by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 6:00 PM ET, Mon June 16, 2025
HX Expeditions has completed a major refurbishment of MS Spitsbergen.
The ship has enhanced guest spaces, a new bistro, a state-of-the-art science center and a freshly painted exterior in HX’s updated indigo blue and sand livery.
The upgrade is part of an $8 million project to renovate the 220-guest MS Spitsbergen and sister ship MS Fram. Now, the newly upgraded ship has returned to service for the summer Arctic season, sailing in and around Svalbard.
This winter, MS Spitsbergen will offer all-inclusive sailings above the Arctic Circle with the launch of HX’s new 7-day “Ultimate Norway – Arctic Expedition under the Northern Lights” itinerary.
The new Brygga Bistro onboard MS Spitsbergen (Photo Credit: Espen Mills/HX)
The ship now features Brygga Bistro, a new informal, brasserie-style dining concept serving snacks and light meals, like wraps, salads and sandwiches. The eatery, which is part of HX’s fleetwide all-inclusive offering, offers a flexible and relaxed dining alternative between landings or after excursions.
“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,” says Stefan Engl, vice president of hotel operations at HX.
The new Science Center is designed to support discovery and hands-on learning, featuring interactive screens, flexible lecture space, a small library and citizen science workstations. The space also boasts interpreter systems for multilingual talks, which improves accessibility for international guests.
The new Science Center onboard MS Spitsbergen (Photo Credit: Espen Mills/HX)
“Last year alone, our program supported 32 research projects, 1,911 guest-scientist cruise nights, and more than 30,000 citizen science submissions,” says Verena Meraldi, HX’s chief scientist. “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 has a refreshed interior and updated seating, while 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.
Crew areas and dining facilities were also expanded and ADA-compliant bathrooms were refurbished.
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