MS Fram

Situated at the stern of the ship, the Explorer Lounge & Bar is the perfect spot to relax with talk with your fellow explorers and take in the sweeping panoramic views through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

In our on-board shop you can buy clothing suitable for expedition cruises. Our Expedition Team will be happy to give you expert advice on how to dress properly according to the destinations. We offer a great range of both warm and practical clothing, and we focus on fabrics with natural fibres. We also offer souvenirs, handicrafts, and postcards, in addition to a small selection of soap, toothpaste, and other personal effects.

Observation Decks are on Deck 5, 7 & 8. 

The Reception & Expedition Desk can be found on Deck 4.

Embarking on MS Fram, you’ll quickly feel safe and relaxed. Surrounding you with quality, natural materials and plenty of light and space, your expedition ship is reassuring, comfortable and built for adventure.

Get warm and cosy as you watch the world glide by through the windows of sauna on the top deck. 

Maintain your regular fitness regime (or kickstart a new one) in the well-equipped gym on Deck 7. The panoramic views will help you stay motivated.

After a day of exploring new destinations, guests can relax and rejuvenate in one of the two steaming outdoor hot tubs.

We offer a rich and varied program of optional shore excursions. In many ports, we offer an included excursion, which can be reserved for no additional charge. In many cases the included excursion can be combined with other optional excursions in the port. Most excursions can be pre-booked but may also be bookable onboard if capacity remains.

We advise that you book well in advance in order to avoid disappointment due to the excursion being fully booked. Please note that registration is binding, and once on board the Expedition Team will advise you of booking deadlines for excursions still available. Our excursions have English speaking guides unless otherwise indicated and other languages cannot be guaranteed unless otherwise specified. Excursions are subject to change and possible cancellation due to weather conditions. They are also dependent on the number of participants.

All expedition shore landings and small boat cruising during our exploration of Antarctica are included the programme. Along with the optional excursions available to book, the Expedition Team also arrange a variety of activities during the voyage. These will depend on location and season, but may include hiking, small boat cruising, kayaking, snowshoeing, or camping. A limited amount of kayaking is available for booking prior to select voyages, but all other activities are booked on board and subject to availability.

The ship's experienced lecturers' command an in-depth knowledge of the areas in which Ms Fram sails. they will conduct, on a regular basis, lectures on topics such as biology, history and geology throughout the course of the trip. The lecturing schedule will be announced everyday in the on board daily program.

The beating heart of your onboard learning experience, the Science Centre is being upgraded and expanded. Join lectures, examine specimens through powerful microscopes, and chat with the Expedition Team to deepen your understanding of the areas we explore.

Science & Education program

Unlock your inner scientist with our onboard Science & Education program, helping you uncover more about the people, places and wildlife you discover as you sail with us.

Delivering a more rounded and hands on experience

Unlock your inner scientist with these hands-on experiences helping you to get a better understanding of the world around where we sail. From researching the impact of climate change on animal populations and sea ice to getting a better understanding of migratory patterns of marine life. There are a range of projects to get involved with as we venture to many beautiful off-the-beaten-track locations.

The Science & Education program brings together like-minded individuals

Covering over 3/4 of the planet's surface, our oceans are vital in supporting human life on earth and are also home to over 90% of all known wildlife. Despite it influencing everything from our weather to transportation and yes, expedition cruises, very little is known about our blue planet.

This is where HX Expeditions and our fleet of small, state-of-the-art Expedition ships come in. We can reach, explore and collect vital scientific data on some of the planet’s most remote regions. From understanding whale migrations and phytoplankton communities to cloud observations and the Northern Lights, our onboard Science & Education Teams - with the help of you, our guests - captures, analyses, and reports invaluable data to organisations and research projects around the world.

Professional photos of your trip from our onboard photographer​

Every expedition has an onboard photographer who’ll capture stunning images from each day of your voyage. After you’ve returned home, we’ll send you a beautiful digital album along with a summary video to bring back your favourite memories and make those highlights easy to share.

The dress code on board is casual. It is recommended to bring breathable, waterproof, and windproof clothing on every expedition cruise. It is also useful to have a warm hat, gloves, a scarf, as well as thermal clothing and underwear in winter. It is important to choose sturdy shoes for shore excursions and possibly a hiking stick.

If you have special requests (e.g. dietary or medical), please inform us as soon as possible, and no later than 12 weeks prior to your cruise departure. We will do our best to meet such requests but cannot guarantee to do so, and under no circumstance will any such request be accepted by us so as to form part of a contractual agreement.

