HX Expeditions
Also called: HX
Parent company: HX Group (HX Bidco Ltd)
PremiumSee how HX Expeditions describes itself vs how we list it
What to say on a call
Best for
- 1The fare includes all meals, house beer, wine and standard spirits, soft drinks, Starlink Wi-Fi, gratuities, daily expedition activities and an expedition jacket to keep; premium drinks, Lindstrøm fine dining and laundry are included only for suite guests.
- 2Five ships: hybrid-powered MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen (490 guests), MS Fram (200), MS Spitsbergen (150) and MS Santa Cruz II (90) in the Galápagos.
- 3Polar specialist with 130 years of history (first voyage 1896): Antarctica, Svalbard, Greenland, the Northwest Passage, Arctic Norway and Alaska, plus Galápagos year-round.
- 4Separate company from Hurtigruten's Norwegian coastal voyages since 2025; HX Explorers is HX's own loyalty program.
Payments & cancellations
Final payment
Per cruise line90 days before departure
Balance due 90 days before the scheduled departure date; no second invoice is sent. HX may cancel the booking (after an email reminder) and keep the deposit if payment is late.
Applies to: Bookings made from June 1, 2026 (HX US Inc General Terms and Conditions, Americas)
Deposit
Per cruise line25% non-refundable (departures to Mar 31, 2027); 15% non-refundable (departures from Apr 1, 2027)
Booked 90+ days before departure: non-refundable deposit at booking of 25% (departures up to March 31, 2027) or 15% (departures from April 1, 2027). Booked within 90 days: full payment at booking. Special promotions may require full payment at booking.
Applies to: Bookings made from June 1, 2026 (HX US Inc General Terms and Conditions, Americas)
Cancellation penalties
Per cruise lineSee details below
Charges as a % of the total holiday cost (excluding insurance). Departures up to March 31, 2027: 90+ days 25%; 60-89 days 40%; 28-59 days 70%; 14-27 days 90%; under 14 days 100%. Departures from April 1, 2027: 90+ days 15%; 60-89 days 50%; 30-59 days 75%; under 30 days 100%. Air booked by HX follows airline rules; no refund for no-shows; insurance premiums non-refundable.
Applies to: Bookings made from June 1, 2026 (HX US Inc General Terms and Conditions, Americas)
The two scales depend on the departure date, not the booking date. Cancellation must be in writing by the person who booked.
Onboard extras & packages
Prices are approximate, per person per day unless noted. Always confirm the current price with the cruise line.
- Gratuities (standard rooms)
- IncludedPer cruise line
- Gratuities (suites)
- IncludedPer cruise line
- Drink package
- Included (house beer and wine, classic cocktails and standard spirits all day; premium drinks extra for cabin guests)Per cruise line
- Premium drink package
- Included for suite guests (signature cocktails, premium beer and wine by the glass, spirits up to €18); cabin guests pay per drink (no package price published)Per cruise line
- Soda package
- IncludedPer cruise line
- Non-alcoholic package
- Included (coffee, tea, hot chocolate, soft drinks; water refill stations)Per cruise line
- Wi-Fi (basic)
- Included (Starlink on all ships; browsing only, no streaming)Per cruise line
- Wi-Fi (premium)
- No premium tier on the four Norwegian-flagged ships; MS Santa Cruz II (Galápagos) sells extra Wi-Fi, price not published
- Specialty dining package
- No package sold; Lindstrøm fine dining included for suite guests, cover charge for cabin guestsPer cruise line
- Specialty dining (avg per meal)
- Lindstrøm cover charge for cabin guests: €15 breakfast, €25 lunch, €35 dinner pp (MS Fram page); the FAQ says €25 pp for dinnerPer cruise line
Sources differ
HX's pages give different Lindstrøm cover charges for cabin guests. The MS Fram page lists €15 breakfast, €25 lunch and €35 dinner per person; the FAQ says dinner is €25 per person. Confirm with HX before quoting.MS Fram page FAQ - Fitness classes
