 second clips.

    Three Mounting Options

    The GoPro HERO 13 Black has a brand new mount option to go along with the two we know and love (the fold-down mounting fingers and the tripod mounting thread).

    The most secure is the classic fold-down mounting fingers, which is low-profile, stable and perfect for intense activities or sports. This is the one we use about 90% of the time.

    You can also choose the 1/4-20 Mounting Threads which work with most standard tripod. This is a great option for professional photographers and videographers who already have the gear and want absolutely zero movement between the camera and the tripod.

    And now, to really increase the versatility of the world’s favourite action cam, there is the new Magnetic Latch and Ball Joint Mounts.

    This secures your camera by snapping it in place on the auto-engaging dual latch magnets. Then you can attach the magnetic latch to any other GoPro mount for the ultimate flexibility!

    Just remember that it is magnetic after all, and while it’s super useful if you want to quickly switch the GoPro to different mounting locations, we would not recommend it for any kind of mounting option where there is a lot of movement or jarring.

    Reefs Of Micronesia.
    Exploring the reefs of Micronesia with GoPro 13.

    HLG HDR Video

    The GoPro HERO 12 introduced HDR video for the best-looking videos on the market, as well as a flat setting, mimicking a log profile, for those that like to colour grade their footage.

    The new GoPro HERO 13 takes this to the next level, with proper hybrid-log gamma (HLG) technology.

    Now you can record in 10-bit and Rec. 2100 colour space and have the benefit of a wider colour gamut.

    This is aimed at more of the professional creators out there, but it’s a very worthwhile upgrade.

    Faster Wifi

    While the older model had Wifi 5 Technology, the GoPro HERO 13 Black steps it up with even better specs!

    The new option uses Wifi 6 Technology, offering more reliable and faster connectivity for transferring your content when using the GoPro Quik app.

    You can still use a USB-C cable to your laptop or PC as well for ultra-fast transfers.

    Audio Tuning

    There aren’t too many differences between the audio feature of the 12 and 13, but the 13 offers a slightly more sophisticated approach to audio on your content.

    There is now audio tuning which is optimised to your activity, meaning you get more balanced and realistic sound.

    The new Voice Audio Mode also makes sound clearer, as it prioritises your voice over other ambient sounds in the background. For vlogging enthusiasts, this new feature gives your content a more optimised and crisp sound.

    Or do what we do – use the Media Mod and run a shotgun mic or wireless microphone setup for the best audio possible when vlogging.

    Alesha In Raja Gopro Hero 13 Black Review
    Life looks better on GoPro.

    All the Other Same Features from Last Year

    As we mentioned earlier, the best features from the 12 are still found on the 13, and these include:

    1/1.9″ Sensor with 8:7 Aspect Ratio

    It took us a little while to get used to the 8:7 aspect ratio, paired with GoPro’s 1/1.9″ sensor, but now we use it pretty much 90% of the time. It’s just so damn useful.

    Capture one shot and crop it multiple ways – for YouTube, Instagram/TikTok, web or print.

    Our go-to is 8:7, 4k and 60 fps for most action scenes, and 5.3k at 30fps for vlogs.

    Night Effects

    We love the night effects, such as star trails, light painting and night lapses, and of course they’re still here on the 13.

    HyperSmooth 6.0 with 360 Degree Horizon Lock

    Basically HyperSmooth makes your footage as smooth as using a gimbal, without of course needing a gimbal.

    It’s epic. It’s flawless. It’s practically essential.

    In fact it’s so good that we often find ourselves wanting to vlog on the GoPro for run-and-go shooting rather than our top-line Sony cameras.

    And the 360-Degree Horizon Lock means you can literally spin the camera in a full circle and it will magically keep the horizon straight.

    While you might not be spinning the camera around fully all the time, it’s great if you’re trying to shoot a scene from something like a boat in rough seas for example.

    Our Other Favourite Features

    These are the ones we use with our GoPro all the time, and while not new, are worth highlighting again:

    Scheduled Capture

    Set your GoPro up somewhere for a time lapse (or night lapse), pick a time in the future to start recording, and then walk away.

    Why we love it? Means you don’t need to start recording early and risk killing your battery, or need to set a reminder to go out and switch the GoPro on in case you’re busy, or asleep.

    Raw Photos

    SuperPhoto is cool, but we always prefer to edit our images the way we like. That’s why we leave our GoPro set to Raw images all the time.

    Why we love it? Really push the colours in your images hard when editing.

    Presets

    If you’re always switching between different modes, like 5.3k30 and 4k60 like us, having these exact settings saved as a preset means you can change in a moment.

    Why we love it? Makes life so much quicker and easier.

    This video was shot on the HERO12, but it works the exact same on the HERO13.

    GoPro Quik Desktop App

    We just want to talk about the GoPro Quik App again this year, because it’s just always getting better and better.

    The GoPro Quik app on your smartphone is excellent, especially for importing your footage and making quick edits to share on social media.

    It’s so good we recommend it as essential downloading for anybody who comes with us on our NOMADasaurus Adventure Tours.

    The desktop app is also excellent, and while we don’t really use it for editing videos (we use Adobe Premiere Pro and CapCut for that), it makes grabbing a frame out of your video as a photo very quick and easy.

    The ‘Mods’ and ‘Mounts’ – The HB Lens Mods + Media, Max Lens, Display and Light Mod

    We had a massive write-up about the HB Lens Mods above (the ND, Macro and Anamorphic Lenses that suit the GoPro HERO 13 Black), but we can’t forget about the other mods GoPro has available.

    The Display Mod isn’t something we really use, nor recommend, and there’s a new Ultra Wide Lens Mod to replace the Max Lens, but the Light Mod is really handy and we always throw a few in our camera bags for trips.

    The Media Mod on the other hand is essential if you’re a content creator.

    This allows you to use an external microphone for audio, and has a few hot shoe attachments for other units like the light mod.

    Plus there’s all the cool mounts you can purchase to place the HERO13 just about anywhere you can imagine.

    And yes, for another year in a row, the GoPro HERO13 Black is the exact same size as the previous four cameras, so there’s no need to throw out your old accessories.

    Some of our favourites are the Dive Housing, El Grande, Jaws, Bite Mount and Floaty.

    Check out our full list of our top GoPro accessories.

    Don’t forget to use our GoPro discount code ‘nomadasaurus10’ at checkout to get a further 10% off on the latest camera and accessories!

    What About the GoPro HERO – A New Smaller Camera?

    Yes, there is a new, smaller, no-frills GoPro HERO camera coming out, and while it’s not as good as the HERO13, for a lot of people this is going to be more than enough.

    Think of it as the Session making a comeback.

    We’ll update this article once we get our hands on one to test.

    Puffer Fish Gopro Hero13
    Hanging out with a puffer fish in Palau. How good is the quality on the 13 for underwater shots?!

    Is the HERO13 Any Good in the Real World?

    We picked up the GoPro HERO13 Black literally on the way to the airport to fly out to a photography assignment on an expedition ship through West Papua, Palau and Micronesia.

    So our testing of the new camera was literally baptism by fire.

    There was no fancy unboxing, spending time going through all the settings, etc.

    It was grab the camera, turn it on, do a basic setup based on what we know with older GoPros, throw it in a dive housing and hit the water.

    Luckily, it worked flawlessly from day one.

    The menu is practically the same as previous years, meaning it’s clear, concise and easy to navigate.

    After a few minutes of dialling in the settings we wanted – 10 bit natural colour, 8:7 at 4k60 with minimum and maximum ISO selected, we descended down to 30 metres.

    And, just as expected, it just worked.

    No freezing, no lag between switching between video/photo, and best of all the footage just popped right out of the camera.

    The interval photo mode, capturing raw files every 3 seconds, was truly awesome to have on hand.

    With a couple of days of diving and snorkelling under our belt we took the GoPro HERO13 Black on a hike around Raja Ampat and absolutely loved how it all worked.

    HyperSmooth? Perfect.

