HX Expeditions

Born from 130 years of Norwegian polar heritage, HX Expeditions takes small-ship exploration seriously. Purpose-built vessels, expert-led landings, and itineraries that reach some of the most remote coastlines on the planet. If you have been dreaming about Antarctica, the Arctic, or the wild edges of Norway, this is the line built to get you there.

The expedition cruise ship MS Fridtjof Nansen navigates through the stunning Lemaire Channel

Expedition Cruising Rooted in Polar History

HX Expeditions – formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions – draws on more than a century of Norwegian seafaring heritage. This is a line that grew up navigating the Norwegian coast before turning its expertise toward the polar regions and beyond. The rebrand to HX sharpened the focus: purpose-built expedition ships, science-driven itineraries, and immersive landings led by expert expedition teams.

Their fleet operates in some of the most challenging waters on earth, from the Antarctic Peninsula to Svalbard, Greenland, the Northwest Passage, and remote stretches of the Norwegian coastline that most cruise lines simply cannot reach.

At a Glance

Cruise Line: HX Expeditions (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions)

Fleet: Purpose-built expedition ships including MS Fridtjof Nansen, MS Roald Amundsen, MS Maud, and MS Santa Cruz II, carrying roughly 90 to 530 guests depending on the vessel

Destinations: Antarctica, Arctic (Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland), Norwegian Coast, Northwest Passage, Galapagos, Alaska, British Isles, and more

Home Ports: Various embarkation points worldwide including Ushuaia, Longyearbyen, Reykjavik, Bergen, and others depending on itinerary

Philosophy: Science-led expedition cruising with a deep commitment to responsible exploration and genuine immersion in the natural world

  • Expert-led expedition landings and excursions (Zodiac cruises, guided hikes, kayaking opportunities)
  • Onboard expedition team of scientists, historians, photographers, and naturalists
  • Science Center access and daily lectures
  • Full-board dining across onboard restaurants
  • Complimentary expedition jacket on select voyages
  • Boot and equipment loan for landings
  • Fitness center and wellness facilities
  • Unlimited Wi-Fi on select ships

  • 130+ years of Norwegian polar navigation experience
  • Purpose-built expedition vessels with ice-strengthened hulls
  • Small-ship intimacy with guest counts well under 600
  • Dedicated expedition teams that genuinely shape each voyage
  • Hybrid-electric propulsion on newer ships, reducing emissions and noise in sensitive ecosystems
  • Access to remote landing sites that larger ships cannot reach
  • Citizen science programs that let guests contribute to real research

Aune Main Dining Room: Full-service restaurant with multi-course menus featuring Norwegian-inspired cuisine and locally sourced ingredients where possible

Fredheim: Casual dining with a buffet-style layout for relaxed meals between landings

Lindstrøm (select ships): Fine dining restaurant available for a supplement, offering tasting menus that reflect the regions being explored

Complimentary tea, coffee, and water are available throughout the day. The culinary approach emphasizes seasonal and regional sourcing, and the kitchen team adapts menus based on destinations visited.

HX Expeditions offers stateroom categories designed for expedition travelers. Polar Inside cabins are compact but well-appointed. Polar Outside cabins bring in natural light. Arctic Superior cabins feature larger living spaces and improved views. Expedition Suites and Corner Suites provide premium square footage, separate sitting areas, and in some cases private balconies.

All cabins include daily housekeeping, personal safe, flat-screen TV, and private bathroom with heated flooring on newer vessels. Higher categories include perks such as Nespresso machines, bathrobes, priority restaurant reservations, and access to exclusive lounge areas.

Why Choose HX

Polar Pioneers Since 1893

Expedition Expertise

Science-led, small-ship exploration

  • 130+ years of polar navigation heritage
  • Purpose-built ice-strengthened vessels
  • Expert expedition team on every voyage
  • Zodiac landings and kayak excursions included
  • Science Center and daily lectures
  • Small-ship access to remote coastlines
  • Hybrid-electric propulsion on newer ships

What Makes an HX Expedition Different

The expedition cruise ship MS Spitsbergen navigates through icy Arctic waters near Svalbard, with

Not a Cruise Ship with Binoculars – a Real Expedition

HX does not bolt an “expedition” label onto a standard cruise itinerary. Every voyage carries a full expedition team – marine biologists, glaciologists, historians, photographers – who lead landings, deliver lectures in the onboard Science Center, and adjust the day’s plan based on weather and wildlife conditions.

