Why I Like HX
HX invented expedition cruising. Their first voyage to Svalbard sailed in 1896, and 130 years later they're still the company that knows the polar regions best. When a client tells me Antarctica or Greenland is their bucket-list trip, HX is one of the first lines I look at.
What I like most is that the trip is about the place, not the ship. You go ashore by small boat, hike, and learn from an expedition team of naturalists and scientists who actually know the ice. Since late 2024 every fare is all-inclusive: meals, drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, and the daily landings and activities. My clients aren't surprised by a bill at the end.
HX also takes sustainability seriously. MS Roald Amundsen was the world's first battery-hybrid cruise ship, and the fleet dropped heavy fuel oil and single-use plastics well ahead of the rest of the industry.
The Ships
HX sails five small, ice-strengthened ships. MS Fridtjof Nansen (2020) and MS Roald Amundsen (2019) are the hybrid-powered sisters. They carry about 500 guests and have Expedition Suites, a Science Center, three restaurants, a heated pool and a sauna. They're my first pick for most Antarctica trips.
MS Fram (2007) was built for polar waters and feels more intimate, with the same three restaurants.
MS Spitsbergen (rebuilt in 2016) covers Norway, Svalbard, Greenland and Arctic Canada.
Santa Cruz II carries just 90 guests and sails the Galápagos year-round.
Who It Suits
HX is a great fit for travelers who want wildlife, landings and learning more than casinos and Broadway shows. The style is relaxed, casual luxury with no formal nights. It suits curious couples, active retirees, and anyone with Antarctica, Greenland or the Northwest Passage on their list.
It's not the right fit if you want a big resort ship with waterslides and nightlife, or if you need a fixed schedule. On an expedition, weather and ice decide the plan, and the captain will change course for safety. Antarctica voyages also cross the Drake Passage, which can be rough, so travelers prone to seasickness should plan for it.
Best Time to Go
Antarctica runs November through March. November brings fresh snow and courting penguins, December and January are the warmest with long daylight and penguin chicks, and February and March are best for whales.
Greenland, Svalbard and the Northwest Passage are summer trips, roughly June through September. Arctic Norway is best in winter for the Northern Lights. Alaska runs May through September, and the Galápagos is good year-round.
What It Costs and What's Included
Expect roughly $4,500 to $7,000 per person for Alaska or the Galápagos, and roughly $8,500 to $12,000 per person for an Antarctica or Greenland cabin. Suites run higher, and longer voyages with the Falklands and South Georgia cost more. Prices move a lot by date and promotion, so ask me for a current quote.
Fares are all-inclusive: meals, drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, daily landings and activities, and lectures from the expedition team. Kayaking, snowshoeing and camping in Antarctica cost extra.
A Tip Most People Don't Know
In Antarctica, only 100 guests can be ashore at one landing site at a time. On the larger ships, Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen, guests go ashore in rotating groups. If maximum time on the ice matters most to you, ask me about the smaller MS Fram. And book extras like kayaking as soon as they open, because spots are limited and sell out.