HX Expeditions is celebrating 130 years of adventure with an immersive experience that transports guests to the year it all began: 1896. This was the year HX launched the world’s first expedition cruise.
Launching on Jan. 29, 2026, the 1896 Cabin will be available exclusively aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen throughout the anniversary year (2026). This limited-edition experience will allow guests to spend one night in a meticulously recreated late 19th-century expedition cabin, featuring handcrafted period furnishings, authentic scents and curated touches that capture the spirit of HX’s earliest explorers.
The cabin’s design takes inspiration from HX’s earliest passenger accommodations and the vessels of the golden age of exploration, the very era in which HX was founded. AROS Marine, a leading ship-interior specialist, drew meticulous research into 19th-century expedition cabins to create an authentic yet comfortable experience.
The 1896 Cabin will be offered as an exclusive add-on to any voyage, and availability is strictly limited to one night per guest, per sailing. The initiative has a purpose-driven mission with 50 percent of all profits being donated to the HX Foundation.
“The 1896 Cabin is a chance for our guests to not just see history, but to live and sleep in it,” said Gebhard Rainer, CEO of HX, in a media statement. “As we celebrate 130 years of pioneering journeys, we wanted to create an experience that is immersive, atmospheric and meaningful—connecting our guests to our amazing heritage while helping fund the future of exploration and conservation through the HX Foundation.”
During its anniversary celebrations, HX will also carry a specially crafted barrel of fortified wine from the Austrian Regele Vineyard. The barrel of ‘Fortified Zweigelt’ will travel across the whole HX fleet next year—passing from one ship to another. This unique barrel will journey to the farthest corners of the globe, and once its odyssey is complete in late May 2027, the wine will be bottled and unveiled in 2027 as a limited-edition anniversary vintage.
