by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 11:10 AM ET, Wed April 2, 2025
HX (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions) is celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2026 with offers, activities and other festive moments throughout the year.
Travelers who book starting today will also have a chance to upgrade their cabins on 2026 voyages. For new bookings made through June 30, guests can upgrade to a suite for the price of an Arctic superior cabin.
“We’re incredibly excited to mark 130 years of polar exploration,” says Gebhard Rainer, chief executive officer of HX. “This is not just a celebration of our past, but also of our future. In 2026, we’re offering our guests something totally unique—a chance to be part of history and experience limited-edition moments that will last a lifetime. It’s a year of celebration, and we’re thrilled to have our guests with us as we continue our journey forward.”
Guests who sail with HX in 2026 will be able to enjoy culinary surprises, special science lectures and a 130th anniversary cocktail. Travelers will also receive a limited-edition 130th anniversary badge that commemorates the company’s first expedition voyage in 1896 between Hammerfest and Spitsbergen in Svalbard.
Magnus Winvold, who was named HX's official 130th anniversary historian and storyteller, will also be joining select voyages to give talks about the company’s history and legacy in polar exploration.
Other anniversary offerings include a limited-edition ocean bottle, a photo competition, an HX Foundation fundraising initiative and a Northern Lights science lecture.
“2026 truly is a year of celebration for us,” says Rainer. “How we continue to lead the way in sustainable and meaningful travel means this celebration should leave a legacy—something that both guests and the communities we visit will remember. With all the incredible surprises we have in store for our guests, this is a year they won’t want to miss.”
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