    Colours? Vibrant and clean.

    Photo mode? Quick and easy to use.

    And then when we pushed the colours in post processing, the RAW files really shined, particularly on the dive shots with minimal light.

    In full transparency we only used the ND filters quickly for a test, and they did exactly as expected. Nothing flash, nothing fancy – they are just high quality ND filters that have practically no colour casting and slow the shutter down without interference in bright conditions.

    That might sound like it’s not worth getting, but as people who love the natural motion blur you get when you shoot video at the correct settings, and of course who play around with long exposure photography a lot, these are now going to live full-time in our camera bags.

    We threw on the Macro Lens for a quick trial on some flowers and sure enough, it’s a decent macro lens.

    Again, doesn’t sound like much. But this is the first time there has been a native GoPro macro lens mod, and opens up an entirely new world of possibilities for video and photos.

    Just like the ND filters, this is a welcome addition and now considered a must-have in our list of camera gear.

    We sadly didn’t get a chance to test out the Ultra Wide Lens Mod or the Anamorphic Lens Mod, but trust us, as soon as we do we’ll update this article with our experience of them.

    All in all, it’s a very powerful, very durable, and very easy to use professional content creation powerhouse.

    What We Don’t Like

    It’s taken us a few weeks of using this every single day in a variety of situations to try to figure out what we don’t like about in our GoPro HERO13 Black review.

    Is it perfect?

    Of course not.

    But in all honesty, the years of saying “Yea GoPros are cool but I hate that they…” are pretty much over.

    We do wish they brought in the rumoured 1-inch sensor for better resolution and low-light performance, but realise that would make the unit a fair bit larger.

    And again there’s no optical zoom. With the HB Series Lenses though perhaps there’s a zoom lens on the horizon?

    A dedicated 1:1 aspect ratio would be awesome, as would a built-in visual grid so you could frame in 9×16 and 16×19 easily enough.

    It’s still early days though, and we’ll update this article if we find anything we don’t like.

    Diving In Indonesia Gopro
    The new camera works equally awesome above and below water.

    GoPro HERO13 vs GoPro HERO12 vs GoPro HERO11 – What’s the Difference?

    We actually rocked our previous 12 while exploring Micronesia as well to compare the two in our brand new GoPro HERO 13 Black review, and if you’re familiar with the older model as well you might be wondering if there’s been much of an upgrade this year.

    Or if you have the HERO11 or HERO12, or maybe don’t even own a GoPro, you’re probably curious if there’s any difference at all.

    So let us lay it out in absolute laymen’s terms for you.

    The biggest differences that the majority of moderate users would notice are:

    • More battery life
    • A variety of creative lens mods
    • GPS
    • Magnetic Mount

    The other upgrades like HLG HDR video colour profiles, audio tuning, burst slo-mo and faster wifi are more things that heavy users or professionals would be excited about.

    Let’s check out the differences in our comparison table.

    27MP + SuperPhoto and all RAW modes

    27MP + SuperPhoto and all RAW modes

    27MP + SuperPhoto and all RAW modes

    In-Camera with 360° Angle and Horizon Lock

    In-Camera with 360° Angle and Horizon Lock

    In-Camera with 360° Angle and Horizon Lock

    720p400, 900p360, 
    5.3K120

    1.4″ Color LCD with Smoother Live Preview 

    1.4″ Color LCD with Smoother Live Preview 

    1.4″ Color LCD with Smoother Live Preview 

    2.7″ Color LCD with Improved Touch Sensitivity

    2.7″ Color LCD with Improved Touch Sensitivity

    2.7″ Color LCD with Improved Touch Sensitivity

    Media Mod, Max Lens Mod, Display Mod, Light Mod, Volta

    Media Mod, Max Lens Mod, Display Mod, Light Mod, Volta

    Media Mod, Max Lens Mod, Display Mod, Light Mod, Volta

    HLG HDR, Flat, Natural, Vibrant

    1080p with HyperSmooth 6.0

    1080p with HyperSmooth 5.0

    1080p with HyperSmooth 5.0

    Is it Worth Upgrading?

    We’re nearing the end of our GoPro HERO 13 review, and every year we get routinely get asked two questions all the time (in the past couple of weeks on this ship we’ve been asked this multiple times a day):

    “I don’t own a GoPro, which one should I buy?”

    And…

    “I have a GoPro HERO12/11/10, should I upgrade to the newer model?”

    So, here we go, the exact same advice we give our friends, our family, clients and guests.

    Is it worth upgrading to the HERO13?

    You Don’t Have a GoPro

    If you don’t have a GoPro and are curious if you should rush out and buy the newest HERO13 for travel, underwater, content creation, social media, sport or lifestyle, our honest answer is:

    Yes, it’s 100% worth buying the HERO13 Black, if it’s within your budget.

    If it’s not, but you still want a GoPro, you will probably be very, very happy with the HERO12.

    Reason we say ‘if it’s within your budget’ is because the main upgrades such as the HB Series Lenses and very nice to haves, but not essentials for most people.

    Yes, the 13 is the newer, better, more capable camera.

    And if the price difference isn’t much, then get it.

    You Have a GoPro HERO10 or Earlier Model

    If you own a GoPro HERO10 or older camera, do yourself a favour and jump on this immediately.

    The GP2 processor, larger sensor, 8:7 aspect ratio, massive battery increase, improved UI and just about everything else makes the HERO13 night and day compared to the older models.

    Just do it, you won’t regret it.

    You Have a GoPro HERO12 Black or HERO11 Black?

    Now this is a bit of an interesting one, and harder to answer.

    Side by side, do we noticed much of a difference between our HERO12 and the HERO13?

    No, not really.

    Is the HERO13 better?

    Of course it is! So much so that we’ll be selling our 12s and just using the 13s.

    But we use our GoPros all the time as professional content creators.

    What if you just use your GoPro now and then, for a short holiday or on the one time every few months you might go mountain biking, skiing or snorkelling?

    It might not be worth you spending the extra cash if you won’t use it.

    Honestly, you’ll still love what you capture with your HERO12 or HERO11.

    Now, if the HB Series Lenses sound interesting to you (they’re awesome), and the power upgrades with the 1900mAh Enduro Battery and Conacto Magnetic Power Latch pique your interest, then upgrade to the HERO13.

    So what do we recommend you to do?

    The easiest way to break it down is with this:

    UPGRADE IF: I use my GoPro more than once a week, would use the ND, Macro or Ultra Wide Lenses, appreciate more battery life and like to colour grade my video footage.
    DON’T WORRY IF: I use my camera less than once a month, don’t really edit my footage, never drain a battery and don’t need nicer video clips.

    If you’ve just recently purchased an 12 though, don’t throw it away. The 12 is still awesome and will serve you well for many more years.

    Final Verdict – 9/10

    Well family, that’s it for our GoPro HERO13 review. It’s made it across the Indo Pacific and Micronesia with us on a crazy adventure, captured some insane content and never missed a beat.

    It’s an absolute weapon, and we love it.

    We personally give the GoPro HERO 13 Black a rock solid 9/10.

    The HB Series Lenses completely revolutionise how you can use the new GoPro, the bigger battery is a life saver, the UI improvements are fantastic and of course 5.3k60 is wild.

    Next up we’ll be throwing this little unit into the content battlefields across Africa, Antarctica, Patagonia, Borneo and the Arctic.

    If you do purchase the GoPro HERO 13 Black, also grab the GoPro Cloud Storage too.

    Thanks very much for reading our GoPro HERO13 Black review. If you have any questions please leave a comment below and we’ll answer them as soon as possible.

    Don’t forget to use our GoPro discount code ‘nomadasaurus10’ at checkout to get a further 10% off on the latest camera and accessories!

    DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you book accommodation, tours or buy a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products that ourselves or our fantastic editorial team have personally experienced, and regularly review these. Thanks for your support, kind friend!

    Is the GoPro HERO13 better than the GoPro HERO12?

