Record Growth Fuels Major Expansion of HX Expeditions’ 2026 Program

HX Expeditions is accelerating its global growth plans on the back of record 2025 performance, unveiling a significantly expanded 2026 program that adds capacity, deepens key itineraries and leans into soaring demand for immersive polar and nature-focused voyages.

Record Growth Sets the Stage for Ambitious 2026 Plans

HX Expeditions, the Norwegian-born specialist formerly known as Hurtigruten Expeditions, is entering 2026 with what executives describe as unprecedented commercial momentum. After a transformative 2025 that saw the line complete a major ownership change and sharpen its focus as an independent expedition brand, the company is now moving aggressively to translate that growth into new product for the year ahead.

Recent figures from the company’s priority markets highlight the scale of demand. In Australia and New Zealand, HX has reported record sales for 2025, boosted by double-digit percentage growth in advisor-booked revenue and strong uptake of expedition cruising across both polar and warmer-water itineraries. Senior leaders say that performance, combined with solid gains in North America and Europe, has given the line confidence to broaden its deployment, refine existing itineraries and introduce fresh experiences in 2026.

The expansion is underpinned by a strategic pivot that positions HX as a pure-play expedition operator, focused on smaller ships, science-led exploration and close collaboration with local communities. With its 130th anniversary approaching, the brand is using its heritage in coastal Norway and the polar regions as a springboard for a next-generation program that it claims will open remote destinations to more travelers than ever, while retaining a strong sustainability focus.

Executives have signaled that the 2026 program is designed not only to meet short-term demand, but also to entrench HX as a long-term leader in the fast-growing expedition segment. Investments in trade partnerships, new promotional offers and upgraded onboard experiences are all being aligned behind that goal.

Expanded Alaska Program Targets Deeper Regional Immersion

One of the headline elements of the 2026 expansion is a strengthened Alaska program. HX is spotlighting itineraries that go beyond the classic Inside Passage route, emphasizing access to lesser-visited communities and wild coastal areas using its small expedition ships and fleet of landing craft. The company says its approach in Alaska is to “go deeper,” prioritizing time in fjords, wildlife habitats and Indigenous communities rather than quick port calls.

According to the line’s product team, 2026 voyages will continue to focus on regions such as Misty Fjords and rugged outer-coast landscapes, where guests can explore by small boats and join expert-led shore landings. Wildlife encounters, from whales and sea lions to bears and bald eagles, remain central to the experience, supported by an onboard expedition staff that includes naturalists, photographers and scientists.

HX is also highlighting its partnerships with Alaska Native corporations and community organizations as a key differentiator. Itineraries are being designed in consultation with local stakeholders so that visits align with community priorities, support local businesses and offer travelers more meaningful cultural exchange. Newly developed ports such as Klawock, an Indigenous-owned cruise destination on Prince of Wales Island, are expected to play a larger role in the line’s 2026 schedule.

The bolstered Alaska deployment comes at a time when expedition and small-ship cruising in the region is gaining traction among travelers seeking quieter alternatives to mainstream megaship itineraries. HX is betting that its science-backed, community-first model will appeal to this growing audience.

Strengthening Polar Leadership and Celebrating Norwegian Heritage

Beyond North America, HX is using 2026 to reinforce its long-standing strength in the polar regions. The line remains one of the largest operators in Antarctica and the Arctic, and has been steadily shifting to all-inclusive, expedition-focused offerings meant to simplify the product for trade partners and guests while enhancing the onboard experience.

The company’s 2026 polar portfolio will continue to emphasize extended time in the field, flexible routing based on ice and wildlife conditions, and guest participation in citizen science programs. These voyages are supported by purpose-built hybrid ships that are designed to reduce emissions and operate efficiently in sensitive environments, reflecting HX’s efforts to position itself as a sustainability-minded leader in expedition cruising.

At the same time, the line is preparing to mark its 130th anniversary across the 2026–27 season with a renewed focus on its Norwegian roots. A new “Ultimate Norway” expedition, slated for launch in early 2026, is being promoted as a flagship itinerary that blends classic coastal scenery with off-the-beaten-path exploration and a celebration of the Norwegian concept of outdoor living. The program is intended to showcase local culture, nature and history along the country’s fjords and northern coastline.

Onboard innovations are also being woven into the anniversary narrative. HX has signaled that select ships will introduce heritage-inspired touches in 2026, including concept cabins that nod to the company’s origins in late 19th-century coastal voyages. These elements are meant to create a sense of continuity between the brand’s past and its modern expedition offering.

Trade-Focused Investments and Advisor Incentives Scale Up

Parallel to its deployment expansion, HX is significantly ramping up trade-facing initiatives aimed at travel advisors, a channel that has delivered much of the company’s record growth. Over the past year, HX has expanded its sales and support teams in the Americas and other key regions, introduced new co-branded marketing tools, and refined booking incentives designed to reward high-producing partners.

For the 2026 program, the line is rolling out its largest travel advisor incentive to date, giving eligible sellers the chance to earn complimentary berths on select 2026 voyages after reaching specified booking thresholds on departures across 2025, 2026 and 2027. The campaign is being positioned as both a thank you to advisors who helped drive the brand’s transformation and a catalyst to maintain momentum heading into the anniversary season.

HX is also betting on education and first-hand experience to build advocacy. The company is planning what it describes as one of the largest familiarization initiatives in expedition cruising, with hundreds of agents set to sail on curated departures that showcase the line’s approach to science, sustainability and community partnerships. These sailings will be used to highlight new 2026 product such as Alaska and Norway itineraries, as well as signature polar routes.

According to the sales team, the objective is to give advisors the tools and confidence to position expedition cruising as a core option for clients who might previously have defaulted to traditional ocean or land-based tours. With more lines entering the expedition space, HX sees close collaboration with trade partners as essential to defending and growing market share.

Meeting Rising Demand for Authentic, Science-Led Expedition Travel

The expansion of HX’s 2026 program comes as expedition and small-ship cruising continue to outpace broader cruise sector growth. Travelers are increasingly seeking itineraries that offer genuine wilderness access, smaller groups and a stronger sense of purpose, including contributions to science and conservation projects. HX is aligning its strategy with these trends, emphasizing research partnerships and hands-on learning as core pillars of its brand.

Guests on 2026 voyages will continue to have opportunities to join data-collection projects, attend lectures from onboard experts and use scientific equipment under supervision. The line frames this as a way for travelers to engage more deeply with the destinations they visit, particularly in fragile polar and subpolar ecosystems. This approach also helps differentiate HX from larger-capacity operators that may offer expedition-style shore excursions but less emphasis on science and education.

As capacity expands, the company insists it will retain a strong focus on environmental stewardship and community engagement. Executives have stressed that growth will be managed to align with destination sensitivities, regulatory frameworks and the expectations of local partners, from Indigenous communities in Alaska to coastal settlements in Norway and the polar regions.

With record sales performance, renewed independence and a reinforced trade strategy, HX Expeditions is positioning its enlarged 2026 program as both a response to current demand and a statement of intent for the decade ahead. For travelers and advisors watching the evolution of expedition cruising, the coming year is set to be a defining test of how far the brand’s growth trajectory can take it.