HX is the biggest name in polar expedition cruising for good reason — they have more Antarctic departures than anyone and their hybrid ships are genuinely pioneering. The expedition teams are outstanding, the science programme is real, and they were the first line to ban single-use plastics and heavy fuel oil. If Antarctica or Svalbard is the goal, HX should be the starting point.
Hurtigruten Expeditions — now also trading as HX — is the world’s largest expedition cruise operator and the undisputed leader in polar travel. The company traces its roots to 1896 when the DS Lofoten made the first-ever expedition voyage from Hammerfest to Svalbard on an uncharted route, effectively inventing the concept of expedition cruising. Today, HX operates five expedition vessels across more than 80 itineraries spanning five continents, with Antarctica as its flagship destination offering some 50 departures per season.
The fleet is anchored by the hybrid-powered sister ships MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Roald Amundsen, launched in 2019 and 2020 respectively. These were the world’s first hybrid expedition cruise ships, capable of sailing on battery power alone in the most sensitive environments. The veteran MS Fram (fully refurbished in 2025) and MS Spitsbergen round out the polar fleet, while MV Santa Cruz II operates in the Galapagos. All ships carry between 130 and 490 guests — small enough for meaningful Zodiac landings and flexible enough to adjust to ice conditions and wildlife sightings.
What distinguishes HX from the growing crowd of expedition operators is the scale of their expertise. Each voyage carries a dedicated expedition team of scientists, historians, naturalists, and photographers who deliver lectures, lead shore landings, and run hands-on science programmes. The company was the first cruise operator to eliminate single-use plastics and ban heavy fuel oil, and it holds memberships in both AECO and IAATO, the governing bodies for responsible polar tourism. The onboard atmosphere is informal and knowledge-driven — this is not luxury expedition cruising in the Ponant or Silversea mould, but rather a purposeful, adventure-first experience at a more accessible price point.
Beyond the poles, HX has been expanding into Arctic Canada with Northwest Passage crossings, West Africa, and South America. But the core appeal remains unchanged: getting curious travellers to genuinely remote places aboard purpose-built ships with crews who know these waters intimately. For anyone with Antarctica, Svalbard, or Greenland on their bucket list, HX offers the deepest bench of itineraries and the most proven polar pedigree in the business.
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