MS Spitsbergen has her own onboard Expedition Team which serves as a university at sea. Interesting lectures inside the ship as well as out on the sun deck make cruising with her an exciting and educational journey. Topics depend on the season and the waters in which we sail. The Expedition Team hosts a lecture programme and evening gatherings daily. Out on deck, you can participate in live points of interest to learn more about the nature, culture and other phenomena we encounter along the coast. In addition, the Expedition Team will introduce you to the uniquely Norwegian notion of 'friluftsliv' (outdoor life), and encourage you take part in 'friluftsliv' hikes and activities throughout the cruise.
 

Your floating home
You’ll find a variety of stimulating and relaxing places aboard MS Spitsbergen, where you’ll quickly feel at home. It’s casual and comfortable, yet stylish and inspiring, with a fresh, Scandinavian chic.

• Interior and Cabins
  After complete reconstruction, MS Spitsbergen joined the Hurtigruten fleet in 2016. The ship features high technical standards as well as comfortable, modern public areas and cabins. The vessel's fresh Scandinavian design reflects a colour palette derived from the sea.

• Expedition Suites
  The best accommodation on our expedition ships. Spacious, private, and with wide windows to watch the world drift by, suites are comfortable and calm havens at sea. Selected suites also offer a private balcony for added luxury.

• Explorer Lounge & Bar
  The Explorer Lounge offer large panoramic windows with ample and comfortable seats. There will be binoculars for sale in the onboard shop. And the Explorer Bar, also hosting daily multimedia presentations and professional lectures by expert scientists and wildlife experts.

• Science Center
  This is the core of the onboard experience. The Science Center is packed with state-of-the-art technology and high-tech gadgets such as touch screens and science equipment. This is where guests and staff/crew meet, mingle, and create a deeper understanding of the areas you explore.

  The flexible venue features lecture spaces, a small library, and speciality areas for workshops in photography, biology, and more. This is also where you'll find HX’ hand picked Expedition Team.
   

Superb local cuisine
Get ready for an expedition cruise that will delight all your senses. Our chefs are dedicated to delivering a world-class gastronomic experience that draws inspiration from the places we’ll visit.

• Restaurant Aune
  On board, we serve a delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all in accordance with your daily program. Mealtimes will be announced in the daily program.

• Takeaway
  You are welcome to enjoy an Aune meal in your cabin.
   

Energize and relax
Whether you want to get your pulse racing or calm it down and feel each breath, your ship has everything you need. From intense exercise to deep relaxation, you’ll find just what the day requires for your mind and body.

• Sauna and Relaxation
  On top of the ship you can get warm and cosy in the sauna.

• Fitness Room
  A small Fitness Room is located aft. This is a modern gym, equipped with treadmills, exercise bikes, a rowing machine, a ping pong table, free weights. Gym's back door leads out onto Pool Deck.

• Hot Tub
  For a nice relaxing time our two hot tubs with capacity for 5 guests each. Located on the Expedition deck are ideal.

An HX trip includes everything from daily excursions and activities to our onboard Science Center, meals, gratuities, drinks, and more. ​ All designed to give you the expedition experience of a lifetime.

Your all-inclusive includes...

Breakfast, lunch and dinner, every day
With a huge range of options, you can indulge in nearly anything your appetite desires. Start the day with an impressive buffet breakfast before moving on to a mouth-watering menu of à la carte choices later in the day. Of course, that includes house wine and beer and soft drinks.

A warm welcome to the sauna, hot tubs and more
Make some time to relax in your ship's onboard sauna and hot tubs -- they really make returning from the day's adventures that much more rewarding!

Delicious coffee, tea, and soft drinks all day
Choose from a variety of hot and cold drinks, from a caffeine boost in the morning to a sugar rush after lunch. Refill stations for your OceanBottle are located throughout the ship, keeping you hydrated without using any single-use plastics.

All-inclusive drinks
Enjoy a glass of wine or beer at the Pool Bar before dinner. Or unwind in the evening with a cocktail in the Explorer Lounge. Whatever you’re in the mood for and whenever you like, drinks are available throughout the day and evening at no additional cost (excluding premium drinks).