    The GoPro HERO13 has a number of excellent upgrades over the HERO12, including a much bigger 1900mAh battery, HB-Series Lens compatibility, improved UI, Burst Slo-Mo mode, HLG HDR video and a Magnetic Latch and Power Cable adaptor.

    Is it worth upgrading to the GoPro HERO13?

    If you have the HERO11 model or earlier, use your GoPro more than once a week or make social media content, then it is definitely worth upgrading to the GoPro HERO12 to enjoy the extra battery life and HB Series Lenses.

    Is the GoPro HERO 13 good for still photos?

    The GoPro HERO 13 Black is fantastic for still photos thanks to the 27 megapixel, 1/1.9″ sensor being powered by the GP2 processor and full RAW capabilities.

    What are the differences between the GoPro HERO13 and HERO12?

    The biggest changes between the GoPro HERO13 and HERO12 are the extra battery life, HB-Series Lenses with Auto Detect, HLG HDR video profiles, better UI and Burst Slo-Mo.

    GoPro HERO 13 Black Review
    Gopro Hero 13 Black Review Feature Image

    In our detailed GoPro HERO 13 review we’ve personally put the camera to the test to see if it’s worth the upgrade and see what’s new on the GoPro HERO13 Black.

    Pros

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  • KORELIMITED Review: Why This Korean-American Streetwear Brand Stands Out

    KORELIMITED Review: Why This Korean-American Streetwear Brand Stands Out


    If you’re like me, finding clothing that honors your roots and fits your style isn’t always easy. As a Korean-American who values both identity and aesthetics, I’m always on the lookout for brands that speak to who I am—without turning culture into a trend. That’s exactly why KORELIMITED stood out to me.

    Me sitting on a green john deer lawn mower with grass in background wearing white tshirt and jean shorts

    This Los Angeles–based streetwear brand blends Korean heritage with modern design in a way that feels fresh, intentional, and authentic. Here’s my full KORELIMITED review after wearing several of their pieces—and why I think they’re worth checking out. Plus, you can save 15% on your order with code: NIENIE15

    This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Support my blog here

    First Impressions

    I first discovered KORELIMITED while scrolling through Instagram. Their products immediately caught my attention. From there, I fell down the rabbit hole (aka their website) and was impressed by the clean aesthetic, bold cultural references, and inclusive messaging. The brand felt like it was made for people like me: Korean diaspora who want to wear their heritage with pride, not perform it for trendiness.

    When my first package arrived, I could already tell it wasn’t your typical streetwear. The packaging was minimal but thoughtful, and the fabric quality was noticeable from the moment I opened it.

    Key Takeaways

    • Designs blend Korean history and symbolism with streetwear edge
    • High-quality, long-lasting materials with great fit
    • Ideal for Korean-Americans or anyone interested in thoughtful, cultural fashion

    Design and Aesthetic

    KORELIMITED doesn’t just throw a few Hangul characters on a shirt and call it a day. Their designs reference real cultural moments—like the March 1st Movement, Hangeul Day, and traditional Korean motifs like Mugunghwa (the national flower). There’s intentionality behind every drop.

    I picked up a taeguk hoodie, the bunsik club tee and a snapback embroidered with the Korean flag on it. The look is effortlessly cool: clean lines, subtle colorways, and heritage-infused typography that doesn’t scream for attention—but still turns heads.

    Whether you’re heading to a café in Seoul or a farmer’s market in the US, the design fits in—and stands out.

    Material and Durability

    Let’s talk quality. One of my biggest pet peeves is investing in a brand only to have the shirt pill after two washes. KORELIMITED exceeded my expectations here.

    White tshirt laying on the ground with a multicolor blanket underneath
    • Fabric: The cotton is thick and soft, especially on the hoodies—almost heavyweight but still breathable.
    • Stitching: Clean and reinforced, no loose threads or uneven seams.
    • Prints: Screenprinting is sharp and hasn’t cracked or faded after multiple washes.

    For a streetwear brand, they’ve clearly prioritized both form and function, which I appreciate as someone who wants their wardrobe to last more than one season.

    Fit and Comfort

    I ordered everything true to size and appreciated the relaxed, slightly oversized fit—ideal for layering. If you’re into that laid-back, Seoul-meets-LA vibe, their sizing and cuts deliver.

    • Hoodies: Roomy but not sloppy, with a structured hood that actually stays up.
    • T-Shirts: Unisex sizing with a drop-shoulder silhouette—great for a streetwear feel.
    • Hats: Adjustable snapbacks with a firm, structured crown.

    Whether I’m running errands, traveling, or just lounging at home, their pieces are wearable and comfortable all day long.

    Me sitting on some steaps with a white shirt on, jean shorts, and a tan hat with a Korean flag on it

    Cultural Significance

    What really makes KORELIMITED stand out is the depth behind the design. This isn’t a fast-fashion “Korean aesthetic”—this is intentional storytelling.

    As someone who grew up between cultures, wearing pieces that reflect real history—like the Hangul alphabet or references to Korean independence—feels empowering. KORELIMITED isn’t just about looking good; it’s about feeling connected.

    They also partner with Korean-American creatives and highlight causes related to Asian representation, which makes me feel even better about supporting the brand.

    Value and Pricing

    Compared to other premium streetwear brands, KORELIMITED is competitively priced, especially given the quality.

    Item Type Price Range
    T-Shirts $38 – $52
    Hoodies/Sweatshirts $78 – $110
    Accessories (hats, socks, bags) $20 – $45

    Shipping was fast (especially within the U.S.), and they offer regular drops and limited edition collections if you’re looking for something more exclusive.

    They don’t offer a full-blown lifetime warranty like some travel brands, but return and exchange policies are reasonable—and customer service was responsive when I had a sizing question.

    Why KORELIMITED Works for Me

    As someone who’s always packing for the next adventure and navigating multiple identities, I want clothing that’s more than just trendy. KORELIMITED fits my style, my story, and my standards.

    It’s not about performative culture or slapping Korean lettering on a tee for clout. It’s thoughtful, intentional, and proudly Korean-American—just like I strive to be.

    Final Thoughts on KORELIMITED

    If you’re looking for streetwear that goes beyond surface-level “aesthetic,” KORELIMITED is worth a spot in your wardrobe. Their pieces are well-made, culturally rich, and versatile enough to wear anywhere—from a trip to Seoul to your favorite neighborhood café.

    It’s not just a brand—it’s a statement. One I’m proud to wear.





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  • Coral Geographer Review | Ultimate Expedition Ship [2025]

    Coral Geographer Review | Ultimate Expedition Ship [2025]


    For over three decades, Coral Expeditions has been a pioneer in small-ship cruising, offering adventurous travellers the chance to explore some of the most remote and pristine regions of Australia and the rest of the world.

    Founded in 1983 to explore the outer reaches of the Great Barrier Reef, the Australian-owned-and-operated Coral Expeditions has grown from a single vessel operation to a renowned expedition cruise company, now boasting a fleet of purpose-built ships designed for intimate and immersive experiences.

    The Coral Geographer, the latest addition to their fleet, continues the company’s tradition of delivering exceptional journeys to off-the-beaten-path destinations.

    With a focus on exploring Australia’s Kimberley coast, the wilds of Papua New Guinea, and the idyllic islands of the Indian Ocean, Coral Expeditions offers itineraries that are rich in natural beauty, cultural encounters, and unique wildlife experiences.

    What sets Coral Expeditions apart is their commitment to small group travel, typically with fewer than 120 passengers on board, ensuring a personalised and enriching experience.

    We recently had the immense pleasure and privilege of working onboard the Coral Geographer as ‘Photographers-in-Residence’, spending 17 days navigating the remote atolls of Micronesia and rugged landscapes of West Papua on their Darwin to Yap expedition.

    Having travelled the world on multiple expedition cruises, from Antarctica to the Arctic, the Galapagos Islands and now the Indo-Pacific, we have a huge amount of intricate experience on these types of ships, covering the most luxurious right down to rustic Russian research vessels.

