HX Expeditions

Daily Itinerary

1. Day 1

   Dover

   

   Dover is a coastal town in England’s southeastern county of Kent. It’s a major port for ferries to Calais, in France. Built to repel invasions from across the English Channel, medieval Dover Castle overlooks the town and houses the extensive Secret Wartime Tunnels. The iconic White Cliffs of Dover are symbolic safeguards at Britain’s closest point to continental Europe

2. Day 2

   Harlingen

   Netherlands

   

   Harlingen is a beautifully preserved Frisian port town on the Dutch Wadden Sea coast, gateway to the UNESCO-listed tidal flat ecosystem where guided mudflat walking and ferry trips to car-free barrier islands offer uniquely Dutch experiences. Must-dos include wadlopen mudflat walking, the historic tile factory, and fresh gray shrimp on brown bread. May through September is ideal, with migration seasons best for birdwatching.

3. Day 3

   Heligoland

   Germany

   

   Heligoland, Germany's dramatic red sandstone island 70 kilometres offshore in the North Sea, combines duty-free shopping, the iconic Lange Anna sea stack, and extraordinary wildlife — from grey seal pups on the Düne beaches to some of Europe's most spectacular bird migration watching. Must-dos include cliff walks along the Oberland, cracking Knieper crab claws at a waterfront restaurant, and visiting the world's oldest bird observatory. Spring migration and the winter seal season are the wildlife highlights.

4. Day 4

   Hamburg, Germany

   Germany

   

   Hamburg — once the 'Gateway to the World' and still Germany's greatest port — combines Hanseatic grandeur with an unmatched contemporary creative energy. The Speicherstadt, a vast nineteenth-century brick warehouse district now housing design studios, museums, and the Elbphilharmonie concert hall perched dramatically above the Elbe, exemplifies the city's gift for transforming history into living culture. The Reeperbahn's legendary nightlife, the Alster lake's elegant promenades, and an exceptional restaurant scene anchored by the finest fresh fish from the daily harbour market complete an irresistible portrait. Hamburg rewards visits year-round, though May through September offers the longest, most luminous days.

5. Day 5

   Esbjerg

   Denmark

   

   Esbjerg is Denmark's principal North Sea port, famous for the iconic Man Meets the Sea sculptures and its proximity to the UNESCO-listed Wadden Sea National Park. Must-dos include viewing the monumental beach sculptures, visiting medieval Ribe — Denmark's oldest town — and taking a guided wadden walk across the tidal flats to observe migratory birdlife. Visit May through September for the longest days and most pleasant weather for coastal exploration.

6. Day 6

   Haugesund

   Norway

   

   Haugesund is a historic Viking-era port town on Norway's southwestern Rogaland coast, where Harald Fairhair—the nation's first king—once held court and now rests beneath the Haraldshaugen monument. Visitors should not miss the elaborate herring table at a waterfront restaurant and the immersive Nordvegen History Centre that brings Viking politics vividly to life. The ideal season to visit is late May through August, when long Nordic daylight hours illuminate the Smedasundet waterfront and nearby fjord excursions to Hardangerfjord and Sognefjord are at their most spectacular.

7. Day 7

   Sognefjord

   Norway

   

   Sognefjord is Norway's longest and deepest fjord — a 204-kilometer waterway of staggering natural grandeur that includes the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord and the legendary Flåm Railway. Must-dos include riding the Flåm Railway through mountain tunnels and past waterfalls, visiting the twelfth-century Urnes Stave Church, and tasting wild Atlantic salmon and fjord-side craft beer. June and July offer midnight sun and warm temperatures, while shoulder months bring quieter conditions.

8. Day 8

   Andalsnes

   Norway

   

   Åndalsnes is Norway's self-proclaimed alpine capital, a compact fjord village where the Rauma river meets Romsdalsfjorden beneath the towering Trollveggen rock face. Visitors should not miss the vertiginous drive up Trollstigen mountain road and a tasting of traditional Rauma smoked salmon paired with local craft ales. The optimal season is late May through September, when mountain passes are open and the extended Nordic daylight illuminates the surrounding peaks and waterfalls well past midnight.

