HX Expeditions has concluded a historic season that has brought thousands of passengers closer to the wildlife, landscapes, communities and science of the region through 31 Arctic expeditions.
The program has taken on special significance in the year HX celebrates its 130th anniversary. In 1896, its first voyage to Svalbard brought together passengers, scientists, and biologists interested in understanding the Arctic. Now, in 2026, HX has taken this initiative to a much larger scale, combining its extensive experience in polar regions with citizen science projects, university-supported educational programs, and hands-on actions across the region.
- 31 Arctic expeditions, which have welcomed thousands of passengers and have obtained an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 on Tripadvisor from 167 reviews.
- The highest number of HX suite bookings to date, reflecting strong demand for high-end expedition travel.
- 26,491 citizen science contributions through nine research programs.
- 363 scientific sessions on board auxiliary vessels, which have allowed passengers to participate directly in field research work.
- First test of artificial intelligence for whale detection in the Arctic within the expedition industry, aboard the MS Fram, to advance real-time monitoring of polar waters.
- 308.44 kilos of waste collected by passengers and team members during beach cleanups.
Science hasn't been an add-on to the season, but an integral part of the expedition itself. HX engages passengers in at least two citizen science projects on each trip, helping researchers gather observations in remote locations and giving travelers a deeper understanding of the environments they visit.
Throughout this Arctic program, passengers and expedition teams recorded data on wildlife, water clarity, cloud cover and aurora activity, supported by 363 dedicated scientific sessions on board auxiliary vessels.
The 26,491 contributions included 23,518 observations on iNaturalist, 1,286 records from ORCA, 1,183 contributions to eBird, 203 reports from NASA GLOBE Cloud Observer, 181 Secchi disk measurements, 73 contributions to Happywhale, 38 observations of harmful algal blooms, eight reports to Aurorasaurus, and one record on Marine Debris Tracker.
Another of HX's scientific milestones came through the AI WAVE (Whales and Arctic Vessels) project, an innovative collaboration between Heriot-Watt University and the marine monitoring company Seiche.
The partners installed a smart visual detection system aboard the MS Fram to conduct the expedition industry's first Arctic trial combining thermal imaging and artificial intelligence to detect whales in real time. The trial began during the MS Fram's from Dover to Svalbard and continued throughout the Arctic summer, collecting data around the archipelago.
Designed to identify whale blows and surface activity, the system combines thermal cameras, high-definition imaging, machine learning, and continuous monitoring.
The data collected will help train future AI-assisted species identification systems and automated alert systems. This could allow bridge crews to detect whales earlier and reduce the risk of disturbance and collisions for Arctic species such as the narwhal, beluga whale, and bowhead whale.
The project also serves as a model for how partners in the scientific, maritime, and technological fields can develop scalable tools to achieve safer and more sustainable operations in particularly sensitive waters.
Furthermore, the project has integrated live science into the passenger experience, using wildlife observation and onboard research to deepen our understanding of Arctic biodiversity. More broadly, WAVE demonstrates how AI-powered detection and cross-sector collaboration can help vessels of all types reduce environmental risks and improve marine mammal monitoring across the maritime industry.
The season has also expanded learning opportunities beyond the ship. HX's new free Svalbard course, developed in partnership with the University of Tasmania, uses expert-led modules to introduce passengers to the archipelago's wildlife, ecosystems, history, and the principles of responsible exploration before their voyage.
The course complements HX's existing Alaska training program and its award-winning Antarctic program. New content on the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, and the Northwest Passage is planned for 2027.
Along with the results of its Arctic season, HX has announced that its Greenland Promise will be extended until the end of the 2028 season.
Launched to offer greater security to passengers and travel agents when planning expeditions to Greenland, the program provides flexible options in the event that HX cancels a Greenland departure that meets the established requirements or that the Government of a passenger's home country advises against travel to the destination.
Passengers can choose to change their booking to another HX expedition and also receive a 20% credit for future cruises, or choose a full refund.
This extension continues the protection already offered for expeditions in 2026 and 2027 and now provides the same guarantee to passengers planning trips to Greenland through 2028. Terms and conditions apply, and further details will be published soon on Travelhx.com.
Dr. Verena Meraldi, Chief Scientific Officer of HX, concluded: “Science is one of the most powerful ways to make a trip to the Arctic an experience that continues to resonate long after passengers have returned home. From 26,491 citizen science contributions to the first-ever Arctic trial using artificial intelligence and thermal imaging to detect whales, this season demonstrates what is possible when operators, research and educational institutions, technology partners, and passengers truly work together.”.
"It's about traveling with a purpose. As the region's largest expedition cruise operator, we have a responsibility to combine our scale and years of experience with meaningful engagement to achieve a deeper understanding of how we can protect the Arctic for the future.".
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