HX expeditions might be among my favorite expedition companies for good reasons. Hx is a prestigious expedition cruise line, with a true focus on expedition cruising with learning, preserving, and experiencing at it’s heart. Hurtigruten Expeditions is now know as HX, yet everything about HX is as good as better then when they were known by their parent company’s name, Hurtigruten. With time, HX is only going to become a more premium expedition company as they move to all inclusive cruising in the next few months. Yet despite the name change, HX is true to it’s core and mission and has over 100 years of experience!
A Focus on Interactive Learning
I’ve been on several expedition cruises now and everyone offers something different. One thing that is similar on all expedition trips from Seabourn expeditions to Lindblad National Geographic is the focus on learning. On expeditions, the main entertainment on the ship are expert lectures from the expedition team. Guests travel to experience and learn. Gleaning a deeper understanding of the environment, culture, people, wildlife and history.
When traveling on expeditions you can expect to travel with experts including individuals with PhDs who are geologists, marine biologists, climatologists, historians, meteorologist, and more. The expedition teams tend to be some of the most unique people on the ship with a vast and diverse education and history. Thus, making the educational seminars among the best.
Yet, what sets Hurtigruten apart is the focus on interactive learning. Not only does Hx offer educational seminars daily throughout the voyage, but the ships are equipped with several interactive opportunities for learning. Hx is unique as being one of the few ships with true science center. Here you can find people of all ages learning through exhibits, utilizing microscopes, and participating in citizen science programs.
Hx has a science boat program where guests can participate in measuring planktons, microplastics in the water, water temperature and more. This data is then uploaded to scientific databases worldwide to help measure the health of the ocean.
Hx is so focused on science and learning, they even have a special app that they have built in partnership with NASA to help NASA fill the voids in their own recordings. Measuring and recording clouds and weather systems that satellites do not pick up! The staff provide a lecture and learning opportunity on the app to help get guests involved.
The science center is full of interactive items beyond just the microscopes. Utilize the interactive display to learn about plastic in the ocean, track animals and more. There’s several lecture rooms, photo labs, a library and more. All encourage guests to learn and contribute!
If you are looking for more than just a lecture, but want to examine bones, cells, plant life, under a microscope and participate in scientific research. Hx is really the only expedition company that makes this a reality. Don’t just learn through listening, participate in science!
Hurtigruten Expeditions Climate Protection
Hx realizes that without a planet there are no people. We travel to the polar regions to go where most people cannot or don’t go. Where people don’t live and animals thrive. From Svalbard to Antarctica, Greenland to the Aleutian Islands and more Hurtigruten has some truly unique itineraries. Yet, if we don’t take care of the earth we cannot continue to explore it.
Hx ships are the only hybrid electric ships in the fleet of worldwide expedition ships. Making these some of the most climate friendly ships to ply the oceans.
Furthermore, Hx really does practice the campsite rule. Leave the site, better than it was found. With special permits to visit Alaska’s most remote wilderness, such as St. Matthew’s Island in the Bering Sea, Hx encourages guests to clean up trash that the ocean washes up. On our visit, we filled up almost an entire zodiac full of ocean waste. The ship takes the trash back to be processed properly. Slowly cleaning up the ocean with every visit.
I’ve been on several different expedition companies, and I’ve seen people pick up a little trash here and there, yet I’ve never seen any company really focus on cleaning up as we go. So hopefully the world can be a better place for the next group of people to visit and the animals can thrive.
Technology Everywhere on Hurtigruten Cruises
If you are going to go on expeditions to the most remote places in the world, technology is important. Beyond just for navigation and safety. Yet HX really does have great technology baked into the ship.
First, every lecture is recorded. Plus, every lecture can be streamed live in your suite. Don’t feel like going down to a lecture hall, but still want to know what is happening or want to learn. Watch the lecture from the comfort of your own room. Did you miss something because you were either on land, eating, or maybe at the gym? No worries, every lecture is saved to the digital library and can be watched at any time during your voyage.
Being able to watch a lecture later means you can do what you want, when you want, without missing out. Seabourn Expeditions offers this, but Lindblad does not. Swan Hellenic saves the lecture too, but does not stream them live to the room. This technology alone is amazing.
Second, the Hurtigruten Hx app is amazing! By far one of the most intuitive and smartest apps I’ve seen at sea. Everything from the daily programs to restaurant menus are available in the app. Plus the app updates in real time! This app makes sailing and planning your day easy.
