We check all information and descriptions for accuracy. However, changes can happen after publication, and some facilities may be withdrawn. If any significant changes occur, we'll do our best to inform you in a timely fashion. As many of our destinations are remote, facilities may vary depending on local conditions.

The above list is not exhaustive. The SSO/Captain are authorized to make a professional judgment as to the legality of any item declared, detected, or discovered on board.

Our expert team monitors HPAI closely, collaborating with the scientific community and industry bodies to protect wildlife. Where HPAI has been detected, we implement enhanced biosecurity procedures. If landing sites are closed to prevent transmission, alternative activities will be planned, and we will notify guests in advance of any significant changes. For more details, visit the Health & Safety section of the Help Centre.

Yes, the ships comply with international safety standards and are equipped for sailing in icy waters. A mandatory safety briefing will be provided before departure, with a Safety Notice posted inside your cabin.

MS Santa Cruz II also follows Galapagos Biocontrol Agency and ISPS regulations, including luggage screenings before boarding. For MS Santa Cruz II, a safety briefing and

boat drill are conducted on the first day, followed by additional briefings for activities like snorkelling and kayaking. Special lifejackets are provided for landings, and safety guidelines will be explained.

Please take care when moving around the ship, especially on deck. Be cautious of wet and slippery surfaces and avoid doors to the outer deck in windy conditions. Inside, hold onto railings but not door frames to prevent injury. For guests on MS Santa Cruz II, there are no elevators, and the stairs are steep, so please use handrails when moving between decks.

If your questions haven’t been covered in this section, you can find more information here: Accessibility, Health & Safety (inc Covid-19) or by contacting our Customer Service team directly via email or phone.

Please bring enough prescribed medication for the entire trip, as our onboard medical facilities do not supply it.

Seasickness pills are available for purchase at reception (1 Euro each). We recommend bringing your preferred medication, though. Sea bands are also available onboard.

An English-speaking physician and nurse are always on board, with essential medical equipment and medications for small emergencies. For serious cases, the nearest hospital will be contacted. Medical consultations and medications will incur charges.

All guests must have travel/health insurance. If you rely on medication, please bring enough to cover unforeseen delays. Keep medication in your hand luggage with clear instructions. In case of illness, quarantine may be required, and instructions from the ship's physician and captain must be followed.

Yes, our ships are wheelchair accessible with some operational requirements. Guests have to bring their own wheelchairs, which must be no wider than 60 cm for ease of movement. All mobility aids must be declared and safely carried onboard. Wheelchair users can only be accommodated in accessible cabins to ensure safe evacuation in emergencies. You can find our complete policy here: Accessibility for Disabled Persons and Persons with Reduced Mobility.

Why do I need to complete a Medical Screening Form? Due to the remote nature of our expeditions to Antarctica, it’s important for us to be aware of any health concerns. To prioritise the health and safety of our guests and crew, a Medical Screening Form is required for expeditions to Antarctica. For more detailed information on this topic, click here.

Please have details about your travel insurance, medical conditions, surgeries, allergies, medications, and pregnancy status ready. This helps us assess your fitness for travel.

Complete the form online through the Vikand Medical portal. It includes sections for both you and your doctor to fill out. If your doctor can't sign the form, please consult an alternative or use Vikand’s online doctor service.

Only around 0.1% of guests fail the medical screening. For more information, please reach out to medical@travelhx.com.

As part of our Medical Screening Form Promise, if your Medical Screening Form is declined for medical reasons by Vikand Solutions, HX will provide a full refund for all bookings made through them, including flights, hotels, and ground transportation. However, for any arrangements made outside of HX, you'll need to check your travel insurance for coverage. This promise is valid for new bookings on Antarctica cruises departing from 1 October 2024. The Medical Screening Form must be submitted via the Vikand portal at least four weeks prior to departure. Forms submitted after this period may not qualify for a refund. This offer does not apply to rescheduled or cancelled cruises, and claims must be submitted within a specified time after your return date.

Only licensed doctors, including osteopaths and physician’s assistants, can sign this section. Other medical professionals, like nurses or pharmacists, cannot sign.

Yes, a valid passport is required. It must meet the validity requirements for the countries you'll visit, with at least 6 months remaining at the end of your cruise.

The Ship Manifest Information Form is required for immigration and customs and must be completed by all guests before departure. Please submit it no later than 8 weeks before your voyage.

You’ll receive your travel documents 30 days before departure, including details on embarkation times, pre-booked extras, and more.

We’ve switched to online forms for better protection of your sensitive medical information. The Medical Screening Form is securely handled by Vikand Medical, who specialises in maritime medical screenings.

Eligible non-European visitors to the UK will require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) starting from 8 January 2025. The ETA is mandatory for citizens of various countries, with specific start dates depending on nationality. For more information on the ETA, please visit this page. To check the requirements for your country, visit this page.

