Expedition Operator Guide

HX Expeditions

Nearly 130 years of polar heritage and a genuine onboard Science Centre - HX carries more real expedition experience than almost any operator afloat. Here's everything Rich knows about sailing with them.

Est. 1896

90 - 530 Guests

Premium / Science-Led

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MS Fridtjof Nansen

Maritime Heritage

The HX Story

HX Expeditions traces its roots back to 1896, when the company began operating coastal routes along the Norwegian Arctic - a working postal and passenger service through fjords too remote for roads. That heritage still shapes the operator today: HX carries more accumulated polar operating experience than almost any other name in expedition cruising, and it shows in the confidence with which its captains and expedition teams handle genuinely remote itineraries.

Science sits at the centre of every voyage rather than at the edges of it. Onboard Science Centres, dedicated citizen-science programmes and naturalist-led research mean guests actively contribute to real polar and environmental research as they travel, rather than simply observing from the rail.

The Ships

A Fleet Built Around Two Flagship Vessels

Roald Amundsen & Fridtjof Nansen

HX's only two purpose-built hybrid-powered expedition ships - genuinely advanced sustainable engineering paired with serious PC6 polar capability. These are the flagships for Antarctica and the high Arctic.

Spitsbergen & Fram

Smaller, more intimate ships with the same expedition ethos, well suited to Svalbard and Norwegian coastal itineraries where a lower guest count means more time ashore per person.

MS Santa Cruz II

HX's warm-water specialist, dedicated to the Galápagos - giving the operator an unusually broad geographic reach for a premium, science-led expedition line.

Ship SizesFrom 90 guests up to 530 guests

IncludesShore excursions, Zodiac landings, meals, expedition team

Where HX Sails

Ten Destinations, One Consistent Standard

Antarctica → Arctic Svalbard Greenland Alaska Iceland British Isles Galápagos North West Passage Arctic Canada

Read the full Antarctica guide for what an HX voyage there actually looks like season by season.

Is HX Right for You?

Who Gets the Most Out of an HX Voyage

HX suits travellers who want a genuinely premium expedition experience built around real scientific engagement, delivered aboard some of the most advanced expedition vessels afloat - without tipping into the all-inclusive ultra-luxury pricing of operators like Silversea or Seabourn.

If your priority is the most active, hands-on Antarctic programme available - polar camping, diving, mountaineering - Quark Expeditions leans further in that direction. If a certified National Geographic photographer alongside every voyage matters more to you than the science programme itself, Nat Geo Lindblad is worth comparing. Rich can talk through all six side by side.

HX Questions

Before You Book

What's actually included in an HX fare?

All shore excursions and Zodiac landings, every meal, and the expert expedition team are included as standard - one of the more generous inclusion packages among the premium (non-all-inclusive) operators.

Is HX a good choice for a first expedition cruise?

Yes - the hybrid-powered flagships are modern, comfortable and well suited to newcomers, while still delivering the genuine science programme that distinguishes expedition cruising from a standard holiday.

Does HX sail to Antarctica year-round?

No operator does - Antarctic sailings run November to March, the southern summer. HX's Roald Amundsen is one of the most commonly seen PC6 ships on the Peninsula during that window.

Ready When You Are

Talk to Rich About HX Expeditions

Pricing through Rich is the same as booking direct - what you gain is independent advice from a CLIA Expedition Cruise Champion who has studied this fleet in detail.

Plan a Voyage with HX