Introducing HX Expeditions: And an Antarctic season that redefines what it means to travel south

As a new approved partner of ExplorEarth, HX Expeditions arrives with a clear point of difference in the expedition space. With a fleet of five purpose-built ships operating globally and a heritage dating back to 1896, HX has positioned itself around “mindful expeditions”, voyages that combine access to remote regions with science, education and mindful travel at their core. Its itineraries span the polar regions, including Antarctica, the Arctic and Greenland, as well as destinations such as the Galápagos, Alaska and, reflecting a portfolio built around some of the most ecologically and culturally significant environments on the planet. 

A fleet that includes the world’s first hybrid-powered expedition ships, onboard Science Centre's and expert-led Expedition Teams is central to the experience, shifting the focus from passive cruising to active exploration and understanding.

There is a point in most Antarctic journeys when the statistics fall away. Ice replaces numbers, silence replaces structure, and the experience becomes something far less measurable. For HX Expeditions, however, the 2025–26 season suggests that the two are no longer separate. HX is aligned with industry history and trust, and it also reflects a distinct way of thinking about what expedition travel should be.

This was their largest Antarctic programme to date, running from late October through March, bringing more travellers than ever before to the continent. Yet its significance lies less in volume than in what that volume enabled.

On paper, the figures are compelling. €124,882 raised for the 'HX Foundation', supporting environmental and community initiatives. 27,879 Green Stays logged, reflecting a growing integration of sustainability into the travel experience itself. But the more revealing metrics sit beneath the surface. Over 1,100 whale encounters were recorded through HappyWhale, feeding into global marine research, while 1,801 nights were given over to scientists working onboard, turning expedition vessels into active research platforms. 

Even before departure, more than 2,300 travellers completed HX’s Introductory Antarctic Course, reinforcing an approach that begins with understanding rather than arrival.

HX Expeditions is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading expedition cruise operators in both Antarctica and the Arctic, two of the most iconic and remote destinations on Earth. According to the 2025 'Cruise Industry News Expedition Report', HX holds the largest market share, passenger capacity, and berth allocation across both polar regions, underlining its position at the forefront of expedition travel. With decades of experience operating in extreme environments, HX combines pioneering exploration with expert-led experiences, giving travellers unrivalled access to some of the planet’s most extraordinary wilderness areas.

This layered model feels particularly aligned with Antarctica itself, a place that resists easy narratives. HX’s itineraries move through a landscape defined not by fixed highlights but by seasonal change. Early voyages coincide with penguin courtship and nesting; high summer brings the intensity of the hatching season; and by February and March, whale activity reshapes the experience once again. Antarctica reveals itself differently over time, and the structure of these voyages reflects that fluidity.

The ships underpinning this approach are designed accordingly. Hybrid-powered vessels such as MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen are built to reduce environmental impact while also functioning as spaces for interpretation and research. MS Fram has a fresh new look, with upgraded cabins and a state-of-the-art Science Centre, and MS Spitsbergen is a modern and environmentally progressive ship, ideal for exploring off-the-beaten-track. Away from the polar regions, when exploring the Galápagos Islands, the MS Santa Cruz II offers a relaxed atmosphere in high-quality surroundings. The small size, with a guest capacity of 90, creates a friendly, informal yet high-end environment. 

Onboard Science Centre's, Expedition Teams and visiting researchers position the journey as something more participatory than observational. The traditional framework remains, departures via Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, the Drake Passage crossing, but once within Antarctic waters, or Sun-Antarctica around Falklands and South Georgia itineraries, the rigidity dissolves. Landings depend on ice and weather, routes adapt, and the experience is shaped in real time.

What sets HX apart, and what makes its arrival within the ExplorEarth community particularly relevant, is this emphasis on engagement. Expedition travel here is not framed solely as access to a remote place, but as a way of interacting with it. Guests are not positioned at a distance, but drawn into a broader system that includes science, conservation and interpretation.

HX Expeditions has also expanded its pioneering partnership with the University of Tasmania beyond Antarctica, launching a new series of Kay Fochtmann / HX designed to deepen guests’ understanding of the polar regions. Building on its award-winning Antarctica courses, the initiative combines expert-led online learning, scientific insight, and immersive expedition travel to turn voyages into meaningful educational experiences focused on sustainability, conservation, and polar research.

The arrival of HX Expeditions as a new approved partner reflects more than the addition of another established expedition operator. With a heritage dating back to 1896, HX brings decades of polar expertise and operational experience across some of the world’s most remote regions. Yet what makes the brand particularly significant today is its forward-looking approach to expedition travel, one shaped as much by science, education and mindful travel as exploration itself.

From hybrid-powered ships and onboard Science Centres to partnerships with researchers and universities, HX shows the sector evolving: from expedition cruising as simple access to travel with greater depth, understanding, and purpose. For travellers seeking meaningful exploration and expert guidance, HX combines the heritage of classic expedition travel with the industry's forward direction.