HX Unveils Immersive 1896 Cabin on Fridtjof Nansen

HX launches 1896 Cabin for its 130th anniversary

HX Expeditions has officially opened its long‑anticipated 1896 Cabin, an immersive overnight experience now available aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen to celebrate 130 years of pioneering expedition cruising. The limited‑edition cabin invites guests to step back into the summer of 1896, when DS Lofoten departed Hammerfest for Svalbard on what is widely regarded as the world’s first expedition cruise, a voyage that helped define HX’s exploration‑led DNA.

After a dramatic setback in January, when key construction elements were lost in transit to Buenos Aires, the project emerged reimagined and refined, resulting in a space that HX describes as even more striking than the original concept. Today, the 1896 Cabin stands as a tribute to perseverance, craftsmanship and the line’s determination to “do things properly” — even if that means waiting longer to get every detail right.

Learn more about the 1896 Cabin experience on HX’s official website.

A night in the golden age of exploration

Available exclusively to guests sailing on MS Fridtjof Nansen, the 1896 Cabin can be booked as a one‑night add‑on before departure or once on board, without replacing the guest’s regular cabin booking. The space recreates the atmosphere of a late‑19th‑century expedition vessel while preserving discreet modern comforts, immersing guests in the world of early Arctic explorers who ventured north with courage, curiosity and craft.

Rather than feeling like a set or museum piece, the finished cabin reveals a surprising warmth and depth: natural textures, layered lighting and hand‑finished details create a richness that photographs can’t fully capture. There is even a bespoke “scent of 1896”—a custom scent pod combining notes of salt air and aged timber—to complete the illusion of stepping back in time.

Heritage design by AROS Marine

The 1896 Cabin was designed and built by AROS Marine, a leading European ship‑interior specialist, in close collaboration with HX’s hotel operations team. Known for contemporary maritime projects, AROS embraced the opportunity to lean fully into heritage design, drawing on extensive research into late‑19th‑century materials, lighting and onboard life.

Key features include:

• More than 20 individual furniture pieces, from bunk beds and a single bed to wooden chests, wardrobes, stools, an old‑fashioned desk and even a hidden bar tucked inside a barrel.
• Handcrafted wooden interiors made from over 140 pieces of wood, including 28 m² of recycled old oak planks for flooring and 90 m² of reclaimed threshing‑barn wood for walls and ceilings, evoking the patina of original expedition ships.
• Period‑inspired sleeping arrangements using reclaimed wood from an old German cabin, down to details such as an old‑style wooden toilet seat.
• A feature fireplace inspired by wood‑burning stoves on early polar vessels, with stone‑effect detailing and ambient lighting as a focal point.
• Vintage maritime décor—horns, framed artwork and expedition‑era objects—sourced by AROS from markets and fairs across Europe.

Together, these elements took more than 300 working hours to assemble, resulting in a one‑of‑a‑kind onboard space that blends historical character with modern build expertise.

Pricing, availability and purpose

The 1896 Cabin is available on select MS Fridtjof Nansen sailings throughout 2026, offered as an optional upgrade at €100 per person, per night, with a maximum of three guests. Each guest can reserve only one night per voyage, reinforcing the experience as a special, one‑off immersion rather than a standard cabin category.

In line with HX’s purpose‑driven approach, 50% of all profits from the 1896 Cabin go directly to the HX Foundation, contributing to a fleet‑wide goal of raising £130,000 per ship in 2026 for conservation, science and heritage initiatives. Guests can book the cabin alongside their regular accommodation at the time of reserving a 2026 Fridtjof Nansen voyage or on board via reception or the HX app, subject to availability.

The cabin also functions as an educational touchpoint: during each voyage it opens for viewings, with onboard historians using the space to share stories from HX’s early expedition heritage and the groundbreaking 1896 DS Lofoten cruise from Hammerfest to Svalbard.

For itineraries featuring the 1896 Cabin and to support the anniversary campaign, visit HX Expeditions – MS Fridtjof Nansen.