HX: Hurtigruten's expedition arm, and one ship that belongs to somebody else

The fleet heads for Antarctica, the Arctic, Greenland and the Galápagos. The number of departures currently on sale is shown at the top of this page. MS Fridtjof Nansen, MS Roald Amundsen and MS Spitsbergen and MS Fram share the calendar.

HX and Hurtigruten, two houses now separate

HX is the former expedition business of the same group. Operational separation in January 2021, renaming in September 2023, sale confirmed in late November 2024 and closed in early 2025; the head office moved from Oslo to London. Hurtigruten runs the Norwegian coastal line, HX sails for the polar regions and the Galápagos. The fleet counted six ships at the renaming and now counts five: the sixth went back to Hurtigruten in 2024 and took back her original name, MS Finnmarken, in 2025.

MS Santa Cruz II does not belong to HX

She belongs to Metropolitan Touring, an Ecuadorian owner; she flies the Ecuadorian flag and her home port is Guayaquil. HX has chartered her since June 2021, with a first departure under its colours on 5 January 2022, and the charter was extended to 2029 in an announcement of 8 December 2025. The owner sells the same ship under its own brand, with its own itineraries: same cabins, same guides, two signs. In the Galápagos that is the market norm, not an anomaly — but a client who finds out after booking will wonder why nobody said so.

And with us, she appears twice

Santa Cruz II carries no dates under the HX brand on our calendar, while carrying some under Tauck's: it is one and the same ship, listed twice. That is a fault on our side and it has been flagged for correction.

What the fare covers: three answers, none settled

The line describes its inclusions three incompatible ways on its own site. A commercial announcement of March 2024 promises all-inclusive. The ship pages announce excursions, meals, gratuities and drinks, followed by an asterisk whose note appears on no page. Its own FAQ reserves gratuities for suite guests and describes most excursions as optional. We describe all three versions rather than choose one, and we tell you to have what your exact departure covers confirmed in writing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The fleet is made of expedition ships heading for Antarctica, the Arctic, Greenland and the Galápagos. Santa Cruz II, in the Galápagos, is chartered and belongs to an Ecuadorian owner. The number of departures currently on sale is shown at the top of this page.
HX is the former expedition business of the same group. Operational separation in January 2021, renaming in September 2023, sale confirmed in late November 2024 and closed in early 2025; the head office moved from Oslo to London. Hurtigruten runs the Norwegian coastal line, HX sails for the polar regions and the Galápagos. Two products, two catalogues.
Yes. It counted six ships at the time of the renaming and now counts five: the sixth went back to Hurtigruten in 2024 and took back her original name, MS Finnmarken, in 2025.
No, and that is worth knowing. She belongs to Metropolitan Touring, an Ecuadorian owner; she flies the Ecuadorian flag and her home port is Guayaquil. HX has chartered her since June 2021, with a first departure under its colours on 5 January 2022, and the charter was extended to 2029 in an announcement of 8 December 2025.
No, but you should know it before comparing. The owner sells the same ship under its own brand, with its own itineraries: same cabins, same guides, two signs. In the Galápagos that is the market norm — nearly all ships there are operated by Ecuadorian companies — but a client who finds out after booking will wonder why nobody said so.
The line describes it three incompatible ways on its own site, and we will not decide in its place. A commercial announcement of March 2024 promises all-inclusive; the ship pages announce excursions, meals, gratuities and drinks, followed by an asterisk whose note appears on no page; its own FAQ reserves gratuities for suite guests and describes most excursions as optional. Have what your departure covers confirmed in writing.
No: MS Santa Cruz II carries no departure under the HX sign on our calendar, while carrying some under Tauck's. It is the same ship, entered twice in our inventory. We have flagged it for correction.
Yes. This page shows the departures we carry online, and our inventory does not always cover the line's full catalogue. Call us with the date and destination you found: in most cases we can book it for you.
It depends on the departure and the market, not on the line. If French matters to you, say so before booking: it is checked departure by departure.
On small fleets and expedition ships, yes: few cabins, and the best go early. Talk cancellation terms through with your advisor before you decide.
Your agency, and it alone. Voyages AquaTerra operates under a licence from Quebec's Office de la protection du consommateur, your payments pass through a trust account, and the compensation fund for travel agency clients covers your departure. That holds whichever line you choose.