Gratuities included
Fantastic service is standard at HX Expeditions, and we’ll never add discretionary charges onto your bill. If you’d like to leave something extra, it’s always appreciated.

Experience the all-inclusive that sets us apart

Daily expeditions and activities
Handpicked experts from a range of fields will lead you on discoveries each day, whether on shore or on board. Join our Expedition Team on hikes, community visits, and small boat trips before heading back to the ship and hearing fascinating talks in the lecture hall, as well as your briefing on the next day’s schedule. Optional premium activities like kayaking are available to guests for an extra fee, depending on the destination.

Expedition gear and water bottle – yours to take home
All guests receive a polar expedition jacket, a backpack, or another piece of HX exploration kit for the area you're exploring. And as the first cruise brand to ban single use plastics, all guests receive a complimentary water bottle to refill on board and take home.

Professional photos of your trip from our onboard photographer​
Every expedition is the trip of a lifetime, and we have a professional onboard photographer on each ship who’ll capture stunning images from your voyage. You will receive these as a beautiful digital album after you’ve returned home as part of your HX Expedition Logbook.

Wi-Fi at no extra cost​
We offer Starlink Wi-Fi on all our ships (if only the Norwegian explorers who founded HX in 1896 could see us now). Be aware that we often sail in remote areas with limited connection and streaming isn’t supported.

Full access to our Science Center
Often described by guests as “the heart of an HX ship,” our interactive science program is like nothing you'll find elsewhere. Join our onboard scientists, hear from experts, collect samples, and get involved in our citizen science projects. Spot something new with fellow birders or spend time studying what we find under the microscope.

Exploring our blue planet for more than a century has taught us the importance of sustainability efforts.
 

Meaningful Change
As a result, we are now supporting 41 environmental, cultural and social projects in 11 different countries. These range from helping endangered orcas in the Pacific Northwest and protecting Galápagos seabirds, to securing safe spaces for vulnerable Greenlandic children and enabling community storytelling for the Itquamavit elders in Canada’s frozen north. We hope that the ripples we create today will one day turn into the waves of the future.
 

Saying goodbye to unnecessary single-use plastic
We announced our war on plastics in 2018 when we were the first expedition company to ban non-essential single-use plastic throughout our entire operation. That means items like plastic cups, plastic straws or plastic cutlery are banned from our ships. You also won’t see our shops selling microplastic-made fleeces but stocking natural wool clothing instead. Absent too are plastic water bottles. We provide all our guests on an expedition cruise with a complimentary high-quality reusable bottle for use at water refill stations dotted around the ship. This simple act saves at least 1,000 plastic bottles a day on some of our larger ships.
 

Inspiring Environmental Ambassadors
Witnessing the beauty of our planet is sure to leave a lasting impression on you, and you’ll talk enthusiastically about these stunning destinations with friends and family for decades to come. To make sure you can speak informatively when you return home, every one of our expedition cruises has a focus on the environment. The Expedition Team give lectures that raise awareness of climate change, ocean plastic, and the measures we can all take to help ease these issues. It is our hope that engaging with nature on our expedition cruises will inspire you to do all you can to cherish and protect the precious world we all share.
 

Connecting With Communities
We are dedicated to supporting the local communities we visit, and to creating beneficial ripple effects that continue long after we’ve left. By trading locally and sourcing services such as food produce and excursions from local suppliers, we contribute to the livelihood and welfare of people. We strive not only to connect with these communities, but to share genuine friendship with them while always respecting their values and customs. As guests in their home, our emphasis is on appreciating their unique culture and ensuring our interactions are positive and upbuilding for all. You can therefore enjoy authentic experiences knowing your visit is doing good, both for you and for them.
 

A Footprint We’re Proud Of
You’ll likely encounter a range of wildlife during your expedition, doing so from a safe distance. We’ll be sure to never get too close to them, out of respect for their welfare as much as yours. By not disturbing wildlife with our presence, you’ll be able to observe their natural behaviour, in their natural habitat. We want to leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but pictures!