Hurtigruten Expeditions (HX) Ships Compared

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While Hurtigruten Expeditions (HX) isn’t one of the most famous ocean cruise lines, its cruises are still very popular thanks to the incredible range of discovery voyages.

Hurtigruten Ship MS Fridtjof Nansen

Whether it’s the beauty of the Norwegian Fjords, or the incredible sights of Antarctica, an HX cruise can get you closer than ever – but how good are the ships? Do they offer plenty to see and do during the times at sea, or are these cruises purely about the destination?

Let’s find out by taking a closer look at all of HX’s cruise ships…

HX ships

There are currently five ships in the HX fleet. It’s important to clarify things a little about the brand here though.

There used to be one company, Hurtigruten, which offered a mix of coastal Norway cruises and global expedition sailings.

But that changed in 2023 and the company split. Now, the expeditions arm is its own entity, called Hurtigruten Expeditions, or HX.

MS Spitsbergen sailing in Northern Lights, Norway

There are five ships in this fleet, but the old Hurtigruten brand still exists too, with several more ships offering Norwegian coastal sailings.

HX ships by size

Compared to many other ocean cruise lines, HX ships are not big at all. The biggest ships sailing for the cruise line have a gross tonnage of less than 10% of that of the world’s largest cruise ships, while the ship with the highest guest capacity can hold just 528 passengers.

Hurtigruten MS Trollfjord

HX is not a cruise line that is going to be breaking records for the biggest ships in the world. That is not their focus at all. Instead, they look to sail to destinations those larger ships can’t reach – hence the smaller size.

Here’s a look at every HX ship sailing for the cruise line, listed from biggest to smallest by gross tonnage (a measure of internal volume).

Ship NameTypeGross TonnageLengthDecksGuest CapacityCrew Capacity
MS Fridtjof NansenHX20,889 GT140 m9528150
MS Roald AmundsenHX20,889 GT140 m9528150
MS FramHX11,647 GT114 m725075
MS SpitsbergenHX7,334 GT100 m618065
MS Santa Cruz IIHX2,664 GT72 m59050

The smallest ships in the HX fleet are absolutely tiny when you compare them with many of the largest ships sailing for cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, MSC and Carnival. They offer a completely different experience. With as few as 90 guests during your voyage you could get to know everyone on board.

HX ships by age

The newest ship sailing for HX is the MS Fridtjof Nansen, an Expedition ship that was built for the cruise line in 2020. She is the sister ship to the MS Roald Amundsen, a ship that launched a year earlier in 2019.

Hurtigruten ship

The age of the HX fleet varies, but the cruise line has worked to make sure that all ships are refurbished to modern standards. While some of the ships may be old, they do offer a range of modern comforts.

Here’s a look at all the HX cruise ships from newest to oldest:

Ship NameTypeYear BuiltYear Joined HXLast Refurbished
MS Fridtjof NansenHX20202020N/A
MS Roald AmundsenHX20192019N/A
MS SpitsbergenHX200920092025
MS FramHX200720072025
MS Santa Cruz IIHX2002N/A*2019

HX cruise itineraries

HX ships depart from a number of different ports, depending on their destination.

There are cruises that depart from the picturesque town of Longyearbyen to Iceland, while Panama Canal cruises often depart from Colon.

Cruises to Antarctica sail from Chile or Argentina, while itineraries around the north-east coast of North America often depart from Halifax. There are plenty of choices when it comes to Expedition cruises.

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Do HX Ships Sail From the UK?

Some HX cruise itineraries depart from ports in the UK, with cruises in the past departing from Liverpool, Glasgow, Portsmouth and Dover. Cruises from Liverpool, Glasgow and Portsmouth tend to be UK exploration cruises.

If you don’t like flying but want to try a taste of the HX cruise experience, then a cruise around the UK might be ideal – you’ll have the chance to visit cities that you may never have experienced and learn a huge amount about their history and cultural relevance.

Life onboard HX cruise ships

Now we know how big and how old the HX ships are, what’s life like when you’re sailing on board? Here’s a guide to some of the most important info you’ll need.

A few ships have Suites with balconies, while the MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Roald Amundsen have Balcony Cabins as well as Suites with balconies.

MS Roald Amundsen Suite

The currency used onboard

The official currency of a HX cruise is the Norwegian Kroner, although most major currencies including British Pound Sterling and US Dollars can be exchanged on board. Visa, MasterCard and American Express cards are accepted, too.

If you’re sailing on an HX cruise, remember that you might need to carry local currency for your destination ports too – especially as some of the smaller, more unique destinations may not accept credit cards.

HX drinks prices

Almost all of your drinks are included in your fare when you cruise with HX – it’s just the premium drinks such as your champagnes or top spirits that might have an additional cost.

So you don’t need to worry about drinks prices when you’re onboard – that cocktail in the lounge, or the glass of wine by the pool, or even just the coffee or soda during the day – it’s all covered by your fare.

Restaurant Lindstrøm - MS Midnatsol

HX gratuities

Gratuities are included on an HX cruise. It used to be that they weren’t, but now that the cruise line is all-inclusive, there’s no extra charges added to your bill for tips. You can still tip extra if you want to.

HX WiFi

WiFi is available on HX ships, and it’s included at no extra cost too – something you won’t tend to get with other cruise lines! It’s Starlink too, so a pretty good connection speed.

Because the ships often sail to destinations away from major cities and ports, a regular WiFi signal can’t be guaranteed. It’s a good idea to approach an HX cruise as a chance to switch off for a while, since you may find that you don’t have a good internet signal for much of the voyage.

HX gyms

hurtigruten ship wellness gym

Despite being smaller vessels designed for destination cruises, HX ships have a gym of some kind. Some of the gyms are quite small, and guests may need to wait their turn to use their preferred machines.

The best gyms are those features on the MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Roald Amundsen, the newest ships in the fleet. These are panoramic rooms with amazing views, the perfect place to keep fit and healthy with breath-taking scenery to entertain you.

And the best ship(s)…

Currently, the best HX ships are the two newest – the MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Roald Amundsen. They’re the newest in the fleet and offer some beautifully-appointed facilities, including great accommodation choices and plenty to see and do during your voyage.

Hurtigruten MS Roald Amundsen

However, the refurbishment of some of the ships, including MS Fram and MS Spitsbergen, may give them a run for their money, with a complete makeover for some of the accommodations and public areas to bring them right up to modern standards.

To conclude

Cruising with HX feels quite unique when compared to many of the other ocean cruise lines.

Alongside the fantastic all-inclusive service, you’ll enjoy a holiday of mental enrichment – the chance to visit unique destinations and be educated on them by HX exceptionally knowledgeable crew.

Just don’t expect ships to be packed with things to entertain you – there are some facilities, but you have to approach an HX cruise as one where you can escape the excitement of modern life and embrace the sense of adventure.

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Cruise Mummy

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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