HX Expeditions Antarctica Experience: A First-Hand Guide to the White Continent

I chose HX Expeditions deliberately and carefully. Their industry-leading sustainability practices—from carbon-neutral operations to their pioneering waste management systems and strict adherence to IAATO guidelines—aligned perfectly with my belief that we must protect what we love. Their commitment to leaving no trace while facilitating meaningful connection with this fragile ecosystem made them the only choice I could make with good conscience.

What follows is more than practical advice (though you'll find plenty). It's my attempt to translate the indescribable—the moment a humpback whale surfaces beside your zodiac in perfect silence, the electric blue heart of ancient ice revealed in a freshly calved iceberg, the meditative waddle of gentoo penguins against an endless white canvas.

This guide serves both as preparation for those fortunate enough to follow and as testament to a place that changes everyone who visits. Antarctica demands respect and offers revelation. Through my personal account, I hope to honor both.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

During the Drake Passage crossing

• Indulge in the spa and pool facilities. Pro tip: The jacuzzis were the perfect place to relax during those crossing days while everyone else crammed into the small lecture hall. I preferred watching the lectures comfortably from my room on demand later in the day.

• Follow the onboard lectures. Whether in person or through your cabin TV, these presentations are carefully selected to enhance your experience and knowledge of the White Continent. They prepare you and set proper expectations for expedition travel and how it differs from a standard cruise.

• Complete the free online course offered by HX either before boarding or during the crossing. It was fascinating to learn about all the different wildlife species and the importance of krill in Antarctica’s ecosystem. The course fully explains the life cycle of Antarctica!

Onboard experiences

• Unwind at the Explorers Lounge, where relaxing live piano music plays in the evenings—the perfect backdrop for reflecting on the day’s adventures.

• Prepare your entertainment options. Preload some TV shows or movies on your laptop or tablet. While WiFi was surprisingly solid during our cruise, the rough passage (in both directions) didn’t allow for pleasant reading time as I had hoped.

Maximizing your Antarctic experience

• Sign up for the extra excursions. Don’t miss the opportunity for kayaking, camping, science boat trips, photography cruises, and snowshoe hiking! While these experiences cost extra, they’re absolutely worth it. After all, you’re only visiting Antarctica once!

• Participate in every landing and zodiac cruise. This is what your days on the continent are truly about! The anticipation of your turn to step onto Antarctic shores or cruise among icebergs is unmatched.

• Join the citizen science programs. HX offers several opportunities to contribute to real scientific research during your voyage, from cloud observations to wildlife tracking.

• Attend the photography workshops. Even if you’re just using your smartphone, the expedition photographers offer invaluable tips for capturing the unique light and landscapes of Antarctica.

• Be flexible and embrace the unpredictable. Some of our most magical moments came from unexpected wildlife encounters and last-minute itinerary changes due to ice conditions or weather.

• Spend as much time as possible on deck. Wildlife surprises you at every corner of the journey! The occasional floating tabular iceberg is truly a sight to behold. Take advantage of the expedition leaders and science experts who hang out on deck spotting animals and birds and offering helpful insights. These impromptu deck sessions were some of the most educational and exciting moments of my entire trip.

• Remember that expedition travel is about the journey as much as the destination. The HX Expeditions team excels at creating memorable experiences both on and off the ship!

The HX Expeditions' flagship, Roald Amundsen, offers three distinct dining venues, each with its own character and cuisine. Here's my honest assessment after experiencing them all.

Aune Restaurant (main dining)

The primary dining venue and the heart of the ship's culinary operations. This spacious restaurant offers extensive buffet options for breakfast and lunch, with a more structured service for dinner. Despite having suite privileges that would have allowed us to enjoy a more peaceful breakfast in the Lindstrøm Restaurant, we found ourselves gravitating to Aune almost daily. The variety of the buffet simply trumped the cooked-to-order alternatives elsewhere. The breakfast spread features everything from continental options to hot dishes, while lunch offers a rotating selection of international cuisine. Dinner becomes a semi-formal affair with plated service, though the food quality varies from good to excellent depending on the night.

Lindstrøm Restaurant (fine dining)

Reserved exclusively for suite guests, this is the ship's attempt at fine dining. While the atmosphere is certainly more refined and the service attentive, the culinary experience was, frankly, just okay—nothing I'd write home about. The menu features Scandinavian-inspired cuisine with a modern twist, using supposedly premium ingredients. Though I appreciated the quieter ambiance and the more personalized service, I found myself missing the variety available at the main restaurant. Worth trying a few times if you're in a suite, but don't expect a Michelin-star experience in the Antarctic waters.

Fredheim Restaurant (casual dining)

The ship's casual dining venue became our unexpected favorite. This relaxed space offers comfort food with a Norwegian twist, and the star of the show is unquestionably the steak sandwich. Served with melting garlic butter and a side of perfectly crisp fries, this indulgent creation was reason enough to gain a few extra pounds during the voyage! The casual atmosphere makes it perfect for a quick lunch between excursions or a laid-back dinner when you don't feel like dressing up. They also serve excellent burgers, flatbreads, and milkshakes that hit the spot after a cold day of Antarctic exploration.

Pro tip: If you're a coffee enthusiast, the specialty coffees at Fredheim were significantly better than the standard offerings elsewhere on the ship—well worth the small additional charge.