You’ve heard the term “EXPEDITION CRUISE”, which is an unfortunate way to describe what is really just a small ship cruise to more remote destinations. Fewer shopping malls, and more walks in nature, zodiac rides, wildlife encounters, and discussions with experts on your ship.
An EXPEDITION cruise is quite simply the next evolution for those that have been seemingly everywhere. HX will take you to where few others travel – away from the crowds.
HX has been helping people explore the most remote regions on the planet since 1896. Their philosophy? Curious travelers, mindful adventures, and getting closer to the REAL destination. They operate in Antarctica, the Galapagos, Norway, Alaska, Greenland, and the Canadian Arctic.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT WITH HX:
- No casinos, night-clubs, Broadway shows or formal nights. INSTEAD you’ll find:
- Lectures conducted by experts in their field, and citizen science projects.
- Scientists, naturalists, and historians to help you understand what you’re experiencing.
- A Safari at Sea: like an African safari but HX conducts its expeditions by ship and zodiac.
- It’s a balanced blend of SCIENCE, NATURE, WILDLIFE, and CULTURE.
A TYPICAL DAY on an HX DISCOVERY CRUISE:
- ON the vessel: Lectures, light entertainment, and the opportunity to participate in science projects. If that becomes tiring: heated pools, hot tubs and panoramic lounges
- OFF the vessel: Wildlife sightings, zodiac rides, guided walks, sea kayaking, and other light-adventure activities designed to get you as close to the destination as possible.
REQUIREMENTS TO ENJOY AN EXPEDITION CRUISE:
- You DON’T need to be an elite athlete. The primary criteria is curiosity about the world.
- You should be able to easily walk up two flights of stairs.
- If you can get in and out of a bathtub unassisted, that roughly approximates getting in and out of kayaks or zodiacs.
- Being older is an ADVANTAGE for expedition cruising. You are probably more able to truly appreciate such a unique experience, and many expedition cruises are somewhat longer in duration, making it more challenging for those managing jobs and/or kids.
HX occupies a market-space between the luxury cruise lines, and the hard-core adventure outfitters. HX ships are comfortable and thoughtfully designed with great food and service.
Just because you’re far away from civilization, doesn’t mean you should travel in an uncivilized manner!
UNPACKED – Our Podcast
In this episode of UNPACKED, Kim and Bob explore the evolving world of HX Expedition Cruises — who they are, where they travel, and what makes their approach to expedition cruising distinct.
In Case You Missed It:
GREENLAND: Even before it was in the news every night, GREENLAND was an emerging destination. Here’s some reasons you might want to have it on your radar:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/greenland-add-it-to-your-bucket-list/
BUYING A CRUISE… THE FINE PRINT. Here’s a simplified version of some terms of reference for the next time you consider torturing yourself by reading the fine print on your cruise vacation:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/the-fine-print-on-your-cruise/
WHAT WE DO ON VACATION: You’ve asked, so here’s a little window into HOW we travel:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/how-we-travel-on-vacation/
Featured YOUTUBE Video:
DEMYSTIFYING EXPEDITION: If you think you need to be an Olympic athlete to enjoy an expedition cruise, then you’ll want to watch this interview where Bob chats with Alex McNeil – the Chief Expedition Officer for HX Expeditions. You might be surprised who goes on Expedition Cruises:
Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel while you’re there. It really helps us, and we can produce more content for you!
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Today’s Travel Opportunities
REMOTE EXPLORATIONS with HX
Here are some examples of some of the remote corners that HX can take you to:
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS and Quito for 9-days
- 2-nights in Quito, then fly to Galapagos (included in fare) for 6 nights. Visit Mosquera Inlet, Santa Fe, South Plaza, Santa Cruz, Charles Darwin Research Station in Port Ayora, Espanola Island, Eden Islet.
- 2026: February through December from $6652
- 2027: January through December from $7050
- See our video blog from when we did this trip: https://youtu.be/3F38Km2EEjQ
Outdoor ALASKA: Vancouver to Anchorage for 10-days
- You’ve been to ALASKA, but not like this. If you prefer a nature walk, or sea kayaking to the souvenir shops on the pier, this is the right choice for you. This is also a great way to check out an Expedition Cruise, not too far from home.
