HX Expeditions this week welcomed more than 350 travel advisors aboard the expedition vessel MS Fridtjof Nansen for what the company described as one of the largest familiarisation sailings organised within the expedition cruise sector.
The voyage was designed to present HX Expeditions’ exploration-focused operating model through direct onboard and shoreside experiences. The programme included calls at the German North Sea destination of Helgoland, with landings on both the main island and the offshore islet of Düne, alongside wildlife encounters and expedition activities led by the vessel’s specialist team.
Participants were also introduced to the ship’s onboard facilities, including the panoramic sauna, pool and outdoor observation areas, while a series of informal hospitality events highlighted the vessel’s expedition atmosphere.
A central component of the sailing focused on HX Expeditions’ science and education programme. Within the ship’s science centre, advisors joined workshops covering plankton analysis, meteorology, cloud observation and underwater soundscape studies conducted in cooperation with the NASA GLOBE Observer initiative. Scientists and members of the expedition team demonstrated the citizen science projects available to guests during regular voyages.
Cultural elements were also incorporated into the itinerary. During the Helgoland call, a local sea shanty choir performed onboard, while the voyage concluded with a performance by the crew band, The Rolling Waves.
HX Expeditions Chief Executive Officer Gebhard Rainer stated that the objective of the sailing had been to provide travel advisors with practical experience of the expedition product rather than solely promotional information, enabling them to better present the brand to clients.
During the voyage, the company also introduced its new “1896 Cabin” experience, scheduled to debut aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen in 2026. Inspired by 19th-century expedition travel, the concept references the company’s founding year and historical roots in exploration cruising. The experience will be available for up to three guests at a price of EUR 100 per person, with half of all profits allocated to the HX Foundation in support of scientific, environmental and community initiatives in destinations visited by the fleet.
HX Expeditions additionally outlined a wider “Summer of Celebrations” campaign marking the company’s 130th anniversary in 2026. The programme includes a series of booking incentives for both guests and travel advisors covering departures between 2026 and 2028.
Among the trade initiatives is a temporary booking incentive under which travel advisors will receive a £130 gift card for each fully deposited booking made between May and July 2026. The company also announced limited-time Antarctica air credits for selected 2026 and 2027 departures, with credits available for economy, premium economy and business-class flights included within expedition packages.
A separate anniversary promotion will offer either fare reductions of up to 25% or complimentary suite upgrades on selected voyages across destinations including Antarctica, Alaska, Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard, Arctic Canada and the Galápagos.
HX Expeditions Sales Director for the UK and Northern Europe, Mark Walter, said the Helgoland sailing had provided trade partners with direct exposure to the company’s expedition format, including landings, science activities and onboard operations, while also supporting future sales engagement during the company’s anniversary year.