    And now with the Coral Geographer under our belt, we can confidently vouch for just how superb this purpose-built explorer is for travelling to the most remote regions in the tropics.

    In our detailed and firsthand Coral Geographer review we dive deep into our thoughts and experiences of the entire ship, from the cabins and lounge areas to the dining and even safety, so you can make a decision on whether or not you think this vessel is right for you on your next adventure.

    Coral Geographer Review Ship With Xplorer
    The Coral Geographer with one of its Xplorers alongside.

    Introducing the Coral Geographer

    The Coral Geographer was constructed at the Vard Vung Tau shipyard in Vietnam, renowned for building high-quality expedition vessels.

    As the sister ship to the Coral Adventurer, which was launched in 2019, the Coral Geographer shares many design elements but incorporates enhancements based on feedback and experiences from its predecessor.

    Both ships are part of Coral Expeditions’ new generation of expedition vessels, designed to offer an intimate and luxurious cruising experience while being capable of accessing some of the world’s most remote and hard-to-reach locations.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOx61xSE5zY

    The Coral Geographer is equipped with the latest technology and features that enhance exploration, including a fleet of Zodiacs, signature Xplorers, and the capability to venture into shallow bays and hidden inlets that larger ships cannot reach.

    Onboard, guests are treated to the expertise of highly experienced expedition teams, who provide insightful commentary, guided excursions, and a deep understanding of the regions visited.

    Whether you’re diving the reefs of Raja Ampat, sipping cocktails in ancient ruins, or engaging with local communities, a journey aboard the Coral Geographer is designed to inspire a sense of wonder and discovery, all while maintaining the comfort and elegance of a modern expedition ship.

    Quickfire Coral Geographer Facts:

    • Length: 93.4 meters
    • Beam: 17.2m
    • Draught: 4.5m
    • Gross Tonnage: 5516GT
    • Passenger Capacity: 120 guests
    • Crew: 48
    • Cabins: 60 staterooms, all with ocean views
    • Launch Date: 2021
    • Shipyard: Vard Vung Tau, Vietnam
    • Sister Ship: Coral Adventurer
    • Tenders: Zodiacs, Xplorers
    • Activities: Snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking, ship cruising, Zodiac/Xplorer cruising, landings
    • Eco-Friendly Features: Advanced wastewater treatment system
    • Specialty Areas: Explorer Lounge, Observation Decks
    • Cruising Speed: 13.8 knots
    • Main Engines: Caterpillar 3512C
    • Flag: Australian
    Xplorer In Raja Ampat
    The Coral Geographers’s capable Xplorer tenders are able to get into some pretty spectacular locations, like this cove in Misool, Raja Ampat.

    The Cabins and Suites

    The Coral Geographer offers a range of elegantly designed cabins and suites, each thoughtfully crafted to provide comfort and luxury while maintaining a connection to the stunning surroundings.

    All staterooms feature:

    • Ocean views
    • Compact en suite bathrooms
    • Comfortable bedding
    • Ample storage space
    • Climate control
    • Writing desk
    • Daily housekeeping
    Promenade Deck Stateroom Cabin Coral Geographer
    Cabin 413, our Promenade Deck Stateroom on the ship.

    Personally we stayed in cabin 413, a Promenade Deck Stateroom with a large window, which stands out for its blend of space, style, and accessibility.

    The stateroom is designed with a calming colour palette, hanging wall art and modern amenities, creating a welcoming retreat after a day of exploration.

    The ship also features Coral Deck Staterooms with twin portholes, Explorer Deck Balcony Staterooms and Bridge Deck Suites.

    Each cabin type provides ample space, luxurious furnishings, and thoughtful, decorative touches.

    Promenade Deck Stateroom Cabin Coral Geographer Window
    The bed was enormous, room spacious and bathed with natural light thanks to the large window.

    The Bridge Deck Suites in particular offer the ultimate indulgence with expansive private balconies and larger lounge area, perfect for those seeking extra comfort and privacy on their expedition.

    The private balcony in these suites provide stunning views and comfortable seating. Additionally, the private balconies in various suite categories include an outdoor daybed, offering a luxurious space for guests to unwind while enjoying scenic views.

    No matter which cabin you choose, the Coral Geographer ensures that every guest enjoys a luxurious and comfortable experience, complete with modern amenities and the convenience of a home away from home.

    Promenade Deck Stateroom Cabin Coral Geographer Bathroom
    The bathroom is basic but equipped with everything you’d need.

    The Explorer Lounge

    The Explorer Lounge aboard the Coral Geographer is more than just a gathering space – it’s the ship’s social hub where drinks are shared, games are played and presentations excitedly listened to.

    With its panoramic windows, the lounge offers stunning views that make you feel connected to the remote landscapes you’re exploring.

    There are more than enough comfortable chairs, lounges and tables for all guests to sprawl out and relax, and a number of TVs to watch movies or the slideshows from the expedition crew.

    Naturally there is a well-stocked bar as well which opens up in the afternoons, so you can enjoy a drink while hearing about what the plan is for the next day or while getting to know your fellow passengers.

    Library

    Tucked next to the entrance to the Explorer Lounge is the ship’s library, with a collection of curated books that cover a wide variety of destinations, wildlife, history and culture that Coral Expeditions immerses their guests in.

    There were books on Australian indigenous rock art, the birds of paradise found in Papua.

    You are welcome to borrow any of the books you’d like for free. You’re just asked to return them to the library before you disembark.

    Coral Geographer Library
    The library is small but filled with fascinating books related to the cultures and regions that Coral Expeditions explore.

    The Dining Room

    The Dining Room aboard the Coral Geographer is a beautifully designed space that blends elegance with a sense of warmth.

    Large windows offer stunning views, making every meal a visual feast as well as a culinary one.

    The atmosphere is relaxed yet refined, with seating arranged to foster a sense of community among guests.

    Breakfast is served buffet style, fostering a communal dining experience where guests can choose from various options at their leisure.

    This setting allows for a relaxed, casual atmosphere, contrasting with the more formal plated dinners offered in the evenings.

    Coral Geographer Dining Room
    The Dining Room onboard the Coral Geographer.

    You can choose to join large tables for multiple people, or grab a more intimate 2-person setup if you’d prefer a bit of tranquility with your meal.

    Tables are also set for breakfast, lunch and dinner out on the aft deck for those that would like uninterrupted views and fresh air with their glass of wine.

    The natural light during the day and the cozy ambiance in the evening create a perfect setting for guests to gather, share stories, and savour the journey.

    READ MORE: Check out our article on our favourite travel photography tips to help you capture epic images on your next adventure.

    Outdoor Deck Raja Ampat Views
    If you’d prefer you can always enjoy a meal outside as well. With views like this, it doesn’t get much better.

    Gym

    Just because you’re on holiday doesn’t mean you need to let your fitness regime disappear, because there’s a small yet varied gym aboard Coral Geographer!

    Located on the Explorer Deck, the gym features a couple of cardio machines and free weights.

    Large windows allow natural light to flood the space, with inspiring views of the surrounding seascape as you work out.

    The Bridge

    The Bridge on the Coral Geographer is the heart and soul of the ship where all navigation and operations are conducted.

    Thanks to the Coral Expeditions’ open bridge policy, guests are welcomed to visit during almost any time of the day, with it really only being closed during difficult navigation and when local pilots are onboard who prefer not to have guests in the room.

    This unique access provides an inside look at how the crew navigates through remote waters, offering a chance to observe the advanced navigation systems and interact with the captain and officers.

    Bridge Access
    Inside the bridge while navigating through a narrow channel on the way into Palau.

    On every voyage an official bridge tour is offered where one of the officers will explain all of the tools they have at their disposal and how they sail the ship.

    Having access to the bridge is one of the most interesting aspects of any journey with Coral Expeditions, and we would often wander in to chat with Captain Andrew, Josh, Mohammed and Brock and watch what was going on.