9. Day 9

   Arctic Circle

   

10. Day 10

    Svartisen Glacier

    Norway

    

    Svartisen Glacier in Norway offers dramatic Nordic landscapes where fjords, glaciers, and pristine wilderness create scenes of remarkable natural grandeur. The essential experience is immersion in the outdoor environment—hiking, wildlife watching, and savoring the region's exceptional seafood in settings of extraordinary beauty. Best visited June through August, when the midnight sun bathes the landscape in golden light for nearly twenty-four hours. Cruise lines including Hapag-Lloyd Cruises feature this port on their most compelling itineraries. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, the port rewards exploration at every pace and in every direction.

11. Day 11

    Lofoten Islands

    

    Lofoten is an archipelago in Norway. Its known for its dramatic scenery, with peaks like the Svolværgeita pinnacle jutting up into the sky. Himmeltindan Mountain sits on Vestvågøya Island. The nearby Lofotr Viking Museum features a Viking longhouse reconstruction. Cycle routes cover the islands, passing through fishing villages like Henningsvær, which has colorful buildings lining its waterways.

12. Day 12

    Tromso

    Norway

    

    Tromsø, perched 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle on its own island in a fjord-carved landscape of breathtaking severity, is the world's finest base for witnessing the northern lights — a phenomenon that illuminates the polar night here from late September through March with an intensity unmatched across Scandinavia. The city's striking Arctic Cathedral, vibrant university culture, and excellent Polar Museum trace Norway's heroic age of polar exploration, while dog sledding, snowshoeing, and whale-watching expeditions provide exhilarating encounters with the high Arctic wilderness. Summer's unbroken midnight sun offers an equally otherworldly experience beneath skies that never darken.

13. Day 13

    North Cape

    Norway

    

    North Cape (Nordkapp), mainland Europe's northernmost point at 71°N, presents a three-hundred-meter cliff face dropping into the Barents Sea where the midnight sun circles without setting from May through July. King crab feasts in nearby Honningsvåg, Sámi reindeer culture, and Arctic puffin colonies extend the experience beyond the iconic clifftop globe. HX Expeditions, Holland America Line, and Hurtigruten bring travelers to this windswept promontory where standing at the edge of a continent confronts visitors with the Arctic's sublime vastness.

14. Day 14

    At sea

    

15. Day 15

    Spitsbergen

    Svalbard and Jan Mayen

    

    Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, a thousand kilometres from the North Pole, where polar bears outnumber humans, glaciers calve into pristine fjords, and the midnight sun illuminates an Arctic wilderness of extraordinary beauty. Must-do experiences include Zodiac cruises along glacier fronts, wildlife watching for polar bears and walruses, and visiting the Global Seed Vault in Longyearbyen. June through September is the expedition season.

16. Day 16

    Spitsbergen

    Svalbard and Jan Mayen

    

    Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, a thousand kilometres from the North Pole, where polar bears outnumber humans, glaciers calve into pristine fjords, and the midnight sun illuminates an Arctic wilderness of extraordinary beauty. Must-do experiences include Zodiac cruises along glacier fronts, wildlife watching for polar bears and walruses, and visiting the Global Seed Vault in Longyearbyen. June through September is the expedition season.

17. Day 17

    Spitsbergen

    Svalbard and Jan Mayen

    

    Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, a thousand kilometres from the North Pole, where polar bears outnumber humans, glaciers calve into pristine fjords, and the midnight sun illuminates an Arctic wilderness of extraordinary beauty. Must-do experiences include Zodiac cruises along glacier fronts, wildlife watching for polar bears and walruses, and visiting the Global Seed Vault in Longyearbyen. June through September is the expedition season.

18. Day 18

    Spitsbergen

    Svalbard and Jan Mayen

    

    Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, a thousand kilometres from the North Pole, where polar bears outnumber humans, glaciers calve into pristine fjords, and the midnight sun illuminates an Arctic wilderness of extraordinary beauty. Must-do experiences include Zodiac cruises along glacier fronts, wildlife watching for polar bears and walruses, and visiting the Global Seed Vault in Longyearbyen. June through September is the expedition season.