That flexibility matters. When a pod of humpbacks appears or conditions open up an unplanned landing site, the team can pivot. Your itinerary is a framework, not a script. It is what separates genuine expedition travel from a conventional cruise that happens to visit cold places.

Norwegian-Inspired Cuisine at Sea

HX takes a distinctly Scandinavian approach to dining. The Aune main restaurant serves multi-course meals with a focus on regional ingredients – think Norwegian seafood, foraged herbs, and dishes that reflect the waters you are sailing through. It is not stuffy. More thoughtful than formal.

Fredheim offers a more casual alternative for guests who want something quick between landings. On select ships, Lindstrøm is the fine dining option, with tasting menus that shift based on the voyage region.

After a day of Zodiac landings and hiking, the food hits differently. There is something about coming back to the ship cold and windblown and sitting down to a properly prepared meal that just works.

HX Expeditions dining room with Scandinavian design and ocean views
HX Expeditions ship sailing past massive glacier in polar waters

From the Antarctic Peninsula to the Arctic High North

Antarctica is the signature, but it is hardly the full story. HX Expeditions sails itineraries across both polar regions and well beyond – Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland, the Norwegian fjords, the Galapagos, Alaska, the British Isles, and more.

The polar voyages tend to run 10 to 20 days, though shorter Norwegian coastal itineraries are available too. What ties them all together is the expedition mindset: small landing groups, naturalist-led excursions, and schedules that bend to conditions rather than the other way around. These are bucket-list destinations, and HX designs the time to do them justice.

Experience

What Sets HX Apart

Expedition Teams That Lead

Every HX voyage carries a multidisciplinary team of scientists, historians, and naturalists. They do not just narrate – they guide landings, lead hikes, and adjust the itinerary in real time based on conditions and wildlife sightings. The expedition team is the voyage.

Ships Built for Ice

HX’s newer vessels – MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Roald Amundsen – were purpose-built for polar conditions with ice-strengthened hulls and hybrid-electric propulsion. Smaller guest counts mean faster Zodiac operations and more time on shore, not waiting in line.

Science at the Core

The onboard Science Center is not a token addition. Guests participate in citizen science projects, attend lectures from working researchers, and gain a genuine understanding of the ecosystems they are visiting. You leave knowing more than when you boarded.

HX Expeditions stateroom with Scandinavian design and ocean view

Staterooms Designed for Expedition Life

HX staterooms lean into Scandinavian design – clean, functional, warm. Polar Inside cabins are compact but well thought out, with everything you need and nothing wasted. Polar Outside and Arctic Superior categories bring in natural light and more space to spread out.

The Expedition Suites are where things open up noticeably. Separate sitting areas, improved views, and perks like Nespresso machines and priority dining reservations. Corner Suites on the newer ships offer some of the best vantage points onboard.

Heated bathroom floors on the newer vessels are a small detail, but after a cold morning on the Zodiacs, you notice. Our advisors can walk you through the cabin categories and help you find the right balance of comfort and investment for your voyage.

Frequently Asked Questions

HX includes full-board dining in the main restaurant and casual dining venues, expert-led expedition landings and Zodiac cruises, use of the onboard Science Center, daily lectures and presentations by the expedition team, loan of expedition boots and equipment for landings, fitness center and wellness facilities, and complimentary Wi-Fi on select ships. A complimentary expedition jacket is provided on select polar voyages. Drinks packages, spa treatments, specialty dining at Lindstrøm, and optional excursions like kayaking or snowshoeing may be available at an additional cost depending on the voyage.