    On a side note, the captain and his officers were also the most welcoming, friendly and chatty ship crew we’ve ever come across on an expedition vessel.

    Coral Geographer Bridge
    Keeping an eye on the weather inside the bridge.

    Xplorer Bar and Vista Deck

    The Xplorer Bar and Vista Deck on the Coral Geographer is found near the bow of the ship on Deck 7 and is one of the most picturesque and sought-after locations on the entire ship.

    When the sun is rising or you’re entering a new destination, this is where you’ll find most guests with a drink in one hand and a camera in the other soaking up whatever is pouring out of the outdoor bars.

    A key feature of the Xplorer Bar experience is enjoying sunset drinks while taking in the panoramic views during sunset.

    Coral Geographer Review Vista Deck Drinks
    The Vista Deck during a special drinks hour on the Coral Geographer as we leave Raja Ampat.

    It offers sprawling 270-degree views, lots of seating areas and of course the Xplorer Bar that opens up for special occasions.

    During our journey the Coral team organised a fantastic cocktail party on the upper deck as we sailed out of Raja Ampat.

    With the drinks free-flowing and vistas that need to be seen to be believed it became one of the most enjoyable evenings on the entire trip.

    While there isn’t always a party happening here though, it is still one of our personal favourite areas on the ship.

    Vista Deck Drinks
    Alesha enjoying a delicious drink on the Vista Deck.

    Bridge Deck Bar

    Smaller, yet often busier, the Bridge Deck Bar on the Coral Geographer is constantly buzzing with guests who would like a book to read or drink to savour as they take in mind-blowing views.

    Found at the stern of the Explorer Lounge, the bar is where afternoon drinks are prepared, always with a cocktail of the day designed by one of the talented bartenders.

    There are speakers outside as well that project what is being said on the presentations, so if you’d lke to sit outside but don’t want to miss the talks, this is the spot to be.

    Reception and Shop

    The Reception on the Coral Geographer is the central hub for guest services and information.

    You can’t miss it, as it’s right at the entrance to the Dining Room, and you’ll usually find one of the friendly crew hanging out there answering questions.

    If you need to put your name down for any daily activities, check to see what’s on the schedule or just have a query, this is where you’ll end up.

    Adjacent to the reception area is the onboard shop, which offers a selection of travel essentials, souvenirs, and expedition gear.

    There’s not a lot available, so you can’t rely on it to do all your expedition shopping before arrival or to pick up things like a decent camera, but if you’d like a shirt or something to take home you’ll find something suitable here.

    Shop Onboard Coral Geographer
    The shop on the Coral Geographer isn’t huge, but has the essentials.

    Outer Decks

    The outer decks on the Coral Geographer provide guests with ample space to fully experience the surrounding environment during their expedition.

    The fantastic wraparound deck on deck 4 allows you to walk pretty much the whole way around the ship (with the bow being closed during operations), making it perfect for photography, wildlife spotting, or simply enjoying the sea breeze.

    Guests On Bow
    When operations aren’t underway guests can even walk out to the bow.

    The front Coral Geographer decks allow for better views of what’s coming up ahead, while the rear upper deck provides a quieter space to relax and take in the scenery.

    These outdoor areas are designed to enhance the overall journey, ensuring guests can fully immerse themselves in the landscapes they’re exploring.

    Jarryd On Deck Coral Geographer
    Out on the deck, camera in hand, enjoying the views – where you’ll find us most of the time onboard the Coral Geographer.

    The Coral Geographer Experience

    The Coral Geographer experience offers a perfect blend of adventure and comfort, with thoughtfully designed spaces, engaging excursions, and a focus on connecting guests to the incredible environments they explore.

    The Staff

    One thing we really loved about Coral Expeditions is that the entire team, from the officers to the expedition guides to the hotel and restaurant staff, are all part of the same company.

    That might be a strange thing to say, but if you’ve ever travelled to the Arctic or Antarctica you know what we mean.

    On those trips there are essentially three different crews – the expedition team, the ship crew and the hotel staff.

    And while guests are friendly with them all, there is often a large disconnect amongst staff due to cultures, workloads and schedules.

    This is not the case with Coral Expeditions, where every team member you meet is part of one big family.

    Wine Tasting Event
    Arron, the chief purser, hosting a wine tasting event in the Explorer Lounge.

    The Expedition Team

    As with any expedition cruise, the journey is only as good as the team. And luckily with Coral they have some of the most outstanding expedition staff in the industry.

    The expedition guides on the Coral Geographer make the adventure truly special, combining professional expertise with a personal touch that resonates with every guest.

    From the moment you step aboard you’re greeted with warm smiles and genuine interest in your experience.

    In fact the first person we met at the top of the gangway was Captain Andrew, and he was so casual and engaged with all the guests coming onboard we thought he must have worked in customer service, not the boss!

    Captain Andrew Coral Expeditions
    Captain Andrew, one of the coolest captains we’ve ever sailed with.

    The crew’s deep knowledge of the regions visited adds layers of insight to the trip, as they share stories and information that bring each destination to life.

    The amount of experience held was truly remarkable, with the team consisting of certified dive instructors, Master Reef Guides, marine biologists and lifelong sailors.

    Their attentiveness goes beyond the usual, making sure you feel comfortable and cared for throughout the voyage.

    Finally what we loved most about the expedition team was how they were so engaging with the guests, and let their sense of humour shine through.

    With Coral Expeditions being a premium, luxury product, you might think the team would be discouraged from joking around with the guests, but the opposite is true – they know how to read each person individually, and adjust their interactions accordingly.

    The crew’s passion for what they do is evident in every interaction. They create an atmosphere that feels more like a family than typical large cruise ships.

    Coral Expeditions Team And Guides
    Naomi, Dawn, Jacob, Katie and Chrissy – the incredible expedition guides onboard the Coral Geographer during our trip across to Micronesia.

    The Ship Crew

    The ship crew on the Coral Geographer are essential to creating a seamless and enjoyable experience for every guest.

    The restaurant staff, with their attentive service and warm hospitality, ensure that each meal is a delightful occasion.

    The pursers are always on hand to assist with any needs, providing a friendly and helpful presence throughout the voyage.

    The housekeepers are respectful with a high attention to detail, and always seem to have a smile on their face.

    Meanwhile, the sailors work hard behind the scenes, ensuring the ship’s smooth operation and safety, playing a vital role in the journey.

    And they aren’t hidden away in the engine room – they are out on decks cracking jokes with the guests, driving the Xplorers back and forth to excursions and doing what they can to make sure everyone is having the legitimate best time ever.

    Together, these dedicated professionals create an environment where guests feel genuinely cared for, making every moment aboard the Coral Geographer a memorable one.

    Coral Expeditions Hotel Staff
    The hotel staff serving up delicious drinks at the Belgica Fort in Banda Neira, Indonesia. These guys looked after us so well.

    The Food

    We never used to be ‘foodies’, but over time we’ve acquired a passion for enjoying the finer things in life (our previous backpacker selves would be shocked).

    We’re clearly not alone either, because when we got chatting to guests who had been multiple Coral trips, they often said that the food was one of the core reasons they keep coming back.

    The food aboard the Coral Geographer is a highlight of the journey, offering a diverse and high-quality dining experience that caters to all tastes and dietary requirements.

    The kitchen team crafts a wide range of dishes, from fresh seafood and local specialties to international favourites, often inspired by the areas we’re travelling, ensuring that every meal is both delicious and thoughtfully prepared.

    The wait staff are fantastic, remembering everyone’s names and special requests from day one and always being on hand to bring whatever you’d like.

    Special dietary needs are attentively accommodated, with options available for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other specific preferences.

    Breakfast is a buffet, with lunch and dinner being mostly a-la carte.

    Drinks

    The drinks packages onboard offer a variety of complimentary options that enhance the dining experience.

    House wines, beers, and spirits are available at no extra cost during meal times, allowing guests to enjoy a beverage with their meals.

