Hurtigruten's polar arm, rebranded — Antarctica, Arctic, the Northwest Passage
Formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions, rebranded as HX in 2024. The expedition specialist sibling of Norway's Coastal Express — purpose-built ice-strengthened ships, full science teams aboard, and a fleet that reaches the regions cruise ships shouldn't. Antarctica, Svalbard, Greenland, the Galapagos, Alaska and the Northwest Passage from boutique-scale vessels carrying 180 to 530 guests.
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Six reasons we recommend this line to the right kind of traveller.
HX ships are ice-strengthened expedition vessels — not regular cruise ships repurposed for cold-weather routes. Designed from the keel up for the Drake Passage, Northwest Passage and Svalbard. Stabilisers tuned for polar seas, panoramic observation lounges throughout.
Every HX expedition carries an expedition team of polar biologists, glaciologists, ornithologists, geologists and historians — typically 15-20 staff serving 150-530 guests. Daily lectures, citizen-science programmes (you contribute to real polar data), photography masterclasses, on-deck wildlife spotting.
MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen use battery-hybrid propulsion — silent operation in sensitive fjords and wildlife concentrations, lower emissions in polar waters where it matters most. Among the most environmentally engineered polar ships afloat.
The fleet was designed for the routes that bigger cruise lines cannot run — Antarctic Peninsula, full circumnavigation of Svalbard, Northeast and Northwest Passages, Greenland's east coast, Galapagos, Russian Far East. Itineraries plan around ice, weather and wildlife, not cocktail hour.
Most days include one or two zodiac landings — penguin rookeries, research stations, sheltered bays, fur-seal beaches. Optional kayaking, snowshoeing, polar camping, photography expeditions. Genuine expedition operations, not photo-op cruising.
Same parent operating company (Hurtigruten Group) that has run Norway's working coastal route since 1893. HX inherits that engineering heritage, applies it globally. If you want Norway specifically, look at the Hurtigruten Coastal Express; for polar and remote, choose HX.
No cruise line is for everyone. Here's where HX Expeditions might not fit. We'll point you elsewhere if so.
HX ships are expedition vessels — small theatre, single main restaurant plus one or two speciality venues, no waterparks, no casinos, no nightly Broadway-scale productions. The entertainment is the destination outside your window. For resort cruising look at Royal Caribbean, MSC or Norwegian.
Polar expedition is expensive — typical HX voyages run 10-21 nights at £4,000-£15,000+ per person. There is no cheap version because the operating economics of polar voyages do not allow it. For a more affordable taste of the cold, look at Norwegian fjord cruises with mainstream lines.
Expedition cruising has age minimums (typically 12+) and physical requirements (zodiac transfers, layered cold-weather kit, long sea days). Family-friendly Norwegian fjord cruising on bigger ships works much better for under-12s.
HX is genuinely expedition — comfortable but not Silversea-Expedition or Seabourn-Venture polish. Drinks and some excursions are paid extras. If you want butler-service and Champagne in your suite alongside the polar landings, choose Silversea or Seabourn for their polar expedition fleets.
The HX Expeditions fleet at a glance.
Named after the Norwegian polar explorer. Battery-hybrid propulsion, ice-strengthened hull, 530 guests, panoramic observation lounges. Launched 2019 as the world's first hybrid-electric expedition ship. Antarctica, Northwest Passage, Greenland.
Sister ship to MS Roald Amundsen — also hybrid-electric, ice-strengthened, 530 guests. Named after the Norwegian polar pioneer. Sails Antarctic Peninsula, Arctic and Northwest Passage seasons.
The smallest in the HX fleet — 180 guests. Boutique-scale expedition for Svalbard circumnavigation, Galapagos, intimate polar destinations. Closer wildlife encounters and shallower-draft access to harder-to-reach bays.
Extensively refitted in 2022 for global expedition routes. 530 guests, ice-class hull, full lecture and citizen-science facilities. Named after the Norwegian polar exploration ship.
HX dining is Nordic-influenced and ingredient-led — locally sourced fish, foraged berries, hot stews, and regional produce loaded at each turnaround port. Casual atmosphere; single main restaurant plus speciality venues.
HX runs genuine citizen-science programmes — guests contribute to whale sightings, cloud observation, water-sample collection, microplastic surveys. Data feeds real polar research institutions. A meaningful expedition feel that resort cruising can't replicate.
Expedition team lectures daily — wildlife, ice, geology, exploration history. Open-bridge policy on most ships lets you spend time with officers, see charts, ask navigation questions. Genuine working-bridge access rare on bigger expedition lines.
Sauna with panoramic windows, hot-tub on observation deck, gym, simple spa. Functional rather than spa-resort scale — but the view from the sauna mid-Antarctic ocean is unbeatable. Polar plunge optional, with crew supervision.
Dedicated photo coaches on every voyage — workshops, lens loan-and-test programmes on selected sailings, on-shore positioning for the photogenic landings, photo editing time built into the schedule.
Every HX Expeditions fare bakes these in.
Three meals daily, Nordic-led expedition cuisine — included on every fare
Expedition team lectures, citizen-science programmes, port talks
All scheduled zodiac landings and cruises, weather permitting
Free basic Wi-Fi on the newer ships; streaming-tier paid
Use of wellness facilities, included on every fare
Expedition boots provided on loan; warm jackets on most voyages
A small returning-guest programme rather than a full points-and-tiers system. Past-guest offers and personal recognition on board.
A Travel Designer who knows HX Expeditions will pick the right ship, the right itinerary, and the right cabin tier for you. No call centres.