- Yoga classes run by the Expedition Team; price not published
- Spa / thermal pass
- Included (sauna, hot tubs and gym on all ships; infinity pool on Amundsen/Nansen); treatments extraPer cruise line
- Air program
- HX sells international air (recommended; HX rebooks if disrupted). HX connecting flights (e.g. Buenos Aires-Ushuaia, Oslo-Longyearbyen, Quito-Galápagos) and local transfers/hotel nights are part of the voyage package where the itinerary includes themPer cruise line
- Other fees & perks
- Taxes and port expenses included; onboard account in EUR (USD on MS Santa Cruz II); laundry, optional excursions (e.g. kayaking) and medical care extra; wire-payment discount for US/Canada residents (code HX-WIRE; amount not stated on the terms page)Per cruise line
Accessibility & special needs
- How to tell the cruise line
- Tell HX (or the booking agent) as soon as possible during booking, and before boarding, about any medical condition or need for a wheelchair, mobility/medical equipment or a service animal; equipment must be declared before sailing. Per cruise line
- Wheelchairs & scooters
- Guests must bring their own wheelchair (max 24 in wide) and book an accessible cabin; crew won't push wheelchairs or give personal care, so a companion is recommended. Wheelchair users can't join nature landings, and small-boat (RIB) landings need guests who can step in and out. Max 2 mobility/medical items per cabin (total value up to €2,600). MS Santa Cruz II has no elevators. Per cruise line
- Service animals
- Allowed: service animals are permitted subject to local regulations and documentation; no pets. Per cruise line
- Medical equipment & pregnancy
- English-speaking physician and nurse on every ship with a small medical facility; consultations and medicines are charged. Antarctica needs an approved Medical Screening Form. Bring all prescription medication (none supplied onboard). Per cruise line
Not on the line's site (or not confirmed yet): blind / low vision, deaf / hard of hearing, guests of size. Ask the cruise line's accessibility team.
Never promise an accommodation. Send the request to the line and let them confirm. How to handle these calls → Premium
Upgrade & suite ladder
entryCabins: Polar Inside, Polar Outside and Arctic Superior (Explorer Cabins on MS Santa Cruz II)
Per cruise lineInside and outside cabins; Arctic Superior are larger and many have a balcony. Minibar charged; bathrobe and slippers free. All-inclusive drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities as for all guests.
midExpedition Suites: Mini Suites (Q2/Q3/Q4 on MS Fram and MS Spitsbergen) and ME/MF suites (MS Roald Amundsen, MS Fridtjof Nansen)
Per cruise lineAbout 161-301 sq ft. Same suite inclusions as all HX suites: all meals in Lindstrøm, premium drinks, laundry (1 bag/day), turndown, welcome champagne, minibar first fill, priority check-in.
luxuryTop suites: MA/MB Extra-Large, MC Corner (balcony hot tub) and MD Large Suites (Amundsen/Nansen); MG Grand Suite and MX Owners Suite (Fram/Spitsbergen); Darwin Suite (Santa Cruz II)
Per cruise lineUp to about 517 sq ft (MA suite, Amundsen/Nansen), some with a private hot tub; free room service from the Lindstrøm menu in 10 named suites on Amundsen/Nansen. Same suite inclusions otherwise.
Loyalty program
HX ExplorersPer cruise line
- 1Bronze — On joining (0-99 points)
- 2Silver — 100 points
- 3Gold — 350 points
- 4Platinum — 500 points
Guests may say
“HX Explorers”, “HX Explorer Points”, “Bronze / Silver / Gold / Platinum”
None: HX Explorers is HX-only. Hurtigruten (Norwegian coastal) cruises don't count toward points, though Hurtigruten travelers received a one-time 100-point bonus. No status match from other lines was found.
Military & veterans
We couldn't confirm a military rate on this line's official site. Don't promise one. If a guest asks, check with the line.