    Non-alcoholic drinks such as soft drinks, zero-alcohol wine and beer (this made Alesha very happy, as they had a wide variety to choose from) and juice are available throughout the day, free of charge of course.

    For the coffee lovers out there, which is us through and through, a proper coffee machine is on hand with the trained baristas delivering high-quality brews.

    There’s also the automatic coffee machines in both the dining room and the Explorer Lounge that make up a decent batch as well.

    For those seeking a bit more luxury, premium drink packages are available, complete with exceptional vintage Australian reds, offering an expanded selection of beverages, and cocktails are available to purchase in the evenings.

    Coral Geographer Coffee Machine
    Yes, there is a full barista-style coffee machine onboard. Yes, we took full advantage of this.

    The Xplorers

    One thing that sets Coral Expeditions apart from their competitors are the use of their iconic Xplorer boats rather than the traditional zodiacs most expedition cruises rely on.

    The Xplorers on the Coral Geographer are essential for off-ship excursions, designed to provide safe and comfortable access to remote locations with foul-weather protection.

    These sturdy, purpose-built tenders are launched directly from the ship’s stern using dedicated platforms, allowing guests to board easily and efficiently, even if they have mobility issues.

    Each Xplorer boat can carry 72 passengers and boasts two 300hp motors, making them well equipped to handle all kinds of conditions, from exploring secluded bays to rugged coastlines, and shallow waters.

    The Xplorers are used as a floating adventure platform as well for snorkelling and diving activities.

    Coral Expeditions Xplorer
    This is one of the Xplorers – large, sturdy, fast and capable, perfect for any conditions.

    Getting On and Off the Xplorers

    The system that has been developed to board and disembark the Xplorers is very sophisticated, and we were genuinely impressed at the safety, speed and accessibility of how it all worked.

    Guests step in and out of the Xplorer boats directly from the Coral Geographer’s specially designed launch platform at the stern of the ship.

    A large platform lifts and lowers the Xplorers from the Coral Geographer deck to the water, so there’s no crawling in and out or risk of losing your balance like you find with zodiacs.

    You’re scanned when you get on the Xplorers and again when you get back on, which guarantees guests aren’t left behind.

    To exit the Xplorers on land (or directly into the sea if snorkelling and diving) there are three exit points; one at the bow and two on port and starboard.

    There’s also large, angled step ladders at the stern to make climbing back in from the water very easy.

    This setup is designed to accommodate all kinds of sea conditions, providing a safe and comfortable way for guests to explore remote shorelines and other off-ship locations during their expedition.

    Beach Landing Xplorer Boat
    Beach landings with the Xplorers are safe and easy.

    Presentations

    Coral Expeditions prides itself on welcoming expert guest lecturers (and sometimes professional photographers too…*cough cough*) to enrich the passenger experience.

    The presentations given on the Coral Geographer are an integral part of the expedition, designed to deepen guests’ understanding of the destinations they explore.

    These talks cover a wide range of topics, including local history, wildlife, geology, and cultural insights.

    The presentations are held in the Explorer Lounge, which provides a comfortable setting with modern audio-visual equipment.

    Jarryd Giving A Photography Presentation
    Jarryd giving a photography workshop onboard the Coral Geographer as part of our roles working with Coral Expeditions as guest photographers.

    Diving, Snorkelling and Kayaking with Coral Expeditions

    A highlight of travelling with Coral Expeditions is the emphasis they place on water activities such as kayaking, snorkelling and even scuba diving.

    It really adds an entirely fresh and exciting element to the trips, and with some of the destinations they visit such as the Great Barrier Reef and Raja Ampat being amongst the best marine destinations on the planet, the water activities quickly become the highlight of any departure.

    Diving and snorkelling on the Coral Geographer are carefully planned to provide guests with a safe and enjoyable opportunity.

    There’s high-quality gear, including masks, fins, snorkels, and wetsuits, available in a range of sizes, and you keep your equipment with you for the duration of the itinerary.

    For the certified scuba divers out there, the dive operations are efficient and professional.

    Diving Hatta Island Indonesia
    Diving the depths of Hatta Island in Indonesia.

    A PADI dive instructor leads all dives with a small group (maximum 8 per instructor) and can also organise Discover Scuba sessions for those who want to try it out for the first time.

    For our trip we had Jacob as our guide, who was simply phenomenal in looking after all the divers.

    The gear were all fairly new ScubaPro BCDs and regulators with built-in dive computers, along with masks, weights and fins supplied.

    Scuba diving must be pre-booked when signing up for a trip, and divers must complete a specific medical before coming onboard.

    Kayaking is an optional activity at some of the locations, and are free to borrow for all guests.

    Kayaking In Raja Ampat
    If you feel like kayaking you can grab one during one of the excursions.

    Technology, Sustainability and Environmental Practices

    Coral Expeditions keeps sustainability at the forefront of their business principals, being ECO Certified and contributing to many scientific research programs.

    The Coral Geographer is designed with a focus on modern technology and environmental stewardship, ensuring that every expedition is both safe and sustainable.

    The ship’s navigation and communication systems are state-of-the-art, allowing for precise and reliable operations even in remote areas.

    Clean Engine Room
    Have you ever seen an engine room this clean before?

    Sustainability practices are integrated into daily operations, with an advanced wastewater treatment system and comprehensive waste management protocols to minimise the environmental footprint.

    The ship adheres to strict environmental standards, including fuel-efficient engines that reduce emissions, and eco-friendly practices that protect the delicate ecosystems visited during expeditions.

    Additionally, the ship’s design allows for minimal disruption to wildlife and habitats, with careful planning and execution of shore excursions to ensure that natural environments remain undisturbed.

    Coral Expeditions is committed to responsible travel, and the Coral Geographer embodies this commitment, making it an ideal choice for eco-conscious travellers.

    Banda Neira Belgica Fort
    A guests stares out at the Coral Geographer from atop the Belgica Fort in Banda Neira.

    Final Thoughts – 9/10

    That’s it for our Coral Geographer review, and we hope you now have a thorough understanding of what life is like onboard.

    The Coral Geographer is a testament to the evolving world of expedition cruising, offering a harmonious blend of modern design, cutting-edge technology, and a strong commitment to sustainability.

    With its spacious cabins, thoughtfully designed public areas, and exceptional dining, the ship provides a luxurious yet authentic platform for exploration.

    The crew, with their expertise and genuine hospitality, plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall experience, making guests feel both welcomed and cared for throughout their journey.

    While the Coral Geographer excels in many aspects, there are a few areas where improvements could elevate the guest experience even further.

    The fitness facilities, though adequate, could be enhanced to offer more advanced options for guests looking to maintain a rigorous exercise routine during their voyage.

    Coral Geographer Raja Ampat
    The CG in Raja Ampat.

    Additionally, extending the selection of included beverages beyond meal times would add an extra layer of convenience and luxury to the overall experience.

    Despite these very minor areas for improvement, our review of the Coral Geographer ship remains an outstanding choice for those seeking a blend of comfort, adventure, and environmental consciousness when exploring the most remote places on the planet.

    Its ability to navigate isolated and pristine regions, combined with the quality of service and amenities onboard, makes it a top choice for intrepid travellers.

    The ship’s dedication to sustainability, without compromising on luxury or guest experience, sets a new standard in expedition cruising.

    For travellers looking to explore the world’s most offbeat and beautiful locations, the Coral Geographer offers an unforgettable journey that balances adventure with comfort in a truly unique way.

    Thanks for reading our Coral Geographer ship review, and we hope to see you onboard one day soon.

    Sorol Drone Shot
    When you book a trip with Coral Expeditions the world is at your fingertips.

    DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you book accommodation, tours or buy a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products that ourselves or our fantastic editorial team have personally experienced, and regularly review these. Thanks for your support, kind friend!

    Coral Geographer Review
    Coral Geographer Review Coral Expeditions Ship

    In this detailed Coral Geographer review we explore the features, cabins and amenities that make this one of the best expedition ships for small-group cruising.

