HX Expeditions unveils cabin inspired by first-ever expedition cruise

The 19th century was a great time to be an explorer. John Hanning Speke found the source of the Nile; Sir Robert McClure discovered the Northwest Passage; and it was the start of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

Now, you can travel back in time to this golden age thanks to the launch of HX Expeditions’ new limited-edition cabin.

Harking back to when the DS Lofoten left mainland Norway for Svalbard as the world’s first expedition cruise 130 years ago, the cabin aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen has been designed to look like it was built in 1896 – without skimping on luxurious amenities.

That means wooden wall planks, ceiling beams and flooring, and even an old-fashioned wooden toilet seat, plus vintage maritime décor, bunk beds, wooden chests and a hidden bar in a barrel.

Even the smell is meant to be evocative of 1896, with a scent pod combining salt air and aged wood inside.

“This cabin was always meant to honour our origins, and sometimes the journey to create something meaningful mirrors the journeys we undertake at sea,” Gebhard Rainer, CEO of HX Expeditions, said.

“What our teams and partners have delivered is extraordinary. The 1896 Cabin is not just open – it’s surpassed everything we first envisioned. History, after all, is best remembered when lived.”

How to experience the 1896 Cabin

The 1896 Cabin is available to book on MS Fridtjof Nansen voyages throughout 2026 as an optional upgrade for €100 per night per person.

Only available for one night per guest per sailing, you’ll have to book fast either through the HX app or through the reception on board to secure your spot.

For those who don’t manage to do so, the cabin will also be open for viewing throughout each voyage. You’ll also be able to learn more about HX’s early heritage through talks from historians on board.

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