By
Alex Smith |
HX Expeditions has completed a refurbishment of its expedition cruise ship Spitsbergen, introducing updated guest spaces, a bistro, a science centre and a refreshed exterior in HX’s updated Indigo Blue and Sand livery.
The refurbishment is part of a €7 million ($8.09 million) investment by HX across Spitsbergen and sister ship Fram, aimed at improving comfort, accessibility and operational efficiency across its fleet.
The refurbished vessel now features Brygga Bistro, an informal brasserie-style dining concept located on deck five. It will serve snacks and light meals during three daily windows: mid-morning, afternoon and late evening. The restaurant is part of HX’s fleetwide all-inclusive offering, which became standard across all of its fleet in November 2024.
Brygga Bistro is an informal brasserie-style dining concept
Menu items include salads, wraps, sandwiches, pressed toasties and warm evening plates such as lamb kofta with homemade pita. Table service is included, allowing guests to eat a hot croissant or a late-night toastie snack with coffee, tea or juice.
“By offering a seamless, high-quality alternative to traditional dining hours, Brygga enhances the onboard atmosphere - bringing comfort and accessibility to guests in a way that feels natural and refined,” said Stefan Engl, vice president of hotel operations at HX.
The ship’s newly built Science Center is located on deck six and features interactive screens, flexible lecture space, a small library and dedicated workstations for citizen science. The space is also equipped with interpreter systems for multi-language talks to ensure accessibility for international guests.
The Science Center features interactive screens, flexible lecture space, a small library and dedicated workstations for citizen science
“Last year alone, our program supported 32 research projects, 1,911 guest-scientist cruise nights, and more than 30,000 citizen science submissions,” said Dr. Verena Meraldi, chief scientist for HX. “The new Science Center aboard Spitsbergen will allow us to deepen that impact – especially around Svalbard, one of the most climate-sensitive and scientifically significant areas in the world.”
The Explorer Lounge & Bar, meanwhile, has received a refreshed interior and updated seating. The adjoining Explorer Bar now serves HX’s new Signature Cocktail Range, a collection of 14 handcrafted drinks inspired by the company’s pole-to-pole itineraries.
In addition to guest-facing spaces, crew areas and dining facilities have been expanded. Bathrooms have been refurbished to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards and interpretation systems have been installed to improve inclusivity and access across the ship.