    Pros

    • World class food
    • Exceptional expedition guides
    • Luxurious cabins
    • Excellent social spaces
    • Fantastic outdoor viewing decks



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  • American Express® Business Gold Card Review

    American Express® Business Gold Card Review


    The American Express® Gold Card being held up in front of a bright blue wall

    Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

    When you run a business, every dollar counts. Having the right credit card can not only help you pay the bills, but it can go a long way to help you actually save money.

    As a business owner, you can qualify for cards that offer better rewards and perks than most personal travel cards.

    (And don’t forget: freelancers, side hustlers, and really anyone with a bit of income on the side can qualify for business cards too. You don’t need to be an LLC or have a formal business setup!!)

    One of the cards I love is the American Express® Business Gold Card. It’s simple and straightforward, offering flexible bonus categories that actually match your spending habits (something I wish more cards did), and is especially good if you do a lot of paid online ads.

    Here’s everything you need to know about the American Express® Business Gold Card to see if it’s right for you:

     

    What is the American Express® Business Gold Card?

    The Business Gold Card is an easy-to-use business card issued by American Express. Its best feature is the ability to earn 4x points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month, from six eligible categories (more on those below).

    I like that this keeps things simple, instead of offering a laundry list of statement credits to keep track of (though if you are interested in a card that does, check out my review of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express).

    As an Amex card, you’ll also get access to fantastic customer service, Amex Offers, and some travel protections.

    Here’s a glance at some of the benefits this card offers:

    • Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first three months of Card Membership
    • Earn 4x Membership Rewards points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month, from six eligible categories. While your top two categories may change, you will earn 4x points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1x). Only the top two categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap
    • Earn 3x Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card
    • Earn 1x on all other purchases
    • Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores (that’s up to $240 per year)
    • Earn up to a $12.95 (plus applicable taxes on one membership fee) statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card (that’s up to $155 per year)
    • No foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees)
    • Extended warranty, purchase, and cellphone protection*
    • Secondary car rental and baggage insurance*

    The card does come with a $375 annual fee (See Rates and Fees).

    *Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
     

    Earning Membership Rewards Points

    As I mentioned, the best feature of this card is the ability to earn 4x in the two categories where your business spends the most (on your first $150,000 of spending each year). It’s important to understand that this doesn’t include all spending categories though, just these six eligible categories:

    1. Purchases at US media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
    2. U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
    3. U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
    4. U.S. purchases at gas stations
    5. Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
    6. Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.

    The nice part about this benefit is that your top two categories can change from month to month, reflecting your real-time business needs. But one of the ways to really maximize this benefit is that you can get 4x on online ads while most other cards offer a max of 3x. So, if you put all your online ads on this card and keep it as one of your top categories, you can get more points per dollar spent on ads than any other card!

    And don’t worry about keeping track of which categories are your most used. The card automatically figures out your top two spending categories and awards points accordingly (you’ll see them as 1x until your statement closes, after which your top categories will be determined and points awarded).

    To me, this is a huge perk because it keeps things simple. After all, as a business owner, you already have enough on your plate.

    On the flip side, your regular business spending might not align with these categories. If that’s the case, I’d recommend a business card that has an increased earning rate on the ones that you do spend in, or one that earns more across all categories (you can check out which ones I recommend in this post on my favorite business cards).
     

    Using Your Membership Rewards Points

    With the Business Gold Card, you’ll earn Membership Rewards® points, which you can transfer to any of Amex’s 21 airline and hotel partners. Since Amex has a well-rounded suite of travel partners, Membership Rewards points are some of the most valuable points out there.

    These are Amex’s current travel partners:

    • Aer Lingus AerClub (1:1 ratio)
    • Aeromexico Rewards (1:1.6 ratio)
    • Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1 ratio)
    • Air France-KLM Flying Blue (1:1 ratio)
    • ANA Mileage Club (1:1 ratio)
    • Avianca LifeMiles (1:1 ratio)
    • British Airways Club (1:1 ratio)
    • Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1 ratio)
    • Choice Privileges (1:1 ratio)
    • Delta SkyMiles (1:1 ratio)
    • Emirates Skywards (1:1 ratio)
    • Etihad Guest (1:1 ratio)
    • HawaiianMiles (1:1 ratio)
    • Hilton Honors (1:2 ratio)
    • Iberia Plus (1:1 ratio)
    • JetBlue TrueBlue (250:200 ratio)
    • Marriott Bonvoy (1:1 ratio)
    • Qantas Frequent Flyer (1:1 ratio)
    • Qatar Airways Privilege Club (1:1 ratio)
    • Singapore KrisFlyer (1:1 ratio)
    • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (1:1 ratio)

    Most transfers are instant, though some can take up to 48 hours. Remember to only transfer the exact number of points that you need to book your flight or hotel. Transfers are one-way only.

    You can also use your Membership Rewards points to book flights and hotels in the Amex Travel portal. I would advise against it though. It’s not as good a value as transferring your points to partners.
     

    Up to $395 Per Year in Flexible Credit for Business Purchases

    The Business Gold card offers statement credits in two categories, adding up to a potential annual savings of $395 per year (effectively paying for the cost of the card).

    First, you can earn up to $20 in statement credits each month after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores.

    Second, you can earn up to $12.95 in statement credits each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. (Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible.)

    I find these statement credits a bit random, and they’re not the most helpful if you have an online business like me. I usually max out on the Grubhub credits though!
     

    Access to Amex Offers

    The Business Gold Card also has access to Amex Offers, an ever-changing roster of deals where you can save money or earn bonus points with select retailers. The offers are targeted, so every cardholder has their own unique array of offers at any given time. For these offers, you do have to add them to your card before making a purchase (or you won’t get the deal).

    Usually, they’re structured as “spend X, get Y amount back as a statement credit” though sometimes they’ll offer bonus points or a percentage back. While you probably won’t be able to take advantage of most offers, the more you can, the more you can offset the card’s annual fee.

    New offers get added as old ones expire, so it’s worth checking back every so often so you can add any offers to your card that you might use.
     

    Who is the Business Gold Card for?

    The Business Gold card is best for business owners who have regular spending in the six categories where you can earn 4x points. This card is especially ideal for entrepreneurs who don’t want to worry about rotating or pre-selecting bonus categories. All you have to do is use it for your regular business spending and you’ll get your points.

    Like with any card, if you’re carrying a balance — or think you might — you shouldn’t get this one. Travel cards like this come with high interest rates, and the rewards you earn won’t make up for what you’ll lose in interest charges. Trust me, no amount of points is worth going into debt over!

    This card is also not for anyone with poor credit, as you need excellent credit to qualify. (If that’s you, check out the best credit cards for improving your score.)

    ***

    The American Express Business Gold Card is one of my favorite business cards. The ability to automatically earn 4x points on your top two spending categories each month keeps things simple and helps you rack up points quickly. And more points equals more trips.

    While it’s not as flashy as its more premium counterpart the Business Platinum, I like to keep the Business Gold in my wallet because it works hard behind the scenes. If you’re looking for a solid business card that works as hard as you do, this one’s worth a closer look.

    Click here to learn more and sign up!

    Stop paying full price for travel!

    Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to use points and miles for free travel! It’s how all the pros travel so much! In this guide, I’ll show you:

    • How to Pick a Credit Card
    • How to Earn Up to 10x Miles on Your Spending
    • How to Redeem Your Points
    • And a Ton of Other Money Saving Tips!
    Points and Miles

    Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

    Book Your Flight
    Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

    Book Your Accommodation
    You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

    Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
    Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

    Want to Travel for Free?
    Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

    Need a Rental Car?
    Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip!

    Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?
    Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

    Ready to Book Your Trip?
    Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.



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  • Safety Wing Review (Updated 2025)

    Safety Wing Review (Updated 2025)


    A solo traveler jumping for joy on a large cliff

    Budget travelers love saving money — myself included. But one of the expenses that we shouldn’t be cheap with is travel insurance.

