Travel Back to 1896: HX Expeditions Launches Vintage Cabin Experience for Its 130th Anniversary

Back in 1896, when expedition cruising was in its infancy, HX Expeditions took passengers from mainland Norway to Svalbard on its premiere, pioneering voyage. 2006 will mark the company’s 130th anniversary, so the longest-running expedition cruise company is helping passengers feel as though they’ve stepped back in time to when this sort of cruising had only just begun.

A Voyage Back to 1896: How HX Expeditions Honors Its Origins

Since 1896 was when HX launched the first expedition cruise and made history by empowering passengers to feel as though they were truly discovering the magnificent places they visited, they are going big with their celebrations plans. Now guests will be able to stay overnight in a cabin that looks and feels like one that explorers would have stayed in on that first HX Expeditions cruise.

Beginning on January 29, 2026, and through the anniversary year (2026), the 1896 Cabinwill be available exclusively aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen. Here’s how it works. For most of their voyage, guests will stay in the modern cabin they backed, but they have the chance to spend one night of their cruise in a recreated late 19th-century expedition cabin.

“The 1896 Cabin is a chance for our guests to not just see history, but to live and sleep in it,” Gebhard Rainer, CEO of HX, said in a press 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.”

Inside the Vintage Cabins: Old-World Design Meets Modern Comfort

Excited to share this heritage experience with guests, HX Expeditions spared no expense in recreating a polar explorer’s cabin from 1896. Handcrafted furniture from the time is placed in the room as it would have been 130 years ago. There are also authentic scents for a more immersive experience, and small touches and décor help set the historical tone. Even the bathroom is designed as it would have been in 1896.

Imagine yourself sitting in a chair like the one visitors relaxed in just before the turn of the 20th century. Oil lamps spread a warm glow across the room and the smells of long ago help you feel as though you are a time traveler. The beds are more comfortable than explorers experienced long ago, but they have the 1896 style.

HX Expeditions worked with AROS Marine to bring this vision to life. Known for its innovative, striking cabin designs, AROS Marine created this vintage cabin that is comfortable but brings to mind so much of the past that cruisers are sure to feel as though they’ve stepped back in time. Designers at AROS Marine did a lot of in-depth research to bring this immersive experience to life..

HX Expeditions has been at the forefront of exploration cruises since 1896, and it still takes adventurous travelers on expedition cruises to many places around the world. Its Arctic and Antarctic expedition cruises are very popular. Many of their returning guests have a true appreciation of history and its significance in all we experience, so they’re sure to like this one-of-a-kind heritage experience.

A Limited-Edition Voyage with Lasting Impact

You are doing more than just have a fun, heritage experience when you book the 1896 Cabin aboard the MS Fridtjof Nansen in 2026. Fifty percent of all profits from the vintage cabin will be donated to the HX Foundation, so you’ll be supporting its fleet-wide anniversary fundraising goal of £130,000. The HX Foundation supports projects around the world that involve everything from supporting local communities to protecting endangered animals.

Booking the Journey: How to Sleep Like It’s 1896

The 1896 cabin is now available for booking. Guests sailing on any voyages aboard the MS Fridtjof Nansen throughout 2026 can book a night in the 1896 cabin. However, availability is extremely limited, so it’s best to book as soon as possible.

The cabin is offered as add-on for €450 per night (single or double occupancy). One booking is allowed per guest, and you can book this heritage experience when you book your standard cabin. Reserve your stay at the HX Expeditions booking page.

FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About HX Expeditions’ 130th-Anniversary Experience

HX Expeditions is planning special heritage experiences for guests to commemorate 130 years on the high seas. Here are key answers to common questions about the 1896 cabin and more.

What is the HX Expeditions 130th Anniversary Experience?

The highlight of HX Expeditions 130th anniversary celebration is a heritage experience. For one night, guests can stay in a cabin that’s a recreation of ones that explorers slept in back in 1896. The goal is to help cruisers immerse themselves into what may very well feel like stepping back in time. The cabin was designed with furniture that looks like the time, and even curated scents help visitors feel even more involved in the historical experience.

Where will the vintage cabin experience take place?

Starting January 29, 2026, the 1896 cabin experience will be available to guests cruising on any voyages aboard the MS Fridtjof Nansen. It can be booked throughout 2026. It’s only available for the anniversary year (2026) sailings.

When can travelers book the 1896-inspired voyage?

Booking of the 1896 room aboard the MS Fridtjof Nansen is available now. Stays don’t begin until January 29, 2026, but you can book the 1896 when you book your regular cabin. It’s available for an additional cost (€450per night) which is the same cost whether the room has one or two people in it. The room availability coincides with HX Expeditions’ 130th-anniversary celebrations. You can book the cabin today at the HX Expeditions booking page.

Is the vintage cabin experience historically accurate?

Although the MS Fridtjof Nansen’s 1896 cruise cabin isn’t completely historically accurate, it comes close. Its décor, furnishings, rugs, room accents, and menus were specifically designed after meticulous research into 19th-century designs and expedition logs. Even scents will greet visitors and help set the tone for a trip that seems to be back in time. However, there are also modern comforts so cruisers can enjoy their time in the room.

Mantas Lataitis, Head of Design at AROS Marine, shared in a press statement, “Designing the HX 1896 Cabin to life has been a journey into history as much as it has into design. Our expert design team have meticulously researched expedition cabins from the late 19th century, studying every detail from furnishings to lighting and materials, to create an authentic experience that honours HX Expeditions’ heritage.”

He added, “Collaborating closely with the VP, Hotel Operations Stefan Engl at HX, we’ve aimed to transport guests back in time while ensuring comfort and craftsmanship meet the adventure modern standards that guests know and love with the modern day HX.”

Which HX voyages include the 130th-anniversary cabins?

All MS Fridtjof Nansen cruises that take place from January 29, 2026, throughout the end of the year (2026) have the 1896 cabin experience. It is available to book now and will only be available until all heritage experience cabins have been reserved.