We offer a mix of included and optional shore excursions, many of which can be pre-booked. We also offer a range of onboard activities.

Check the 'Enhance Your Cruise' section on our website and select a cruise to see the available excursions. Alternatively, visit the 'Voyage' page for detailed excursion information, listed by destination and activity level. You can visit the ‘Enhance Your Cruise’ page here.

Our expedition routes and excursions can change due to weather, sea, or ice conditions. If changes occur while we're at sea, we'll keep you updated on alternative routes or port call substitutions. Your safety is always our top priority. If changes occur before embarkation, we’ll inform you in a timely manner.

Yes, we offer optional pre- and post-cruise programmes, from half-day excursions to multi-day tours. These are subject to change and may require a minimum number of participants.

If we’re anchored, we use small expedition boats for landings. The crew will guide you on how to board, and you’ll need proper footwear. You can read more about exploring with our small expedition boats here.

We do welcome children onboard. However, HX Hurtigruten Expeditions doesn't allow children under the age of 5 to travel with us to Antarctica and South Georgia. For safety reasons, children under 12 years of age will be considered for participation in excursions at each landing.

For those travelling to the Galápagos on Santa Cruz II only - Parents with children below the age of 6 need to present at embarkation a release form signed by their parents or guardians to board a Galápagos cruise. If children between the ages of 6-18 are accompanied by one parent/legal guardian, a minor consent form signed by the other parent, or both parents if the minor is accompanied by a legal guardian, must be presented on boarding.

The best time to see the Northern Lights is from October to February, especially in the Aurora Zone (Norway, Canada, Greenland, etc.). While sightings aren’t guaranteed, we offer specific Northern Lights expeditions covered by our Northern Lights Promise.

Weather varies depending on your destination, but sturdy footwear for wet and dry landings is essential. We provide boots and trekking poles on certain expeditions, but you’re welcome to bring your own. See our packing list for more details.

In some regions like Antarctica and Svalbard, rubber boots are required and provided free of charge. You can also bring your own boots if preferred, but they will be checked to ensure they’re suitable for landings.

The daily programme, detailing port calls, activities, and meals, is available on the ship’s information screens and in your cabin. You'll be informed of the daily programme in the evening the night before, but keep an eye on the HX app for real-time updates.

À la carte dining option | On the ships that have a Lindstrøm restaurant, suite guests are offered the chance to have all their meals here. Reservations must be made on board and are offered upon availability.

Room service | Room service is available only aboard MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen in these selected suites: MF-700, MD-701, MC-749, MC-756, MA-800, MA-801, MC-849, MC-856, MC-919, MC-932. Free of charge, room service is available only from the Lindstrøm menu during the restaurant’s opening hours.

Suite check-in | Are first to check in as per our timeslot system. An exclusive welcome area in Lindstrøm is available for suite guests, where they may meet and greet some of the ship officers.

Welcome greeting | On embarkation day, the suite guests will find a carabiner watch, a bottle of champagne, and a welcome greeting from the captain in their suite after check-in.

Turn-down service | Suite guests will receive a daily turn-down service, including fresh towels and chocolate or similar on the pillow.

Laundry service | This service is free of change for all suite guests. One laundry bag limit per day per suite.

Minibar | Daily replenishment of the minibar is included for suites (The first round is included, any additional refills will charged ).

Beverages | House wine, beer, soft drinks, and still and sparkling water are available and complimentary at lunch and dinner. For cabin guests, premium drinks and signature cocktails are not included; for suite guests, signature cocktails, premium beers and wines by the glass are included (premium wines including sparkling by the bottle at extra cost). Coffee, tea, and potable water that has been purified on board are included throughout the day.

For those on Santa Cruz II, only guests who book a suite will receive:

Welcome greeting | On embarkation day, all guests will receive a complimentary Galapagos wildlife book and a reusable water bottle. Suite guests will receive an additional welcome gift in their cabin.

Turn-down service | Guests will receive a daily turn-down service, including fresh towels and chocolate or similar on the pillow.

Wi-fi | Guests will receive limited complimentary Wi-fi access. Additional Wi-Fi is available for purchase, but due to the Galapagos’ remote location, please be aware that the internet connection is intermittent and low-bandwidth.

Wetsuit rental | Wetsuit rental is complimentary for all guests on request.

Our special child fare is valid for new bookings on all Expedition Cruises and is subject to change at any time. When the child occupies a cabin with at least two adults, a 50% savings applies to the cruise portion of the child’s package only. When the child occupies a cabin with one adult, a 20% savings applies to the cruise portion of the child’s package only. A 20% savings applies to the non-cruise portions of a package, where applicable, regardless of cabin occupancy. A child is defined as 2 through 15 years of age at the time of sailing.

