HX Expeditions has launched an excursion program in the Canadian Arctic, developed in partnership with Inuit Elders, local residents and community-born staff. It marks the first time a global cruise company has introduced a community-led program of this scale in the region, according to HX. Launching this summer, the community-led excursions will be offered on HX’s 25-day Northwest Passage sailings: westbound from Greenland to Alaska aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen, HX’s newest hybrid-powered vessel, and eastbound from Alaska to Greenland aboard MS Roald Amundsen, the world’s first battery hybrid-powered cruise ship.
A key member of the development team for these new experiences is Mariah Erkloo, an HX product planner and Inuk who was born and raised in Pond Inlet. She has helped shape the concept and strengthen relationships between HX and local partners.
This new line of community-led excursions will debut in Gjøa Haven, Pond Inlet and Cambridge Bay. These communities in the eastern Canadian Arctic can be visited only during a short summer window. Each excursion has been created in partnership with Inuit hosts to offer guests a rare opportunity to engage with daily life, culture and traditions in the Canadian Arctic—through the perspective of the people who live there. Chief Expedition Officer Alex McNeil says the excursions are limited to an average of 10 to 12 guests, ensuring each experience is personal and rooted in genuine exchange.
(HX Expeditions)
HX worked hand-in-hand with Inuit to create experiences that invite guests to share in the day-to-day life of those who call these shores home. This summer, HX guests sailing through the Northwest Passage—a route so remote, it has been transited fewer than 450 times by ship in recorded history—will have the opportunity to take part in locally created, community-led experiences such as:
- Guided hikes to local landmarks with Inuit storytelling
- Participating in the lighting of the traditional Qilliq and learning its cultural significance
- “Arctic Conversations” – Small-group discussions with community members about life in the North Arctic char fishing with local harvesters using traditional weir techniques
- Visiting summer cabins to learn how Inuit continue to live off the land
- Collaborative art-making sessions using techniques and materials unique to each region
- Storytelling with Inuit Elders sharing personal experiences and ancestral knowledge
- Joining community events like bingo, card games or demonstrations of Arctic sports
These excursions offer a rare and meaningful opportunity to connect with life in the Arctic—designed not just to inform, but to foster genuine connection between guests and hosts.
Setting what it claims is a new precedent in the cruise industry, HX will not take any margin from these excursions in their first phase: 100 percent of the revenue will go directly to individuals, artists and local businesses in Nunavut—supporting sustainable economic growth and ensuring these experiences remain community-owned. This initiative reinforces HX’s commitment to long-term collaboration, cultural partnership and a more inclusive future for Arctic travel.
For more information, visit www.travelhx.com.
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