HX Expeditions Expands Award Winning World-First Antarctica Programme

HX Expeditions, the world's first and longest-running expedition cruise, scooped one of the finalist awards in the Expedition Cruise Initiative of the Year award category at Seatrade Europe in Hamburg last night. The accolade was given for its pioneering partnership with the world-leading climate change university*, the University of Tasmania (UTAS), which saw their Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) develop the world-first Antarctica educational programme with HX.

The industry-first programme, which is part of HX’s ongoing focus on science and education debuted last year to overwhelming response from guests. The programme offers travellers a unique opportunity to pair the life-changing experience of visiting Antarctica with academic insight and scientific knowledge. Designed to inspire, inform, and empower, the initiative has set a new benchmark for responsible expedition cruising.

Since its launch over 2,250 travellers have registered for the HX programme, and a post-course survey revealed:

• 99% overall satisfaction with the course experience
• 99.5% found the content relevant to their voyage
• 98% reported increased awareness of their responsibilities as Antarctic visitors

Guest testimonials included:

“I began to understand how complex Antarctica is. This is not just a holiday, but a life experience.” and “Very impressive course. Should or could be a mandatory tourist requirement in future.”

The Award-Winning Programme is Expanding

Building on its award-winning success, HX Expeditions and UTAS are now proud to announce the programme’s expansion into two distinct online learning tiers, making Antarctic education more accessible and immersive than ever before:

• Part 1: The Introductory Course – Available to all guests, a flexible online overview of Antarctica, designed to spark curiosity and prepare travellers before, during, or after their voyage. This is free to all travellers booking and travelling to Antarctica with HX.
• Part 2: The Comprehensive Course (with fee)– A deeper dive into Antarctic science and sustainability, available year-round with UTAS accreditation, allowing participants to even earn credits towards future study.

Both tiers have been developed as an integral part of the most comprehensive science and education programme in the expedition cruise industry. As a global leader in online learning, UTAS ensures these courses are academically rigorous yet accessible, combining world-class research with flexible digital delivery.

The updated Introductory Course for the 2025/2026 season will launch by the end of October (next month), followed by the release of the full Comprehensive Course (an entry fee to UTAS will be confirmed nearer to launch), ensuring guests can connect with Antarctica on a profoundly personal and educational level.

Iain McNeill, COO of HX Expeditions, who accepted the third-place award last night said:

“We are immensely proud to receive this recognition from Seatrade, but even more excited to see the ripple effect of our partnership with UTAS. By extending the programme into two tiers, we are giving our HX guests the chance for an even richer level of education and immersion around Antarctica’s unique environment, so they can leave their journey not only transformed but also empowered to be stewards of the planet."

A University of Tasmania spokesperson added:

“Our collaboration with HX Expeditions is about making the world’s most remote classroom accessible to everyone. By offering both an introductory and an accredited comprehensive course, we’re ensuring that travellers can take their Antarctic experience beyond the voyage, building knowledge that can inspire lifelong impact. UTAS is also deeply committed to sustainability, which was another key reason this partnership with HX was such a natural fit.”

With the expansion of the educational programme HX is underscoring HX Expeditions’ leadership in sustainable practices and educational travel, the company continues to chart new frontiers in expedition cruising – proving that exploration and conservation can go hand in hand.

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*Ranked #1 globally for climate action by the Times Higher Education