Introducing HX: See the World on Hurtigruten Expeditions

Have you ever wanted to see some of the world's most unique destinations from the comfort of a cruise ship? One famous Norwegian company has an offer for you.

Hurtigruten is a major name in transport heritage in and around Norwegian waters. But in recent years, the company is staking its claim in a whole different market.

Best known for its ships that ply the Norway coastal route, Hurtigruten now offers expedition cruises to some of the world's most exotic travel destinations. That includes the likes of Antarctica, Svalbard and the Galapagos Islands.

Known simply as Hurtigruten Expeditions, the company will soon rebrand to HX, mainly to avoid confusion with the Norwegian coastal operation.

Expedition cruises explained

Before we dive into what HX has to offer, let's take a moment to talk about expedition cruises in general. Because even if you have been on traditional cruise ships, you may be surprised at how different these voyages are.

Hurtigruten Expeditions: Check out the available itineraries and fares here

Expedition cruises offer a distinctive journey, taking adventurers to some of the world's most remote destinations, like the Northwest Passage, Antarctica, and the Galapagos Islands, aboard specialised smaller vessels.

Unlike conventional cruises that emphasize entertainment and dock at major ports, expedition cruises focus on immersion and exploration. Travellers might find themselves using small boats known as Zodiacs for ‘wet landings' on distant shores, or attending onboard lectures by marine biologists and historians.

Journeying to environmentally sensitive areas, these cruises come with a plethora of rules to protect pristine ecosystems. And while wildlife encounters are a major draw, nature's unpredictability means every trip offers a unique experience.

If you're seeking education and exploration over lavish entertainment, expedition cruises could be your ideal getaway.

Destinations offered by Hurtigruten Expeditions

Given Hurtigruten's roots, you might expect the expedition itineraries to focus on the polar regions. And they do!

For the 2024-25 season, HX says it will offer guests more choice in Antarctica than any other expedition cruise company. There will be 36 departures across eight itineraries, ranging from 12 to 24 days. But the itinerary offer goes beyond the Arctic and Antarctica.

The full list of destinations at the time of writing is: Alaska, Antarctica, British Isles, Caribbean and Central America, Europe, Galapagos, Greenland, Iceland, North America, Northwest Passage, Norway, South America, Svalbard, and West Africa and Cape Verde. You can check out some of these itineraries here.

In addition to these destinations, HX offers ‘Transoceanic' itineraries that focus on the sea, and Grand Expeditions that combine regions. For example, the company offers a unique 96-day Pole-to-Pole itinerary as a Grand Expedition.

Introducing Hurtigruten's expedition ships

At present, Hurtigruten's expedition fleet is a bit of a mixed bag. Several of the vessels were formerly used on the Norwegian coastal route, but have received substantial upgrades.

However, new ships MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen were specifically designed as expedition vessels. Their design language is different and they feature custom-built equipment including kayaks, underwater drones and expedition boats.

As I mentioned above, expedition vessels are smaller than typical cruise ships. The biggest expedition vessel used by Hurtigruten can carry just 570 passengers. That's the MS Maud, which was known as MS Midnatsol when it worked the coastal route.

There are a few other ships that carry 500 or so passengers, but also some vessels that carry significantly fewer people.

For example, the MS Santa Cruz II used on Galapagos sailings carries just 90 passengers. The polar-focused MS Spitsbergen and MS Fram carry a maximum of 220 and 250 passengers respectively.

Onboard experience

As I already said, the onboard experience of an expedition cruise is not like a regular cruise. However, if you've taken a Hurtigruten coastal ferry in Norway, you'll have a reasonable idea.

There is very little in the way of entertainment, so no theatre, no live music, and in fact, no entertainment team. In their place, is an enrichment or expedition team.

These highly qualified and experienced experts are onboard to deliver presentations, answer questions, and accompany you on landings. The trip is intended to be entertaining, but it veers towards educational in terms of onboard activities.

All the ships feature hot tubs, sauna, and a gym. The Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen also have an infinity pool, outdoor gym, and running track.

One area in common with regular cruising is the focus on dining. In fact, I would argue that Hurtigruten dining is on a par with the very best cruise ships out there.

A word on expedition cruise itineraries

If you're an experienced cruiser, you may have missed a port a few times. This is relatively rare on cruise ships, although it can happen usually because of poor weather and/or dangerous sea conditions.

However, on expedition cruises, it's much more common. HX considers all itineraries and even all excursions provisional. Factors such as weather, sea conditions, sea ice in certain areas, and local restrictions can all impact routes and landings.

Hurtigruten Expeditions: Check out the available itineraries and fares here

On some Antarctica and Northwest Passage itineraries, details are kept deliberately vague to allow last-minute decisions to be made. This means that no two expeditions cruises are the same, but it's not necessarily a good thing for those who like to plan.

Have you taken a Hurtigruten Expeditions cruise? Or perhaps you're planning one? Let us know your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.