- Depart Vancouver, sail the Inside Passage, then to Misty Fjords, Klawock, Fjords of the Alaskan panhandle, Icy Strait Point, Glacier Bay, Valdez, Prince William Sound, and then on to Anchorage
- 2026: Departures May through July from $4521
- 2027: Departures May through July from $5299
ANTARCTICA round-trip from Buenos Aires for 12-days, with 5-days of landings
- Includes flights to/from Ushuaia (from BA) to board the ship.
- Start with an included flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, and embark your hybrid electric-powered expedition ship. Cross the Drake Passage and enjoy 5 days of scheduled landings in Antarctica before returning to Ushuaia followed by a flight back to Buenos Aires.
- Departures October 2026 through March 2027 from $10,019
NORTHERN LIGHTS in NORWAY
- Round-trip from Tromso, for 8-days with 5 stops on Norwegian Coast
- Northern lights PROMISE. If you DON’T see the Aurora Borealis on this journey HX will offer credit towards another cruise.
- 2026: Depart February, March, November, or December from $4233
- 2027: Depart January through March from $4666
NORTHWEST PASSAGE from Seattle to Reykjavik departing August 10, 2026 for 26-days
- Start in Seattle, then fly to Nome (included), sail around Alaska, and up the Bering Strait, enter the NW Passage, and follow the trail of intrepid explorers across Canada’s Northern Coast, spotting wildlife, and stopping at remote indigenous communities en route. Spend your last week aboard making port stops in Greenland, before disembarking in Nuuk, and flying to Reykjavik (included).
- Fares from $23,436
GREENLAND & NEWFOUNDLAND from Reykjavik to St. John’s for 18-days
- Start in Reykjavik, and then visit 2 ports in Greenland, before travelling down the Labrador coast to Newfoundland, and finish in St. John’s, from where it’s a quick flight back to the US Northeast.
- 2026: Depart September 20 from $10,809
VIDEO RESOURCES FOR HX:
SHIP TOUR VIDEO of Roald Amundsen – the world’s FIRST hybrid electric cruise ship. We were on board in Alaska:
Tour of the MS Roald Amundsen – YouTube
ANTARCTICA: There’s lots of ways to visit the seventh continent. Here some information on MY trip there a few years ago:
DEMYSTIFYING EXPEDITION. What’s it like? What types of people go? Is it right for you?: https://youtu.be/niB-OWhUSSs
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS: Here’s an itinerary we made after our trip there:
GALAPAGOS SNORKELING: This is what the Galapagos Islands look like UNDER the water:
SEA CLOUD Salt Water River Cruises
If a remote trip to the polar regions sounds interesting, but you prefer warmer water, then look at Sea Cloud. With a maximum of 136 guests, you’re going to get to the more remote places in regions you’ve already been to (like the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean), and experience it completely differently.
MEDITERRANEAN: Malta to Athens departing June 25 for 8-nights
- Start in the exotic Valletta, Malta to board your ship, and then travel to Syracuse and Taormina (both in Sicily), before sailing eastward to visit 4 different small (and rarely visited) island ports in Greece before finishing in Athens.
- Fares from $7195
ABC ISLANDS: Curacao to Panama City departing February 9, 2027 for 8-nights:
- Start in Curaçao and visit Bonaire, Aruba, Cartagena, San Blas Archipelago and end in Panama City.
- Fares from $4,795
UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER COLLECTION
Uniworld operates on all the rivers in Europe with custom-built ships that reflect the area through which they sail. Here are two itineraries with Uniworld OUTSIDE of Europe:
AMAZON Headwaters round-trip from Lima for 11-days
- 7 nights sailing on the Amazon and 3 nights in Lima.
- Your ship, the Aria Amazon, only holds 32 guests, and there are floor-to-ceiling windows in every suite, offering unparalleled views of this pristine part of the world.
