Aurora’s Douglas Mawson Makes Inaugural Call at Bastia
Captain Andrey Gilevskiy and the crew were welcomed by Bastia’s harbor master and the President of the Maritime Pilots before a traditional plaque exchange.
Aurora Expeditions’ Douglas Mawson made its inaugural call at the Port of Bastia in Corsica, France, on July 8, adding another French port to the ship’s first season of service. Captain Andrey Gilevskiy and the crew were welcomed by the harbor master and the President of the Maritime Pilots before a traditional plaque exchange, MedCruise said.
The Bastia visit came during the peak summer period for the Corsican port, where cruise activity typically runs from April through October and is busiest from June to August. It also followed the ship’s maiden call at Caen-Ouistreham in June, giving Aurora’s newest vessel a second French call in less than six weeks.
Small-ship profile fits Bastia call
“This inaugural call perfectly illustrates a broader trend that is reshaping Mediterranean cruising: smaller, higher-value vessels, longer stays, environmentally conscious operations and travelers seeking immersive cultural experiences,” MedCruise said.
Douglas Mawson is a 104.4-meter ice-strengthened expedition vessel with capacity for up to 154 passengers on non-polar itineraries and 130 in polar regions. The ship was launched late last year. It entered Aurora Expeditions’ program as the company’s third Infinity-class vessel, joining Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle under Aurora’s long-term charter arrangement with SunStone Maritime Group.
From a D-Day call at Caen to the eastern Mediterranean
Douglas Mawson’s earlier French call took place at the Port of Caen-Ouistreham from June 5 to 7, coinciding with the 82nd anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. Grand Circle Cruise Line’s Clio was in port at the same time, making a turnaround call on a Caen-Copenhagen itinerary.
Caen-Ouistreham said the two-ship visit was the first double overnight call at its newly refurbished Nouveau Bassin quay. The shore program for passengers on both vessels centered on June 6 commemorations. Douglas Mawson guests also visited Caen and Mont-Saint-Michel during the ship’s final day in port.
A separate plaque exchange was held onboard at Caen-Ouistreham in the presence of Captain Artem Kolmykov, Romain Bail, president of the local cruise club and mayor of Ouistreham, and local port and tourism officials. Passengers and crew from both vessels were offered shuttle service to the historic city center, bicycles and local product tastings on the quayside.
Caen-Ouistreham is also preparing for a new Colombelles Bridge, scheduled for completion in summer 2027. The replacement swing bridge is planned with a 40-meter navigable width and would allow the port to handle vessels up to 185 meters long; about 15 cruise calls have already been booked there for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
Douglas Mawson is scheduled to reposition later in July to the Eastern Mediterranean for itineraries in the Adriatic, the Greek Islands and Turkey.
