HX Expeditions has wrapped up its 2026 Arctic season, comprising 31 sailings, with record citizen science participation: 26,491 contributions across nine research programmes, including iNaturalist, eBird and Happywhale data, gathered during 363 science boat sessions. The company also trialled an AI-powered thermal imaging system called AI WAVE aboard MS Fram, developed with Heriot-Watt University and Seiche, to detect whales in real time around Svalbard and help reduce collision and disturbance risks for species like narwhal, beluga and bowhead whales.
Separately, HX extended its Greenland Promise policy through the end of the 2028 season, giving travellers booked on qualifying Greenland voyages flexibility to transfer to another HX expedition with added Future Cruise Credit, or receive a full refund, if a sailing is cancelled or government travel advisories change. HX also introduced a free pre-trip Svalbard learning course with the University of Tasmania, with similar courses planned for Arctic Canada, Greenland, Iceland and the Northwest Passage in 2027.