Hurtigruten Expeditions Ships Ranked & Compared

HX cruises take you to some of the most remote places on Earth.

Think Antarctica. The Arctic. The Norwegian fjords.

But when the scenery fades and you’re back onboard… what are the ships actually like?

Are they packed with things to do, or is everything focused on the destination?

Because with expedition cruising, the ship experience is very different.

So which HX ships stand out… and which one is right for you?

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.

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.

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 Name	Type	Gross Tonnage	Length	Decks	Guest Capacity	Crew Capacity
MS Fridtjof Nansen	HX	20,889 GT	140 m	9	528	150
MS Roald Amundsen	HX	20,889 GT	140 m	9	528	150
MS Fram	HX	11,647 GT	114 m	7	250	75
MS Spitsbergen	HX	7,334 GT	100 m	6	180	65
MS Santa Cruz II	HX	2,664 GT	72 m	5	90	50

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.

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 Name	Type	Year Built	Year Joined HX	Last Refurbished
MS Fridtjof Nansen	HX	2020	2020	N/A
MS Roald Amundsen	HX	2019	2019	N/A
MS Spitsbergen	HX	2009	2009	2025
MS Fram	HX	2007	2007	2025
MS Santa Cruz II	HX	2002	N/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.

HX Ships Sailing 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.

The Currency Used Onboard

On HX cruises, everything onboard is largely cashless. The Norwegian Krone is used as the base currency, but in reality, you’ll pay for anything extra using your card.

All major cards, including Visa, MasterCard and American Express, are accepted, so you won’t need to worry about carrying cash on the ship.

That said, it’s still a good idea to have some local currency for your ports of call. Many of the destinations HX visits are remote, and smaller shops or local vendors may not accept 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.

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

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.

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.

Related Posts:

• 5 Best Expedition Cruise Lines
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• New Cruise Ships That Launched in 2024