Aurora Itinerary

What Aurora's Autumn-to-New-Year Season from Southampton Is Actually Like

Aurora's next two months are split between two moods. November is a Southampton-to-sunshine escape. December is a festive swing through Northern Europe and the Baltic, with very little daylight (the sun clocks in late and leaves early). Norway's fjords and northern lights run is already under way and wraps up in Southampton on 3 November, the very day the first sailing below sets off. So what's left is a Caribbean voyage, an Iberian winter-sun trip, a few short festive breaks and a Baltic Christmas. Not a bad consolation prize.

Fares are sampled from a third-party timetable and may be out of date. Check them before you book.

Weather and sea conditions

The 3 November, 27 November and 3 January sailings all cross the Bay of Biscay on the way out, and it can be lively in winter. Think of it as the sea's way of testing your commitment. The 4-night Rotterdam, 5-night Hamburg and 14-night Christmas Baltic cruises don't go near it. If Biscay worries you, book a low, midship cabin (our cabin size guide helps you pick one). The November Caribbean leg is a different story. Barbados typically sees highs around 30°C and lows around 24°C, with light showers on some days as the rainy season tapers off. The Atlantic hurricane season officially ends on 30 November, so this voyage falls inside it. The ship doesn't reach Barbados until 13 November. Barbados.org says storms tend to veer north of Barbados, which sits at the southern end of the Caribbean. But Dominica and St Maarten are further up the chain, and Aurora calls at them on 16 and 17 November. Nobody can promise you a storm-free 24 nights, and anyone who does is selling something.

The Baltic cruise is the opposite. Oslo in December averages a daytime high of around 0°C and a night-time low of about -7°C, with roughly six hours of daylight. You'll do your sightseeing in a short, dim window, then scurry back to the ship for the warmth like a very well-dressed hobbit.

What the ports are worth

• Caribbean (November): Five ports in five days, from Barbados on 13 November to St Maarten on 17 November, is a proper island-hopping burst. It's bracketed by five sea days each way, between Tenerife and Barbados and between St Maarten and the Azores. Sea-day lovers will be delighted. Everyone else should check how they feel about that.
• Iberia and Morocco: Lisbon is the standout, and Tangier and Casablanca are the cultural splash. La Coruña ends the trip with a mild anti-climax and a good seafood lunch, which is honestly a fair trade.
• Christmas Scandinavian Escape: Copenhagen (18 and 19 December) and Gdynia for Gdańsk (21 December) both land inside the usual Christmas-market season, though it's worth checking each market's dates before you go. Hamburg is the exception. The ship is there on 26 December, but the main Rathausmarkt market is listed as closing on 23 December, so don't count on glühwein under the town hall. Oslo is an overnight call. Aurora arrives early on the morning of 23 December and doesn't leave until the afternoon of 24 December. Christmas Day looks to be a sea day between Oslo and Hamburg, so the only thing being unwrapped is your dinner menu.
• New Year in Hamburg: The ship arrives early on 31 December and doesn't leave until early on 1 January. That's an overnight stay with the city's fireworks on your doorstep. Front-row seats, no taxi required.

Which length suits whom

The 4-night Rotterdam trip is the low-commitment option, with an overnight in port. The 5-night Hamburg trip suits anyone who wants New Year's Eve without taking a fortnight off. The two 14-night cruises are the best value for a first-timer: Iberia for the mildest weather, the Christmas Baltic if you want festive markets and don't mind the cold. The 24-night and 75-night voyages are for people who are happy with long stretches at sea. Aurora is an adults-only ship, so expect a quieter atmosphere than on a family ship. Nobody will be racing a pool slide at 7am.

What to pack

For the Baltic, bring thermal layers, a waterproof coat, proper boots, a hat and gloves. Add a small backpack for market shopping. For the Caribbean and Barbados, bring light clothes, sun cream and a compact rain jacket. The Iberian cruise needs a mix of both: layers for Lisbon and La Coruña in December, plus something lighter for Madeira and Agadir. If you're on the 24-night or 75-night voyage, you'll pack for everything, and your suitcase will have opinions. For a longer trip like that, the tipping guide is worth a read before you budget.

Seasonal quirks

In the sampled fares, the 4-night Rotterdam trip works out at about £112 per person per night (£449 over 4 nights). The 5-night New Year in Hamburg works out at about £220 per person per night (£1,099 over 5 nights), so festive sailings cost more per night. Tinsel isn't free. Aurora's most recent CDC Vessel Sanitation Program score was 98 out of 100, from the inspection on 18 September 2025. You can see the details on our Aurora ship page or look up other ships with the CDC inspection lookup.