HX Expeditions returned its 220-guest MS Spitsbergen to service this summer after an eight-million-dollar refit that touches nearly every corner of the ship. The work introduces a bistro for anytime dining, an interactive Science Center for hands-on discovery, and updated interiors that pair comfort with the line's signature indigo hull. Together, these changes sharpen the guest experience that already sets HX Expeditions apart on small-ship journeys around Svalbard and the wider Arctic Circle.
Key Points
- Eight-million-dollar overhaul across guest, crew, and research areas
- Brygga Bistro adds flexible, casual dining within the all-inclusive fare
- Expanded Science Center supports citizen science and multilingual talks
- Explorer Lounge refresh pairs new seating with 14-drink cocktail menu
- ADA-compliant bathrooms and larger crew spaces boost comfort for all
HX Expeditions Refurbishment Highlights
The first glimpse of MS Spitsbergen now comes wrapped in a deep indigo and sand livery that references Svalbard's icy seas and caramel tundra. Inside, Brygga Bistro anchors the forward port side with a brasserie vibe, bright timber finishes, and panoramic ocean views. Guests can grab wraps, salads, or Norwegian open-face sandwiches at any time, a boon for photographers returning late from a Zodiac landing at Esmark Glacier. The eatery sits within HX Expeditions' all-inclusive model, which already bundles daily excursions, Wi-Fi, drinks, and gratuities. The result is a nimble schedule where rivers of activity never interrupt meals or mingle with billing surprises.
Dining With HX Expeditions
Traditional meal settings still unfold in the main restaurant each evening, yet Brygga Bistro delivers freedom. Stefan Engl, vice president of Hotel operations, describes the venue as "a relaxed bridge between landings," a space where guests in parkas feel as welcome as those in cashmere. Menus rotate with regional produce: Svalbard shrimp on rye at lunch, cinnamon-spiced cloudberry buns at teatime, and slow-cooked reindeer stew after dusk. Meanwhile, the adjoining Explorer Bar has adopted the new Signature Cocktail Range, a collection of fourteen drinks inspired by pole-to-pole itineraries. A Glacier Martini finished with arctic thyme pairs unexpectedly well with midnight-sun panoramas of Prins Karls Forland.
Science at Sea
The refitted Science Center triples its footprint and introduces interactive touchscreens, citizen-science workstations, and a pocket library devoted to polar ecology. Interpreter headsets translate lectures into six languages, broadening accessibility for international guests. Last season, HX Expeditions logged more than thirty-thousand citizen-science submissions across thirty-two research projects. Chief Scientist Verena Meraldi believes the larger space will lift those numbers, particularly on the upcoming seven-day Ultimate Norway itinerary that chases cetaceans, seabirds, and aurora displays above seventy-one degrees north. For guests, the payoff is instant: logging a phytoplankton sample in the afternoon could inform a researcher's real-time data set by dinner.
Comfort and Crew Focus
Public areas adopt a Scandinavian palette of pale woods, charcoal accents, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Deeper cushions in the Explorer Lounge invite long stints at the ship's photo hub, while teak decking on the observation terrace now retains heat for winter aurora vigils. Back-of-house improvements may never hit the brochure, yet expanded crew messes and refreshed cabins play a quiet role in service consistency. Refurbished ADA-compliant bathrooms and widened passageways extend that ethos of care to mobility-minded travelers.
Analysis
The MS Spitsbergen makeover illustrates how small investments in flexibility can multiply guest satisfaction. Brygga Bistro ensures that expedition pacing, which often pivots around wildlife sightings and weather windows, no longer clashes with dining hours. Citizen-science upgrades transform passengers from passive observers into active collaborators, a distinction that resonates with environmentally conscious explorers. By translating lectures in real time, HX Expeditions erodes language barriers that once limited participation in the Arctic Circle.
Crew-area enhancements reveal another layer of strategy. A rested, well-fed team delivers quicker kayak launches, sharper lectures, and friendlier table service, all of which shape overall trip memory. Finally, overlaying these elements onto an all-inclusive fare positions the line competitively against operators that still charge by the drink or by the excursion. For travelers weighing price versus value, the refurbished MS Spitsbergen now ticks more boxes without inching into mega-ship territory.
Final Thoughts
HX Expeditions ends the refit of MS Spitsbergen with a vessel that feels purpose-built for twenty-first-century exploration. Between Brygga Bistro's anytime menu, a hands-on Science Center, and lounges designed for both cocktail chatter and polar-bear spotting, the ship stitches comfort to curiosity in a way few Arctic operators manage. As winter auroras begin to ripple across Svalbard's sky, guests will find everything they need within arm's reach, from reindeer stew to spectrometer data. Expect this small ship to punch well above its weight on upcoming Arctic Circle itineraries, proving that superior experience, not tonnage, drives the modern Expedition Cruise. HX Expeditions delivers exactly that.
