Exploring the World with HX Expeditions
Last week, we boarded the MS Fridtjof Nansen, HX Expeditions’ hybrid-powered ship, docked at Pier 66. The vessel was being readied for its first Antarctic voyage of the season, and for a few hours we had the chance to explore the ship and sample its culinary program. What we found was a seasoned crew blending science, sustainability, and culture into a travel experience that stands apart from your average cruise outing.
A Legacy with a Mission
For 130 years, HX has been guiding travelers on ships headed to the edges of the earth long before “expedition cruising” was a buzzword. Today its five modern vessels sail to more than 250 destinations across 30 countries. With 490 cabins, the Fridtjof Nansen hits the perfect balance of having enough space for comfort, yet small enough to feel personal and built for exploration.
The company has staked its reputation on responsible travel. It launched the world’s first hybrid-powered cruise ships in 2019 and 2020, reducing emissions in fragile polar regions. HX also eliminated heavy fuel oils, banned single-use plastics, and supports marine conservation projects through the HX Foundation. During our tour, sustainability came up not as a side note but as a constant thread, from waste management systems to the very design of the ship, and the crew lives it every day.
A Floating Science Center
Onboard, science comes alive through various hands-on educational opportunities. Guests hop into small boats and join citizen science projects to collect water samples, lower instruments into icy seas, and haul them back to the ship to see results on big screens and under microscopes. These projects feed real-time data into global research databases, while travelers get to participate in meaningful work firsthand.
HX donates more than 1,900 cruise nights each year to researchers, keeping a steady stream of data flowing. University partnerships bring glaciologists, ornithologists, and marine biologists onboard. On deck, lectures by scientific experts flow seamlessly into wildlife sightings as whales breach nearby and seabirds swoop overhead.
A Culinary Journey
Our press luncheon highlighted another side of life aboard the ship: the food. We started with the Arctic Mosaic, a delicate langoustine tartare paired with pickled lingonberries that added a bright, crisp contrast to the buttery seafood. Next came Fjord Embrace, a silky potato and fennel soup accented with a smoky scallop and a whisper of aquavit. For the main course, we chose the Rack of Lamb with tender charred cabbage and savory jus. The other main was an Arctic Ocean Cod with a silky roe emulsion and earthy celeriac. For those looking for a vegetarian option, fire-roasted carrots with nutty juniper-smoked barley and a crunchy hazelnut crumble was served. The meal ended with the Aurora Pear, a poached pear infused with gin and grenadine, paired with a fragrant pear-thyme compote, cocoa crumble, and luxuriously creamy brown butter ice cream.
The meal reflected the broader dining program. Guests rotate through themed dinners at Restaurant Fredheim, each one highlighting a different culinary tradition. The Filipino menu draws on the heritage of crew members, who make up nearly 70 percent of the fleet. Tuna ceviche with coconut cream, tamarind prawn bisque, crispy pork belly adobo, and a playful turon mille-feuille with banana custard and salted caramel ice cream all bring the flavors to life.
Other menus spotlight South America with empanadas and Argentine asado, Tuscany with rustic soups and zabaglione, and India with samosas, thali platters, and saffron-rose desserts. Together, they reflect the diversity of both crew and destinations HX visits.
Comfort Between Adventures
Touring the ship revealed how HX balances rugged expeditions with comfort. In the gear staging areas, kayaks, dry suits, and camping gear were neatly lined up, ready for overnight stays on the Antarctic ice. We stepped into the wellness facilities, including a spa for those needed messages, shared saunas and whirlpools designed to restore warmth after a day on the ice. The aft deck pool sparkled in the Seattle sun and looked like the perfect reward after a day among glaciers.
We toured a suite with a private balcony and a private outdoor hot tub, an indulgent retreat after a day of adventure. Even standard cabins have large windows or balconies so every guest wakes to spectacular views. With three restaurants, libraries, lecture halls, and an outdoor gym and running track on the top (you won’t believe the views), the ship keeps downtime just as engaging as excursions.
Beyond the Southern Ocean
Antarctica was the ultimate destination for this ship, but the XH fleet sails to more than 250 destinations across 30 countries. Travelers can explore the Galápagos, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, South America, Europe, the British Isles, Alaska, Svalbard, and the Northwest Passage.
Boarding the Fridtjof Nansen feels less like stepping onto a cruise ship and more like joining a floating research station designed for exploration, albeit a very luxe one. It’s clear with HX Expeditions you’re in for the journey, not just along for the ride.
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