It’s a blustery dawn in Tromsø, Norway, and the air hums with anticipation as HX Cruise’s MS Fridtjof Nansen prepares to slip its moorings. The passengers, an eclectic patchwork of retirees, young families, and solo adventurer, gather on deck, mugs steaming and cameras poised, as the sun breaks over snow-dusted peaks. They’re here for a journey that promises both adventure and purpose.
Founded in 1896, HX is hardly your typical cruise company. Headquartered in London yet with a distinctly global flavour, its fleet of five sleek ships navigates more than 250 destinations across 30 countries. But what sets HX apart is the ice fields of Antarctica to the wild, windswept fjords of Svalbard and its philosophy that guides every voyage.
“We want guests to fall in love with the world,” says expedition leader Emma Johnson, “and to return home as stewards for the places they’ve visited.” Onboard, travellers can expect more than wildlife sightings and glacier vistas. HX’s pole-to-pole itineraries are woven with sustainability and education. The company was the first in the industry to abandon heavy fuel oils, ban single-use plastics, and launch hybrid-powered cruise ships. The result? A lighter footprint in some of the world’s most pristine and vulnerable environments.
But HX’s commitment runs deeper than its carbon emissions. Each sailing donates free cruise nights to scientists studying everything from penguin populations to microplastics, turning the ships into floating research stations. The HX Foundation, meanwhile, directs grants to frontline community projects in marine conservation and education, ensuring the company’s impact ripples far beyond the water’s edge.
Evenings onboard are spent recapping the day’s discoveries: perhaps a zodiac landing on a remote Antarctic shore, or a lecture on Arctic ecosystems by one of the resident researchers. There’s a palpable sense of camaraderie and a shared belief among guests that travel, when done right, can transform both people and planet.
As the ship navigates the icy waters, the valuable scientific work that is done during the trips is also safeguarding Antartica for future generations. And that, in the end, may be the greatest adventure of all.