This offer is bookable online or by phone and is combinable with all current offers. If you booked through a travel agent, this does not apply to you. Please contact them directly for any questions you have.

Please note:

- Participation of children under the age of 12 years in small-boat landings during expedition cruises is at the discretion of the captain.

- In accordance with International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators guidelines, the minimum age for travel to Antarctica is 5 years.

- Minimum age for Galapagos is 6 years.

There are various cabin options, all with private facilities. Accessible cabins are also available. For more information about the cabins on board our expedition ships, please visit the ship pages below:

Please Note:

Check-in times will be provided before departure. Please follow these for a smooth arrival.

WiFi is available, but coverage and speed can be limited on remote expeditions. It’s ideal for browsing, not streaming. For mobile phones, expect limited or no coverage in places like Antarctica, Arctic Canada, and Alaska. For MS Santa Cruz II, WiFi is available but intermittent. Please keep your phone on airplane mode during trails.

All our expedition ships have hot tubs, saunas, and gyms. MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen also feature an infinity pool, outdoor gym, and running track, plus a wellness centre offering treatments for an additional cost.

Yes, solo travellers book private cabins with a bathroom and WC.

We don’t have pet cabins, but service animals are welcome with proper documentation.

Smoking is allowed only in designated outdoor areas, not in cabins or private balconies. Smoking while the ship is refuelling is prohibited.

Our onboard shop offers clothing suitable for expeditions, souvenirs, and personal items like soap and toothpaste.

You can hand in mail at reception for forwarding, but delivery may take time. MS Santa Cruz II has mailboxes at Baltra Airport and Puerto Ayora.

Laundry is included for suite guests. Self-service isn’t available, except on MS Santa Cruz II, which has washers/dryers for guest use.

Yes, our ships offer a selection of books. MS Santa Cruz II has a Natural History Library and a Science Corner for learning about the Galápagos Islands.

Yes, our ships offer a selection of books. MS Santa Cruz II has a Natural History Library and a Science Corner for learning about the Galápagos Islands.

Most ships use 220V/50Hz; suites have 110V for shavers. Santa Cruz II uses 110V/60Hz with Type B plugs.

We serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Aune restaurant. Suite guests can dine at Lindstrøm (additional charge for non-suites). Fredheim offers casual dining and takeaway (except on some ships).

Included: still/sparkling water, soft drinks, house wines, draught beer, coffee, and tea. Premium drinks are extra. On MS Santa Cruz II, meals are buffet-style, with complimentary house beer, wine, and soft drinks at lunch and dinner.

Yes, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and soft drinks are free all day, with refill stations available.

Wine, beer, and spirits are included, but premium drinks (cocktails, champagne) are extra.

Only drinks from the ship’s restaurants, bars, or cabins may be consumed. Alcohol bought in ports will be stored by the crew and returned on the last day. Santa Cruz II charges corkage fees for wine/spirits brought aboard.

Suite guests get a stocked mini-bar, premium drinks, and a complimentary bottle of champagne.

No, all of our voyages are all-inclusive and therefore, all meals and drinks are included. Suite guests dine at Lindstrøm for free; other guests pay a €25 cover charge.

If you have special requests (e.g. dietary or medical), please inform us as soon as possible, and no later than 12 weeks prior to your cruise departure. We will do our best to meet such requests but cannot guarantee to do so, and under no circumstance will any such request be accepted by us so as to form part of a contractual agreement.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Maestro, UnionPay, JCB, and Trustly. Please check with your bank about any foreign transaction fees. Note: This does not apply if you booked through a travel agent. Contact them for details.

Payments can be made online, via bank transfer, or by cheque (for bookings 30+ days in advance). We no longer accept phone payments. See your invoice for bank details. Note: If you booked through a travel agent, contact them for payment queries.

A 25% non-refundable deposit is required for bookings made more than 90 days in advance. For bookings made within 90 days of departure, full payment is required within 7 days. Note: If you booked through a travel agent, please contact them for further details.

Some card providers may charge foreign transaction fees for cards issued outside the EU, UK, and US. Note: This does not apply if you booked through a travel agent. Contact them for payment-related inquiries.

Yes, you’ll receive a confirmation email with your booking reference. Note: If you booked through a travel agent, contact them for confirmation queries.

If you’re having trouble with online payment, contact your bank. Note: If you booked through a travel agent, contact them directly.

No PIN is required, but some banks may send a confirmation code to your mobile phone. Note: If you booked through a travel agent, they handle payment queries.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, or Maestro onboard, debited in EUR. The Cruise Card system allows onboard purchases, paid with credit card or cash. Note: Only credit card payments are accepted on Expedition voyages.

The cruise card serves as your cabin key and payment card. It’s activated with a valid credit card. Debit cards can be used to pay the final invoice but not for activation.