Please inform us no later than 12 weeks before departure. We’ll do our best to accommodate but can’t guarantee requests.

Our ships are wheelchair accessible with some operational requirements. Guests have to bring their own wheelchairs, which must be no wider than 60 cm for ease of movement. All mobility aids must be declared and safely carried onboard. Wheelchair users can only be accommodated in accessible cabins to ensure safe evacuation in emergencies. You can find our complete policy here: Accessibility for Disabled Persons and Persons with Reduced Mobility.

Our special child fare is valid for new bookings on all Expedition Cruises and is subject to change at any time. When the child occupies a cabin with at least two adults, a 50% savings applies to the cruise portion of the child’s package only. When the child occupies a cabin with one adult, a 20% savings applies to the cruise portion of the child’s package only. A 20% savings applies to the non-cruise portions of a package, where applicable, regardless of cabin occupancy. A child is defined as 2 through 15 years of age at the time of sailing.

This offer is bookable online or by phone and is combinable with all current offers. If you booked through a travel agent, this does not apply to you. Please contact them directly for any questions you have.

Please note:

• Participation of children under the age of 12 years in small-boat landings during expedition cruises is at the discretion of the captain.
• The minimum age for travel to Antarctica and Galápagos is 5 years.

The use of passenger-operated drones is not permitted during your voyage. This is for general safety as well as the protection of vulnerable wildlife and other guests’ personal security.

Drones are not allowed in Galapagos. Flash photography is not allowed on wildlife in the national parks. Professional video photography requires a special permit of the National Park Directorate.

The ships comply with international safety standards and are equipped for sailing in icy waters. A mandatory safety briefing will be provided before departure, with a Safety Notice posted inside your cabin.

MS Santa Cruz II also follows Galapagos Biocontrol Agency and ISPS regulations, including luggage screenings before boarding. For MS Santa Cruz II, a safety briefing and boat drill are conducted on the first day, followed by additional briefings for activities like snorkelling and kayaking. Special lifejackets are provided for landings, and safety guidelines will be explained.

Smoking is allowed only in designated outdoor areas, not in cabins or private balconies. Smoking while the ship is refuelling is prohibited.

WiFi is available, but coverage and speed can be limited on remote expeditions. It’s ideal for browsing, not streaming. For mobile phones, expect limited or no coverage in places like Antarctica, Arctic Canada, and Alaska. For MS Santa Cruz II, WiFi is available but intermittent. Please keep your phone on airplane mode during trails.

À la carte dining option

On the ships holding an A’la carte restaurant suite guests are offered to eat their dinner here any day they wish. Reservations must be done on board.

Suite breakfast

On the ships holding an A’la Carte restaurant suite guests are offered to eat their breakfast here. High-end breakfast for suite guests only. A la carte breakfast served at the table.

Suite check-in

For suite guests, there will be an exclusive check-in in a separate area onboard the ship, where the guests may meet and greet some of the ships officers.

Welcome greeting

On embarkation day, the suite guests will find a carabiner watch, a bottle of champagne and a welcome greeting from the captain inside their suite after check-in.

Turn-down service

Daily turn-down, including fresh towels, chocolate or similar on the pillow, turn-down of the bed.

Laundry service

Yes, one bag of laundry per suite per day is included for suite guests. Laundry services are available for all other guests at an additional cost.

In-suite

Bathrobes and Binoculars will be available with a possibility to buy.

On many of our expedition cruises we are landing in areas covered with snow. Terrain might be muddy, uneven, wet, and very slippery. The weather may be inclement and cold. This is part of being an explorer.

In Antarctica and Svalbard, it is mandatory to use rubber boots for all landings. For nature landings in Arctic Canada, Iceland, or other locations, rubber boots are recommended. A pair of special purpose boots can be borrowed on board free of charge for the duration of your cruise, and we will make sure that they are rinsed and declared clean from seeds and other biological material after every landing. This is to avoid unintentionally spreading invasive species into fragile environments. We carry sizes from 32 to 50. If you need a smaller or larger size than this, or prefer to wear your own boots, you are welcome to bring private rubber boots, but please be advised that our Expedition Team will have them checked before going ashore, to make sure they are suitable for landing.

We also lend out walking sticks on board. If you are more comfortable using your own walking sticks, bring them along with you, but bear in mind that they must be properly cleaned and disinfected after every landing.

