HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) · Expedition lines
HX is the expedition arm of Hurtigruten, the Norwegian coastal line. It runs hybrid-powered expedition ships to Antarctica, Svalbard, Greenland, Alaska and the Galápagos, with science centers on board and a large expedition team. Nothing sails from Florida. I have not sailed HX. It is the value option in polar expedition cruising, and I say so.
Corner Suites and Expedition Suites
- Corner Suites are the top category on the Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen, with a private balcony and an outdoor hot tub on some.
- Expedition Suites are the broad suite category below them, most with balconies, some with a shared suite lounge.
- Suite guests get a stocked minibar, some included drinks and priority for restaurant reservations. No butlers.
- The ships carry far more guests than the luxury expedition yachts, which keeps the fare down and the landings busier.
What comes with it
- All landings and expedition activities that do not need special gear
- Meals, and wine and beer with meals in suites
- Expedition jacket to keep
- Science center and lecture program
- Wi-Fi
From Florida
None. HX itineraries start in Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, Oslo, Reykjavik, Vancouver and Quito. Naples clients fly from Fort Myers or Miami; HX sells air packages for the long legs.
The ships
MS Roald Amundsen · MS Fridtjof Nansen · MS Fram · MS Spitsbergen · MS Santa Cruz II
Scandinavian and practical. The ships are modern and well built but not plush. Guests are there for the ice, not the interiors.
HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) in pictures
Two Hurtigruten officers smiling in the dining room
Who it fits
- Travelers who want Antarctica or Svalbard at the lowest fare from a serious operator.
- Families with older children. HX allows them and Lindblad and the luxury yachts mostly do not.
- Anyone who cares about the hybrid engines and the science program.
Who should look elsewhere
- Luxury travelers. The suites are good; the ship is not a luxury ship.
- Guests who want a small ship. The newer HX ships carry around five hundred.
Questions about HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions)
Also expedition lines
Thinking about HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions)?
Kathryn will price its top tier against the suites she has stayed in and tell you where it wins.