How military rates work → PremiumAirport transfers
Depends on the package booked (check the itinerary); airport transfers are arranged through HX customer service. Antarctica voyages include HX connecting flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia. Ground transfers bought from HX are non-refundable.
Which ports: Main gateways: Buenos Aires/Ushuaia (Antarctica), Oslo/Longyearbyen (Svalbard), Quito/Guayaquil/Baltra (Galápagos), Vancouver (Alaska), Reykjavik and Nuuk (Greenland).
What's offered changes by port and sailing. Check before you quote a price.
Cruise family
HX Group (HX Bidco Ltd)
No sister cruise lines on this site.
Loyalty between brands: Standalone: HX Explorers only. Hurtigruten coastal cruises don't count.
No official shared program found. Check with the cruise line before promising anything.
See the whole family →Good to know
Medical Screening Form for Antarctica
Per cruise lineEvery guest on an Antarctica expedition must complete an online Medical Screening Form (run by HX's medical partner Vikand) by 6 weeks before departure; it opens 4 months out. Travel documents are issued only after all forms in the booking are approved. If the form is declined for medical reasons, HX gives a full refund.
Travel insurance is required
Per cruise lineHX requires every guest to carry travel insurance covering cancellation, medical care and repatriation. For Antarctica, medical evacuation and repatriation cover is mandatory and HX recommends at least US$200,000.
Age and pregnancy limits
Per cruise lineMinimum age is 5 for Antarctica (and South Georgia) and the Galápagos; children under 12 join small-boat landings at the captain's discretion. Child fares (ages 2-15) save 50% on the cruise portion when sharing with two adults. Guests who will be 24 weeks pregnant or more at the end of the voyage can't sail; at 23 weeks a medical certificate is needed.
Expedition gear included
Per cruise lineEvery guest gets a polar expedition jacket, backpack or other HX kit to keep, plus a reusable water bottle. Rubber boots (US sizes 1-18) and walking sticks are lent free for the trip; boots are mandatory on Antarctica and Svalbard landings.
Antarctica flights: arrive the day before
Per cruise lineAntarctica voyages include HX connecting flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, which usually leave between 6 and 10 AM, so guests should arrive in Buenos Aires the day before. On return the flight lands at EZE around 6 PM; book international departures after 10 PM. Checked bag limit 23 kg on these flights.
No dress code, English onboard
Per cruise lineThere is no dress code, even in the Lindstrøm fine-dining restaurant. The working language onboard is English, with announcements also in German (and sometimes French or Chinese).
Fleet
- Ships
- 5 ships: MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Roald Amundsen (hybrid-powered, 490 guests), MS Fram (200), MS Spitsbergen (150) and MS Santa Cruz II (90, Galápagos only; chartered)Per cruise line
- Newest ship
- MS Fridtjof Nansen (built 2020; sister of MS Roald Amundsen, 2019)Per cruise line
Sources differ
HX's pages give different refurbishment years. The Our Ships page says MS Fram was refurbished in 2022 and MS Spitsbergen in 2016; HX's 2025 annual report says both were refurbished in 2025, and the MS Spitsbergen page says she was rebuilt in 2016 and extensively refurbished in 2025.Our Ships page 2025 annual report MS Spitsbergen page - Ship classes
- Hybrid-powered expedition ships (MS Roald Amundsen 2019, MS Fridtjof Nansen 2020), Polar expedition ship MS Fram (2007), Expedition ship MS Spitsbergen (2009, rebuilt 2016), Galápagos yacht-style ship MS Santa Cruz II (2002, chartered)
Where they sail
Last full review: 6 Oct 2026·Last updated: 26 Oct 2026
A full review is when we re-check every fact on this page.
"Last updated" is the most recent check or change to any single fact.
Something wrong or missing?
"Per cruise line" = confirmed on the line's own site.
"Unofficial tip" = from an experienced travel professional; helpful, but not confirmed by the cruise line.