5 star sea adventure specialist cruise line starts “Wild Scotland” voyage from Troon

Associated British Ports have invested a lot of money in Ayr and Troon port facilities and business is building nicely but seldom gets featured. Just the job for our dedicated team in Ayrshire Daily News and we set out to find out more about these important local businesses. At Ayr harbour we met with Aurelia Peddie, the Commercial and Timberlink manager for Troon and Ayr.

Kayaking or Jacuzzi in the antartic sun? Image - Aurora Expeditions

Here at ADN we often get asked what is that unusual boat in Troon or Ayr and frankly we haven’t been able to answer. So, we started our conversation with Aurelia by asking about the beautiful boat which was in Troon last weekend. The story was not what we expected.

The sparkling beauty of a ship was the MV Greg Mortimer which is operated by Aurora Expeditions, an Australian company specialising in Antarctic and Arctic cruises. She was built only 6 years ago and named after the Australian mountaineer and adventurer who climbed Mount Everest without oxygen assistance in 1984.

Ms Peddie told us that The Greg Mortimer had arrived from Panama and was cruising off Scotland for 12 days before heading for a summer season based in Svalbard, Greenland. She will then cruise in the Canadian Arctic before returning to Antarctica in October.

Kayaking or Jacuzzi in the antartic sun? Image - Aurora Expeditions

After leaving Troon the Greg Mortimer will spend 2 days around the Inner Hebrides. The ship was observed this afternoon approaching the Island of Iona having visited Fingal’s cave on Staffa. The cruise will then go around the Outer Hebrides and head to Kirkwall, Orkney followed by Papa Westray, Shetland and Fair Isle before these passengers disembark at Aberdeen.

While in Troon Aurora Expeditions had taken the opportunity to bring a party of 50 UK travel agents on board for an overnight stay. They got to sample some of the 80 luxury cabins and multiple facilities on board this magnificent ship. No doubt they would have been told about the unique design of the ship’s bow.

This specially strengthened bow is certified to act as an ice breaker for the specialist cruises that she carries out. The design is also credited with smoothing out the effect of waves even at high speed cruising in rough seas.

As soon as the travel agents departed the ship 4 large vans pulled up with the luggage of the passengers who were on their way from Edinburgh to join the ship. The cabins were cleaned and reset and the luggage brought into each guest’s bedroom. The operation went like clockwork which was just as well because the 4 luxury coaches carrying the next guests arrived exactly on time. They were treated to a welcome reception to start their Wild Scotland adventure at around £12,500 per guest.

At 6:30 p.m. the lines were cast off and the Greg Mortimer started to manoeuvre in Troon harbour. Under a beautiful blue sky the harbour pilot used his local knowledge and skill to gradually ease the ship towards the Firth of Clyde in very windy conditions.

Harbour manager Aurelia listened in on the VHF Channel as the pilot on the Greg Mortimer talked to the captain of the Glen Sannox which was heading into Troon from Brodick as the cruise ship manoeuvred to leave harbour.

Having introduced 50 travel agents and 130 passengers to the pleasure of sailing from Troon Aurora Expeditions have confirmed that not only will the Greg Mortimer be back next year but there will be 2 extra cruises. MV Sylvia Earle and the newly launched Douglas Mawson will also be berthing in Troon around May or June 2026.

All hands to work as the Greg Mortimer casts off and goes on a wild scotland cruise, Image - Associated British Ports

Our thanks to Associated British Ports for the pictures and information on the Greg Mortimer and to Aurora Expeditions for pictures of the Greg Mortimer on previous cruises.