- Have lunch with a family in Lima, visit a remote Amazon village, shop at a local market, take a skiff ride at night to view nocturnal creatures, visit local artisan and craft markets, and more.
- 2026: Depart December 2nd from $15,749
- 2027: Departures from $12,149
- ADD: Extension to Machu Picchu, Rio de Janeiro and Iguazu Falls
INDIA: Ganges River Cruise for 13-days between New Delhi and Kolkata
- If the other cruise lines are sold out in India, we can still find you space on UNIWORLD.
- Few countries simultaneously fascinate and frighten travellers as much as India, so visit it in comfort while still being exposed to the things that make this country so unique.
- Visit New Delhi, Jaipur, Agra (Taj Mahal), Kolkata, Cruise the Ganges, Kalna, Matairi, Murshidabad, Baranagar, Khusbagh,, Mayapur, Chandannagar.
- Includes 4 UNESCO World Heritage sites, and internal flights.
- 2026: Depart September – December from $7039
- 2027: Depart January – March from $7649
CRYSTAL CRUISES Small Ship Luxury
The Crystal ships were built for over 1000 guests, but they have retrofitted them to carry only 700. You’ll notice the extra space!
JAPAN: Hong Kong to Yokohama departing April 23, 2027 for 15-nights
- Start in Hong Kong and visit Xiamen, Shanghai, Busan, Hiroshima, Kyushu Island, Wakayama, Nagoya, and end in Yokohama (Tokyo).
- Fares from $9,900
ITALY, CROATIA & GREECE: Venice to Athens departing September 8 for 7-nights
- Start in Venice and visit Trieste, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Argostoli (Cephalonia), Monemvasia (Laconia) and end in Athens.
- Fares from $4,375
ROCKY MOUNTAINEER Luxury RAIL Journeys
The scenery in the Canadian Rockies is spectacular, and can be easily added on to ANY Alaskan cruise that starts or finishes in Vancouver. You’ll get to see world-class scenery and wildlife spotting, all while enjoying great food and wine. There are options between 3 and 12 nights. Here are two:
Rocky Mountain DUAL Crossing: Banff to Jasper for 5 Nights
- This is a great itinerary that is ONLY OFFERED in 2026 due to the FIFA event in Vancouver (and the shortage of hotels rooms there in June/July). You get to cross the Rockies by rail TWICE, and see both Banff and Jasper National Parks.
- Fly to Calgary, and then spend 2 nights in Banff. Board the train for the trip across the Rockies to Kamloops, and spend a night there. Get back on the train to travel a different route over the Rockies to spend two nights in Jasper NP. Fly home from Edmonton. The scenery doesn’t get much better than this.
- Departures in June and July from $4033.
Circle Journey: Vancouver round-trip for 12 -nights
- If you really want a comprehensive feel for the spectacular Canadian Rockies, this is the trip for you.
- Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff (3-nights), Lake Louise (2-nights), Jasper (2-nights), Quesnel, Whistler, Vancouver.
- Departures available April through October from $8528
TRAVELLING in SUMMER 2026? Be READY
FIFA WORLD CUP is the largest sporting event on the planet, and it’s coming to North America this summer. Even if you’re NOT a soccer fan, you SHOULD have this on your radar if you plan to travel (internationally or domestically) in June or July of 2026. Here’s why:
- AIR TRAVEL domestically, as well as to/from Canada and Mexico will be very busy.
- AIRPORTS: Even if you’re flying to Europe or Asia, domestic airports will be busy.
- HOTELS: If you’re trying to find lodging in a host city around game day, it will be tight.
- SECURITY: The security in airports and at venues will be enhanced, and slow everything down.
- SEATTLE & VANCOUVER: If you’re going to Alaska in June or July, book your hotel NOW. Both these cities are hosting multiple games.
- HOST CITIES:
- CANADA: Toronto, Vancouver
- MEXICO: Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey
- UNITED STATES: Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle
FIFA’s impact on travel to host cities is equal to travelling to an Olympic Games. Be prepared.
If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
