HX has been expedition cruising since 1896 and today leads more polar expeditions than anyone else*. Over 130 years, we’ve refined the best way to explore. Our hybrid-powered ships, MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Roald Amundsen, were purpose-built for all-inclusive discovery, designed to immerse you in Antarctica from every angle and make the most of every moment.
ON THE WATER: Up close to the action
The core of our expedition experience lies in the fleet of equipment we carry on board. On any given morning, you might hop into a Zodiac boat that launches from the ship to find a pod of humpback whales surfacing just metres away, while another group heads out by kayak to paddle through a corridor of sculpted icebergs. The groups swap, so everyone gets to do everything.
You’ll also explore alongside scientists, taking part in real research such as collecting whale biopsies that help track population health, or photographing tail flukes for Happywhale, a global, citizen science identification database that tracks individual whales across the ocean and sends you an update if yours is spotted again.
ON LAND: Boots on the ice
Stepping onto the Antarctic continent is something most people only dream of. Zodiacs land you ashore, where you might don snowshoes and hike to a historic research base, or visit a colony of gentoo penguins, known for collecting – and stealing – pebbles to build their nests. Wherever you go, you’ll be accompanied by a team of experts who know the continent better than anyone: historians, ornithologists, geologists, and marine biologists who bring what you’re seeing to life as you see it.
With HX, you also have a greater chance of camping overnight on Antarctic ice, thanks to the volume of equipment we carry. You can sleep in a tent or a bivvy bag, the latter meaning there’s nothing between you and the elements, just the sound of cracking ice and wildlife calls lulling you to sleep. It’s the kind of experience that stays with you long after you’re home.
ON BOARD: Comfort meets discovery
Adventure is best when you have the space to take it all in. On board, there are plenty of places to relax between excursions: a choice of three restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining, an infinity pool, sauna, indoor and outdoor gyms, and a bar where you can swap stories over cocktails as icebergs drift past the window.
The heart of the ship is the state-of-the-art Science Centre, where what you see in the field comes into focus through lectures and hands-on sessions. You might examine phytoplankton from water samples collected out in a Zodiac, watching them glow under a microscope, or hear a penguinologist explain how species adapt their breeding cycles to shifting ice conditions, and what that tells us about our changing climate.
Sailing on hybrid-powered ships means quieter, more sustainable voyages, and a better chance of witnessing wildlife undisturbed, whether that’s spotting whales from the deck or hearing a wall of ice crack away from a glacier before you even see it. Stabilised hull technology provides smoother crossings through the Drake Passage, the (in)famous open ocean between South America and Antarctica, so you arrive rested and ready to explore.
For over a century, HX has been taking curious travellers to the places most people only read about. Antarctica is the pinnacle of that legacy, and there’s never been a better time to see it for yourself. Vsit travelhx.com to discover more.
*Cruise Industry News: 2024, 2025, 2026 Expedition Market Reports