19. Day 19

    Longyearbyen

    Svalbard and Jan Mayen

    

    Longyearbyen, the northernmost permanent settlement in the world, is a unique port in the Svalbard archipelago, rich in history and breathtaking Arctic landscapes. Must-do experiences include savoring local delicacies like reindeer stew and exploring the stunning fjords of Raudfjord and Liefdefjorden. The best time to visit is during the summer months, when the midnight sun illuminates the stunning scenery.

Cabin Categories

Polar Inside

inside

I4

Relax in these comfortable, standard inside cabins with separate beds where one can be turned into a sofa. This cabin can fit up to four people. 6 - 10 m2 No window Bathroom TV 1 bed/1 couch

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Polar Inside

Inside

108–140 sq ftMax 2I2

Relax in these comfortable, standard inside cabins on middle or upper deck with separate beds where one can be turned into a sofa. 6 - 10 m2 No window Bathroom TV 1 bed/1 couch

Sofa BedShowerRoom Service AvailableTVSafeHair Dryer+4

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Arctic Superior

Outside

108–118 sq ftMax 2U2

Enjoy these comfortable outside cabins, situated on top/upper decks. These cabins have separate beds where one doubles as a sofa. 8 - 13 m2 Window Bathroom TV 1 bed/1 couch

ShowerToiletries ProvidedTVSofa BedRoom Service AvailableSafe+6

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Polar Outside

Outside

161–172 sq ftMax 2SD

Enjoy these standard outside cabins with separate beds found on middle decks, adapted for guests with disabilities. This cabin can fit two people. 10 - 13 m2 Window Bathroom

ShowerRoom Service AvailableTVSafeHair DryerTelephone+4

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Polar Outside

outside

N4

Enjoy these standard outside cabins with separate beds and bunk beds found on middle decks, with space for up to four people. 7 - 13 m2 Window Bathroom TV

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Polar Outside

Outside

237–248 sq ftMax 4F4

Polar Outside

ShowerToiletries ProvidedRoom Service AvailableTVSafeHair Dryer+6

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Polar Outside

Outside

183–226 sq ftMax 4FJ

Enjoy these comfortable cabins with double beds* and TV situated on upper decks with limited view. 16 - 21 m2 Limited view Bathroom TV Double bed

Double or Twin ConfigurationShowerRoom Service AvailableTVSafeHair Dryer+5

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Polar Outside

Outside

108–140 sq ftMax 2N2

Enjoy these standard outside cabins with separate beds found on middle decks. This cabin can fit two people. 7 - 13 m2 Window Bathroom TV 1 bed/1 couch

ShowerRoom Service AvailableTVSafeHair DryerTelephone+3

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Polar Outside

Outside

186–194 sq ftMax 2F2

Enjoy these comfortable cabins, situated on middle and upper decks, suitable for up to two people. These cabins have double beds, a seating area, TV and private bathroom/shower. Some have limited view. 16 - 18 m2 Window Bathroom TV Double bed

ShowerToiletries ProvidedTVHair DryerRoom Service AvailableSafe+5

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Expedition Grand Suite

Suite

215–291 sq ftMax 2MG

Enjoy these exclusive suites with one room, seating area, TV, kettle, tea/coffee, stereo and mini-bar. Some of them also have bathtub. Most of these suites have a private balcony or bay window. 35 - 37 m2 Window Bathroom TV Double bed Balcony

DoubleShowerToiletries ProvidedTVCoffee MachineHair Dryer+8

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Expedition Mini suite

Suite

161–215 sq ftMax 2Q2

These elegant suites are situated on upper deck with one room, seating area, TV and mini-bar. 15 - 20 m2 Window Bathroom TV Double bed

Lounge AreaShowerRoom Service AvailableMini Bar (Additional Cost)TVSafe+8

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Expedition Mini suite

Suite

161–215 sq ftMax 4Q4

Expedition Mini suite

Lounge AreaVanity AreaShowerRoom Service AvailableMini Bar (Additional Cost)TV+8

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