HX operates a fleet of purpose-built and expedition-capable vessels. MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Roald Amundsen are the newest, featuring hybrid-electric propulsion, ice-strengthened hulls, and capacity for around 530 guests. MS Maud is a smaller, more intimate expedition ship. MS Santa Cruz II operates in the Galapagos with capacity for approximately 90 guests. Each ship is designed for the specific conditions and destinations it serves, which is part of what makes the fleet work so well across such varied itineraries.

The range is broader than most people expect. Antarctica and the Arctic (Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland) are the headline destinations, but HX also sails the Norwegian coast, the Northwest Passage, Alaska, the Galapagos, the British Isles, and select European itineraries. Embarkation ports vary by itinerary – Ushuaia for Antarctica, Longyearbyen for Svalbard, Reykjavik for Iceland voyages, Bergen for Norwegian coastal sailings, and others. These are destinations that reward the planning, and our advisors can help you choose the right voyage for the season and experience you are after.

For polar expeditions – Antarctica and the Arctic in particular – we recommend booking 12 to 24 months ahead. These voyages have limited capacity by design, and the most sought-after departures and cabin categories sell out well in advance. Norwegian coastal voyages and shorter itineraries may have availability closer to departure, but early booking still gives you the best selection. Reach out to our advisors and we will help you plan the timing.

Yes. A valid passport is required for all HX Expeditions voyages. For Antarctic itineraries departing from Ushuaia, Argentina, your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates. Some destinations may require visas or additional travel documents. Our advisors will walk you through the specific requirements for your chosen voyage so nothing gets missed.

Absolutely. The expedition team is experienced at welcoming guests who have never done this kind of travel before. Briefings before each landing cover everything from Zodiac procedures to wildlife etiquette. The ships themselves are comfortable and well-equipped, so you are not roughing it between excursions. If the idea of expedition cruising excites you but feels intimidating, HX is a strong choice precisely because the infrastructure and team are built to make it accessible without dumbing it down.

The Science Center is a dedicated space on HX’s newer ships where the expedition team delivers lectures, workshops, and interactive sessions about the regions you are visiting. It also serves as a hub for citizen science projects – guests can participate in data collection that contributes to real research. Topics range from marine biology and glaciology to polar history. It is one of the features that distinguishes HX from expedition lines that treat education as an afterthought.

The main restaurant, Aune, serves multi-course meals with a Norwegian and Scandinavian focus, using regional and seasonal ingredients. Fredheim is the casual option, great for quick meals between landings. On select ships, Lindstrøm offers fine dining with tasting menus that reflect the destinations being visited – available for a supplement. Complimentary tea, coffee, and water are available throughout the day. The food is consistently well-prepared, and the kitchen team handles dietary requirements with care.

HX provides an expedition jacket on select voyages and loans expedition boots for landings, which saves you from having to buy specialized gear. Beyond that, you will want warm, layerable clothing – thermal base layers, fleece or wool mid-layers, waterproof outer layers, warm gloves, a hat, and sunglasses. The expedition team sends a detailed packing list before departure. Our advisors can also share practical tips based on the specific destination and season of your voyage.

Expedition cruising is a significant travel investment, and there are a lot of choices to navigate – which ship, which itinerary, which cabin category, what time of year. Our advisors have firsthand experience with expedition voyages and can help you cut through the noise. We offer group pricing that consistently saves 20-40% below published rates, often bundled with exclusive amenities. Beyond the pricing, you get a team that is in your corner from your first inquiry through your welcome home call – with personalized guidance at every step, no booking or consultation fees, and weekly price monitoring on your reservation.

Your Expedition Starts Here

An HX Expeditions voyage is the kind of trip people talk about for years. Antarctica, the Arctic, the Galapagos – these are places that change how you see the world. When you are ready to start planning, our advisors at Harr Travel are here to match you with the right ship, itinerary, and cabin category. We offer group pricing 20-40% below published rates, weekly price monitoring on every booking, and personalized service from your first inquiry through your welcome home call. Call us at 1-888-871-4233 or reach out online. Let’s find the expedition that fits.