Please take care when moving around the ship, especially on deck. Be cautious of wet and slippery surfaces and avoid doors to the outer deck in windy conditions. Inside, hold onto railings but not door frames to prevent injury. For guests on MS Santa Cruz II, there are no elevators, and the stairs are steep, so please use handrails when moving between decks.

If your questions haven’t been covered in this section, you can find more information here: Accessibility, Health & Safety (inc Covid-19) or by contacting our Customer Service team directly via email or phone.

Guests are respectfully reminded that only our stable expedition boats enable both water-based exploration and safe landings in otherwise inaccessible areas. You will need to be fairly agile to board these, but there is otherwise no need to worry about travelling in them. The crew will show you what to do and as long as you follow their instructions, after a few times it will become second nature. On all landings in expedition boats, guests are expected to wear proper footwear. For additional information about the footwear, see separate point “Equipment loans”. Landing operations depend on favourable conditions. 

Seasickness pills are available for purchase at reception (€1 each). We recommend bringing your preferred medication, though. Sea bands are also available onboard.

We serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Aune restaurant. Suite guests can dine at Lindstrøm (additional charge for non-suites). Fredheim offers casual dining and takeaway (except on some ships).

Included: still/sparkling water, soft drinks, house wines, draught beer, coffee, and tea. Premium drinks are extra. On MS Santa Cruz II, meals are buffet-style, with complimentary house beer, wine, and soft drinks at lunch and dinner.

You can hand in mail at reception for forwarding, but delivery may take time. MS Santa Cruz II has mailboxes at Baltra Airport and Puerto Ayora.

Laundry is included for suite guests. Self-service isn’t available, except on MS Santa Cruz II, which has washers/dryers for guest use.

The working language on board is English. Announcements and written information are also given in German. Announcements may be given in French and Chinese on selected departures. In order to be able to accommodate lectures in another language than English, we will offer a possibility for an “in ear” translation to Germa

The HX app is your digital companion while onboard. You can use it to view the daily programme, book excursions, and lots more. While the app is only available for use on board, we recommend downloading it before boarding, as onboard WiFi may be limited in remote regions. You'll receive login information during embarkation and can download here: App Store/Google Play store

The cruise card serves as your cabin key and payment card. It’s activated with a valid credit card. Debit cards can be used to pay the final invoice but not for activation.

For MS Santa Cruz II: MS Santa Cruz II does not provide cabins keys or a cruise card. Cabins can be locked from the inside, and each cabin is equipped with a safety box. The corridors are monitored by closed-circuit cameras. Upon check-in, a shipboard account (SA) will be opened, and we do not register credit cards at the start of the cruise. Final payment will be requested on the last night of the cruise. Accepted credit cards in Ecuador include Diners Club, Visa, American Express, and MasterCard. ATMs are available at mainland airports, as well as at Baltra Airport and in the towns of Puerto Ayora and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

Only drinks from the ship’s restaurants, bars, or cabins may be consumed. Alcohol bought in ports will be stored by the crew and returned on the last day. Santa Cruz II charges corkage fees for wine/spirits brought aboard.

An English-speaking physician and nurse are always on board, with essential medical equipment and medications for small emergencies. For serious cases, the nearest hospital will be contacted. Medical consultations and medications will incur charges.

All guests must have travel/health insurance. If you rely on medication, please bring enough to cover unforeseen delays. Keep medication in your hand luggage with clear instructions. In case of illness, quarantine may be required, and instructions from the ship's physician and captain must be followed.

Our ambition is both bold and necessary. We strive to be the most sustainable travel operator in the world. And we aim to push the industry’s boundaries for ESG.

Emissions - We want to be the best adventure travel company for the planet, so we invest heavily in reducing our emissions. We aim to reduce our emissions ahead of the requirements of the Paris agreement.

People - Our people—on board and ashore—are the heart of everything we do. We celebrate differences and aim to be the most inclusive travel company in the world.

Nature - Using both science and activism we protect the powerful oceans, rugged landscapes and delicate ecosystems to which we venture. We aim to support the global goal of “nature positive by 2030” with full recovery by 2050.

Community - We aim to leave the communities we visit better off than before we visited them, every time, whilst working together as a force for good. At HX, we want the communities we visit to benefit from our presence long after we depart. That’s why we’ve established the HX Foundation, which has supported more than 100 local and environmental projects globally.