For MS Santa Cruz II: MS Santa Cruz II does not provide cabins keys or a cruise card. Cabins can be locked from the inside, and each cabin is equipped with a safety box. The corridors are monitored by closed-circuit cameras. Upon check-in, a shipboard account (SA) will be opened, and we do not register credit cards at the start of the cruise. Final payment will be requested on the last night of the cruise. Accepted credit cards in Ecuador include Diners Club, Visa, American Express, and MasterCard. ATMs are available at mainland airports, as well as at Baltra Airport and in the towns of Puerto Ayora and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

Tipping is optional. If you wish to tip, use the reception or the tipping box. Tips are shared among all crew members, excluding officers and the Expedition Team. Note: Gratuities for land services are detailed in your travel documents.

It is no longer possible to have a joint membership for both Hurtigruten and HX - Hurtigruten Expeditions. However, you can join both programmes separately and enjoy the benefits and rewards from each.

You can unsubscribe from HX Explorers here. When you unsubscribe, you will lose access to the benefits you have as a member of HX Explorers and we will no longer contact you. You can re-subscribe at any time, however your membership and any previous Level status or benefits will be re-set.

As a member of HX Explorers, you will elect to receive information on the programme from HX - Hurtigruten Expeditions so you’re always up to date on your benefits and opportunities. Unfortunately, it is not possible to opt out of receiving e-mails or other communication from the HX Explorers programme. Find out more about HX Explorers terms and conditions.

All our HX - Hurtigruten Expeditions partners provide fantastic offers and benefits to our HX Explorers members. To find out more about these, you can click the relevant links under Partner Benefits.

HX Explorers is a cardless programme, but you will receive a welcome email with your unique membership number and level shortly after signing up to the programme. You can also find your membership details in the header of each of our monthly newsletters.

As a HX Explorer you receive 5% off all excursions (excludes pre or post voyage excursions). You can book pre-travel online for all new bookings or via our Contact Centre if you have an existing booking and would like to add excursions. Please note the discount may take a few days to apply to any existing bookings. You can also use this discount when you book excursions on board. Remember to quote your membership number at the time of booking to ensure your discount is applied. If booking online, the membership number is added in the last part of the reservation so you will not see a reduced price on the offer page, but it will be visible when the order is added to the shopping cart / invoice.

When booking online add your HX Explorers number together with your personal data. The shopping basket will then be updated accordingly and any discounts will be deducted if applicable. Since the number is added at the very late stage in the booking process, the end user will not see discounted fares on the fares and availability page, but in the shopping basket/invoice.

Among other things, your membership comes with a range of HX - Hurtigruten Expeditions benefits including discounts and an onboard welcome gift and drink. You also get reduced prices and special offers from our selected partners.

HX Explorers is free and open to anyone interested in travelling. You can signup by clicking on the button on the top this page “Join the programme”. If you would like to invite others to become members, you can share the link to this page.

No, you have not lost your acumulated 1893 benefits. If you were an ambassador, you still maintain your membership with 1893 and all associated benefits. You have now been automatically signed up for both the HX Explorers loyalty programme and the 1893 Ambassador programme. If you're looking for the 1893 Ambassador programme, click here.

Yes, if you were a member of 1893 Ambassador before 1 November 2024, you will keep the same membership number and Level in the HX Explorers programme.

There will be no change to the price of your booking.

No, there will be no changes to your itinerary.

If your departure date is on or after 1 November, you will receive new booking documentation in November. However, your booking and trip remain unaffected by the tour operator provider change.

No action is required from your side.

No action is required from you.

Please follow the payment instructions that were provided when your booking was made.

No action is needed. Your deposit payment will be processed, and updated documentation will be provided accordingly.

No action is required. This has been managed, and there is no need for you to take further steps.

No action is needed. This has been managed, and you do not need to take further steps.

You can find the correct bank account details in your new reserved booking document. Please ensure your deposit is sent to this account.

No, your booking remains unaffected. You will soon receive a new invoice to replace the previous one shared with you.

If you have concerns, please contact our Customer Service team by email or phone. Contact details can be found at the bottom of the letter. If you booked through a travel agent, please reach out to them for assistance.

The use of passenger-operated drones is not permitted during your voyage. This is for general safety as well as the protection of vulnerable wildlife and other guests’ personal security.

Drones are not allowed in Galapagos. Flash photography is not allowed on wildlife in the national parks. Professional video photography requires a special permit of the National Park Directorate.

We cannot pre-advise the chartered flight times. Please note that there will be different flight departures. You will receive the information about your flight time one day before your departure at the Hurtigruten Hospitality desk, or look for charter flight information in your final documents. Departure time is very early. After the voyage our Expedition Team will inform you onboard about the flight schedule and flight number back to Buenos Aires or Santiago De Chile.

Please also note the limited luggage allowance on charter flights ( 1pc 23kg for check in luggage + hand luggage 8kg).