HX Hurtigruten Expeditions exceeded my expectations
I’ve never been one who gets stuck for words, particularly when it comes to describing my cruise experiences, but finding the right words for Antarctica really has left me searching. Never have I come across such vast beauty and each moment of the trip presented something different. Antarctica exceeded all of your expectations and HX Hurtigruten Expeditions did the same!
I’ve been lucky enough to do a few expedition cruises in the past but I’ve got to say, the organisation and attention to detail was impressive. From the second I landed in Buenos Aires, HX Hurtigruten had everything covered. The hotel selection, Emperador Buenos Aires was excellent. Great location and very comfortable. We were also treated to a tour of the city which was a lovely surprise.
At the hotel we were given our boarding passes for the flight the following morning to Ushuaia, and they even collected our luggage so the airport experience was seamless. This experience continued the whole way through the trip and everyone’s needs are constantly anticipated.
Now let’s talk about the ship, MS Fridtjof Nansen – WOW!
I think a lot of people have a preconceived opinion of Hurtigruten based on their Norwegian Coastal Voyages and I shared this, however, their expedition fleet is beyond impressive. The choice of staterooms and suites means there is something to suit everyone’s needs and budget, and some of their suites rival any ultra luxury cruise line.
All the public areas are finished to the highest quality and space really is a key focus on board.
The ship is larger than others sailing around Antarctica, but this, for me, only adds to the experience. The science centre is large so everyone can experience this at any time. There is never an area of the ship, both inside or out, that feels crowded and at so many points throughout the trip, it felt like I was having my own personal viewing of the incredible landscape. That being said, there’s always a staff member round a corner or a member of the expedition team on hand to answer a question or just engage in general conversation.
It wouldn’t be a blog of mine if I didn’t mention the food – we all know I’m our resident foodie and HX Hurtigruten did not disappoint. Such a range of menus, across 2 spectacular dining venues and every single dish cooked to perfection. I’m still craving the beef wellington from our last night and for the cheese lovers out there – the cheese board after dinner is a must! We were even lucky enough to be able to dine in the fine dining restaurant, Lindstrom. For suite guests this is available free of charge for breakfast, lunch and dinner and for all other guests, there is just a small cover charge of 25 Euros and it’s well worth the visit – more than once I’d say!
Expedition cruises are fast becoming my passion and an integral part of any expedition cruise is the team on board. I can’t speak highly enough of the team on MS Fridtjof Nansen. As you’d expect, the knowledge that the team has is incredible and they enjoy nothing more than sharing this. The lectures, which are all streamed into the staterooms/suites are varied and informative but more than this, the team bring a real essence of fun to the trip. You really feel like you’re part of something by the time you leave, so it’s not just the memories you make of the wildlife and scenery, but a lasting impression of being truly part of something.
My experience with HX Hurtigruten will never leave me. Antarctica will never leave me and if it’s not already on your bucket list – make it a priority!
HX announced when we were on board that as of October 2024 they are fully inclusive on board so there’s even more reason to travel with them, and with continued prices as good as they are, it’s more affordable than ever before.
Special thank you to HX Hurtigruten for providing these incredible pictures.
If I have inspired you to take that once in a lifetime trip then
Call Panache Cruises on 0161 513 8200 if you want to learn more about HX Hurtigruten.