    After over 17 years of traveling the world, I still never leave home without it.

    Why?

    Because I’ve seen firsthand how useful it can be — and how much money it can save.

    I’ve lost baggage, had my camera broken, and even needed emergency medical help over the years.

    Travel insurance has been there for me each time. Not only has it saved me money but it’s provided me with peace of mind as I explore.

    I’ve written extensively over the years about why you need insurance, how to pick the right company, and listed my preferred providers.

    Today, I want to talk about my favorite travel insurance company: SafetyWing.

     

    Who is SafetyWing?

    SafetyWing is an insurance company that focuses on affordable coverage for budget travelers and digital nomads (though you don’t have to be either to get coverage). It is run by nomads and expats who know exactly what such travelers need.

    SafetyWing offers basic insurance plans (called “Nomad Essential”) for a fraction of what other companies charge, although they are also less comprehensive. To me, they are the best overall travel insurance company out there.

    Their standard Nomad Insurance coverage costs just $56.28 USD for 4 weeks (for travelers aged 10-39). That’s one of the lowest prices out there for reliable travel insurance. They are super competitive when it comes to price.

    Screenshot of SafetyWing insurance coverage

    Their coverage extends all the way to age 69, however, travelers aged 60-69 should expect to pay upwards of $196 USD per month for coverage. Still very reasonable, to be honest.

    But is the coverage actually good? What about the customer service?

    Today I want to review Safety Wing and talk about when it is — and isn’t — worth using so you can better prepare for your next trip and ensure you have the coverage you need.
     

    What Does SafetyWing Cover?

    SafetyWing’s standard Nomad Insurance plan is the Essential plan. It’s just $56.28 USD for four weeks of travel (outside the US). That works out to just $1.87 USD per day!

    For travelers under age 64, that plan includes the following:

    • $250,000 USD in emergency medical coverage
    • $1,000 USD for emergency dental care
    • $100,000 USD for medical evacuation ($25,000 USD if the cause of medical evacuation is acute onset of pre-existing condition)
    • $10,000 USD for an evacuation due to political upheaval
    • $5,000 USD for a trip interruption
    • Up to $100 a day after a 12-hour delay period requiring an unplanned overnight stay. Subject to a maximum of 2 days.
    • $12,500–25,000 USD for death or dismemberment
    • $20,000 USD for repatriation of remains

    Be sure to check the description of coverage for any conditions that apply.

    Screenshot of SafetyWing insurance coverage
    Screenshot of SafetyWing insurance coverage

    Its $100,000 USD for medical evacuation is on the low end, but unless you’re heading out into the remote wilderness, that should be fine. (If you want higher coverage, get MedJet.)

    Its travel-delay payout is pretty low, but airlines and most travel credit cards provide travel delay assistance too so you might not even need the coverage offered by SafetyWing. Additionally, it doesn’t really cover expensive electronics, which sucks if you have a pricey camera or video gear.

    As with most standard travel insurance plans, this one doesn’t include pre-existing conditions or certain adventure sports, so it’s not a good policy if you’re going to do a lot of adventure activities on the road.

    They do offer a couple helpful add-ons that I think a lot of travelers will appreciate, including coverage for adventure activities and electronics theft. That means that if you need the coverage, you can pay extra for it. However, if you don’t need it then you don’t have to pay for it, keeping your costs low. I appreciate that, as someone who always needs electronic coverage but who never needs adventure activity coverage (I’m not a big adrenaline junkie).
     

    What’s Not Covered?

    The Essential plan is primarily geared towards covering medical emergencies and basic travel mishaps (like delays and lost luggage). Here are some things that aren’t covered:

    • Alcohol- or drug-related incidents.
    • Extreme sports & adventure activities (unless you purchase the adventure sports add-on, which is available for non-US residents)
    • Pre-existing conditions or general check-ups
    • Trip cancellation
    • Lost or stolen cash

     

    Nomad Complete: Coverage for Digital Nomads and Long-Term Travelers

    In 2023, SafetyWing launched Nomad Health (now called their “Complete” plan). It’s insurance for digital nomads, remote workers, and long-term travelers. This new plan offers a mix of the standard emergency coverage that we’ve been discussing above along with “regular” health care coverage, such as routine visits and preventive care.

    The Complete plan also offers coverage in 175 countries, includes wellness benefits, mental health care, and the ability for individuals to choose their own doctor while traveling. They will be expanding coverage too, including an add-on for “electronics theft” (which, as someone who has been robbed while traveling, I think is a great idea).

    It’s like the kind of health insurance you’d find in your home country, ensuring that you’re looked after no matter what happens while you’re abroad.

    You can learn more and compare the plans here.

    The Complete plans and the Essential plan from SafetyWing

    If you’re just heading out for a couple weeks or a couple months, SafetyWing’s Essential plan is the option for you. It’s perfect for emergencies, is super affordable, and is designed for budget travelers. It’s the plan I use when I travel these days.

    However, if you’re going to be working abroad or traveling for months (or years), then their new Complete plan is the better option. It offers much more coverage while still being affordable. In fact, it’s the plan I wish I had when I started traveling long-term!

    You can learn more about the Complete plan in my dedicated review.

     

    Making a Claim

    SafetyWing makes it easy to file a claim through their online portal. You just upload all the required documents, screenshots, and photos, and wait to hear back. While claims can take up to 45 business days, most are handled in less than a week (as of writing, the average wait time is four days).

    If you read the reviews online, most people who had a negative experience either didn’t know about the deductible (SafetyWing removed their deductible for non-US residents as of 2024) or hated the length of time it took to get paid. But that’s pretty normal for people to complain about.

    On the plus side, SafetyWing’s average time to handle a claim is down to just four days. That’s way faster than most companies!
     

    A Note About COVID

    SafetyWing does include coverage for COVID-19. As long as the virus was not contracted before your plan starts, then it will be covered (as long as it is medically necessary).

    SafetyWing also covers quarantine costs (outside your home country) for up to $50 USD/day for 10 days (provided that you’ve had your plan for at least 28 days).
     

    Pros and Cons of SafetyWing

    Here’s a look that the pros and cons of SafetyWing at a glance to help you decide if it’s the best insurance provider for you and your trip:

    Most affordable travel insurance out there

    Only covers up to age 69

    Offers coverage for COVID-19

    Limited coverage for gear/electronics

    You can buy plans online even if you’re already
    on your trip

    Limited coverage for adventure activities

    Easy to submit claims online

    No trip cancellation coverage

    After being abroad for 90 days, you keep your
    medical coverage for 30 days in your home
    country (15 days if you’re from the U.S.)

    Up to 2 children under 10 per family
    (1 per adult) can be included for free

    No need to set an end date (subscription
    renews every 4 weeks)

    Two different plans mean you can easily find one that works for you/your budget

     

    Who is SafetyWing Good — and Not Good For?

    SafetyWing is designed as mainly medical coverage. Since SafetyWing is designed for the budget-conscious digital nomad, it doesn’t cover some areas that might be more of a priority for a shorter-term traveler. Here’s a quick chart to help you decide if SafetyWing is right for you:

    Budget travelers

    People traveling with a TON of electronics

    Someone looking for simple emergency coverage

    Anyone needing comprehensive trip delay
    or cancellation

    People without lots of expensive electronics

    People doing excessive extreme sports/activities

    Digital nomads who need medical coverage
    for long-term travel

     

    ***

    Travel insurance is something I never leave home without. I know it’s a boring topic to read about and research, but it can literally save you hundreds or thousands of dollars in bills! I never, ever leave home without it. You shouldn’t either.

    So, the next time you’re on the road, consider SafetyWing. To me, they are the best travel insurance company out there for budget travelers.

    You can use the booking widget below to get a quote (it’s free):

    Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

    Book Your Flight
    Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

    Book Your Accommodation
    You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

    Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
    Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

    Want to Travel for Free?
    Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

    Need a Rental Car?
    Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip!

    Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?
    Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

    Ready to Book Your Trip?
    Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.



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