Third, and this falls under technology and climate protection, but the ship boot washing stashing is amazing! Most ships you spray your muck boots down with water and manually scrub them. On Hx, you walk through a boot wash, which scrubs your boots in seconds. Working like a car wash with manual brushes not only washing off bird guano and more, it does a better job of protecting the environment helping us (humans) from spreading bird flu and introducing pests to different sites.
Finally, the HX fleet is equipped with Starlink internet. As the world becomes more connected, it’s amazing that you can be anywhere in the world and still have wi-fi. Yes, disconnecting is great, but it’s also night to have the opportunity to post photos and show our friends the amazing things we’re doing on a Hx expedition.
Fantastic Food & Special Diet Accommodations
Finding good food at sea is always a treat, but it’s even better when food is consistently great. One a small ship, when you’re cooking for 500 or less it’s even easier than on a big ship serving 3,000+. Hurtigruten ships may hold 500 passengers, but they typically sail with around 250-300 passengers. On most Hx ships like Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen there are three different dining venues.
Breakfast and lunch at Aune tend to be a buffet, whereas dinner is typically la carte service. There’s also an all-day café, Fredheim, serving burgers, wraps, and more. Then for suite guests, or for non-suite guests who don’t mind paying a surcharge there is a fine dining restaurant. Lindstrom is only open to suite guests for breakfast and lunch, and all guests via reservations for dinner.
Yet what really sets Hx apart to me, is their awareness of allergies. Every item on the menu and/or buffet lists just about every dietary allergy you can imagine. Plus, for those who wish to take it a step further, HX will specialize in nearly every dining experience for a guest with allergies. Just fill out a form the morning of or earlier (menus are posted a day in advance) and Hx’s team will make your meal to suit your diet. Vegan, dairy free, gluten free etc, you name it, Hx can do it! As someone who is allergic to Whey, Hx has made it easy to eat delicious food without worry.
Hx Offers World Class Amenities
Hx does not cut corners when it comes to comfort and luxury. With a fleet of newer ships, these ships are an amazingly comfortable place to call home for several days to weeks at a time. The rooms are comfortable, beds are plush, and the ships facilities are top notch.
You can be in Svalbard viewing polar bears under the Arctic suns or watching penguins and whales in Antarctica or travel to South Georgia to see King Penguins. yet this ship has it all. Enjoy a beautifully appointed infinity pool and two polar hot tubs. All warm enough to swim in, no matter your destination. The ships also have a large co-ed sauna, before for warming up in. After all, Hx is born in Norway and no ship, spa, or home is complete without a Sauna in Norway!
The ship also offers a fantastic gym with plenty of cardio and weight lifting equipment to stay fit and healthy while away from home. Keeping up your normal routine while exploring the world.
For those looking for other ways to disconnect and relax, the Hx Spa offers all the services you need to feel refreshed. From massages to facials, haircuts and mani/pedi this ship offers all the amenities and more that you’d want at sea.
Yet really, what I really love about this ship is the thoughtful design and deck space. These ships spend most of their time in colder climates. Plying the icy waters of the white continent or traveling the Arctic. The ship has HUGE windows nearly everywhere you look. The restaurants, the explorer lounge bar, even the elevator lobbies have ground to ceiling windows. So you never miss a view or animal sighting.
Even when you walk around on the outer decks, there’s just SO MUCH deck space. The entire top floor is open and so is the bow and aft parts of the ship. Moreso, I love how there’s lots of protected deck space too. Not only the big windows inside, but beneath deck 7 observation deck on the bow, is an enclosed observation deck. Allowing guests to be outside but protected from the wind. This is also true on several other decks and locations along the side of the ship.
The design of ships is smart, elegant, and perfect for exploring the world!
Bottom Line
When on an Hx Hurtigruten cruise, the expedition’s sole purpose is to create opportunities for guests to not only see the world, but learn and experience it. With a focus on interactive learning, nature, and comfort, HX is ready to take you places you didn’t even know you could go. If you want to travel to the Galapagos, Antarctica, Falkland Islands, South Georgia, the Chilean Fjords, Svalbard, Greenland, or Norway. Hx is ready to take you. Check out there amazing deals to Antarctica now! Enjoy trips to the Shetland Islands and beyond. Get off the beaten path with HX. Hx is the only expedition ships doing the Aleutian Islands, with stops in St. Matthews and St. Paul. Making HX a really special company to see the world with.
If you are interested in a HX expedition. Contact Rocky at Scott & Thomas travel. Guests who book via Rocky always get a 90 Euro onboard credit per person. Our prices are never more than booking directly with Hx and you get more out of it! Contact me directly today, your HX expedition expert!
