Are you ready to set sail with HX Expeditions?

As your expedition has been booked through Paramount Cruises, your booking, payments and Paramount Cruises travel documentation can be accessed through My Trip.

If you'd like to make a change to your booking, amend flights or accommodation, or have a question about something included within your Paramount Cruises package, please contact our team rather than making changes directly with HX.

You will also receive an HX booking reference, which you'll need for important pre-departure tasks including completing your Ship Manifest Information Form and accessing the HX app.

Keep an eye on your emails as your departure approaches, as HX will send important information relating to your expedition and pre-boarding requirements.

Yes. Every guest travelling with HX Expeditions must complete a Ship Manifest Information Form, usually referred to as the SMIF.

The form provides HX with important information required for immigration, customs and the operation of your expedition. You'll need details including your passport information and emergency contact details.

HX currently asks guests to complete the SMIF no later than six weeks before departure, but we'd recommend completing it as soon as you're invited to do so.

Don't leave this until check-in opens. Your completed SMIF is one of the requirements for accessing HX's online pre-boarding process.

HX offers online pre-boarding and check-in through the HX Expeditions app.

Pre-boarding currently opens 20 days before departure, provided:

• Your booking has been paid in full
• Your Ship Manifest Information Form has been completed
• You're within 20 days of departure

You'll need your passport and bank card details to complete the process.

Once you've completed check-in, your digital boarding pass will be available within the app, ready to show when you arrive for embarkation.

If you're travelling together, one person can complete check-in for everyone in the same travelling party, provided they have the required passport and payment details.

If you can't get the app or online check-in to work, don't panic. Advance check-in isn't mandatory and HX can complete the process with you at the terminal or onboard.

Yes, and this is one app we'd definitely recommend downloading before you travel.

The HX Expeditions app is used both before and during your expedition. Once pre-boarding opens, you can use it to complete online check-in, access your digital boarding pass and view information about your voyage.

Once onboard and connected to the ship's Wi-Fi, additional features become available, including:

• Your daily programme
• Expedition and activity information
• Restaurant opening times and menus
• Your booked excursions
• Activity group assignments
• Important announcements and real-time updates
• Information about your ship and onboard facilities

This is particularly useful on an expedition cruise because plans can change at short notice according to weather, wildlife, sea and ice conditions.

MS Santa Cruz II, which operates HX's Galápagos expeditions, currently uses different onboard arrangements and isn't supported by the standard HX Expeditions app.

If you're travelling to Antarctica, yes. Every guest joining an HX Antarctica expedition, including children, must complete a Medical Screening Form before travelling.

HX currently requires the form to be completed no earlier than four months and no later than six weeks before departure.

You'll complete your section first before having the medical section assessed. This can be completed through your own doctor or healthcare professional, or HX currently offers access to a separate paid telehealth assessment service through its medical partner.

Because Antarctica is extremely remote and access to advanced medical facilities is limited, the assessment is designed to make sure guests are medically fit to participate in the expedition.

If you're travelling somewhere other than Antarctica, check the requirements for your particular expedition because destination-specific health and vaccination requirements may still apply.

Yes, and this is one of the big differences between HX and a traditional cruise.

HX operates on an all-inclusive expedition basis, with a programme of daily landings, activities and destination experiences included as part of your voyage.

Depending on where you're travelling, these might include guided walks, community visits, wildlife watching, small expedition boat cruises, Science Centre activities and escorted landings in remote locations.

There are also optional excursions and smaller-group activities available for an additional charge on many voyages, such as kayaking, camping or specialist shore experiences.

Some can be reserved before travelling, while others can only be booked once onboard because they depend on weather, conditions and availability.

Check the itinerary for your particular voyage rather than assuming every activity shown by HX is included.

You can view the included and optional activities available for your voyage through the Enhance Your Cruise section of the HX website.

Selected optional excursions can be requested before departure, while others are only bookable once you're onboard.

HX currently accepts advance excursion bookings until approximately 14 days before departure, subject to availability.

Once onboard, you'll be able to see your booked excursions in the HX app and speak to the Expedition Team about any additional activities that are still available.

For activities such as kayaking, camping and more specialist expedition experiences, spaces can be particularly limited, so don't assume you'll always be able to book once onboard.

Yes. Gratuities are included with HX Expeditions and a discretionary daily service charge won't be added to your onboard account.

Tipping isn't expected. If you feel the crew have provided particularly exceptional service and would like to leave something additional, this is entirely optional. HX provides a tipping facility at Reception, with voluntary tips shared amongst eligible crew members rather than given directly to individuals.

Yes. Complimentary Wi-Fi is included on HX expedition ships.

However, you're likely to be sailing through some of the world's most remote regions, so connectivity can vary considerably.

HX specifically advises that the service is suitable for general browsing rather than streaming, and there may be periods when satellite coverage is limited or unavailable.

Download films, books, podcasts, apps and anything else you might want before leaving home rather than relying on being able to download them onboard.

Wi-Fi arrangements aboard MS Santa Cruz II in the Galápagos differ slightly, with connectivity naturally more limited.

One of the advantages of travelling with HX is that you don't have to buy every piece of specialist expedition equipment yourself.

On most expedition voyages, you'll receive a wind and water-resistant HX expedition jacket to keep.

HX also provides waterproof rubber boots where they're required for landings, as well as trekking poles and specialist equipment used for certain organised activities.

Rubber boots are particularly important in destinations where you'll make wet landings, stepping from a small expedition boat into shallow water before walking ashore.

They are currently mandatory for HX landings in Antarctica and Svalbard, as well as certain landings in Greenland and the Northwest Passage.

Equipment varies according to destination, so check your itinerary-specific packing information before buying specialist gear.

Yes, we'd recommend bringing a good pair of comfortable, waterproof walking or hiking boots with suitable grip.

HX provides rubber expedition boots where these are required for wet landings, but these aren't intended to replace your normal walking boots everywhere you travel.

For destinations such as Alaska, the British Isles and much of Europe, most landings are dry and your own walking boots are likely to be the footwear you use most frequently ashore.

You'll also want comfortable flat shoes with good grip for wearing around the ship.

What you need will depend heavily on where you're going, but layers are key for polar and cold-weather expeditions.

A moisture-wicking base layer, warm insulating layers and waterproof outer clothing make it much easier to adapt as conditions change.

Also consider packing gloves, a warm hat, sunglasses, sun protection and a small waterproof backpack for carrying your essentials during landings.

A pair of binoculars is one of the best things you can pack for an expedition cruise, particularly if wildlife is one of the reasons you've chosen the trip.

For warmer destinations, lightweight, quick-drying clothing, sun protection and suitable footwear become more important.

Don't forget your swimwear either. HX expedition ships have facilities such as hot tubs and saunas, which can be a particularly good way to warm up after a day exploring ashore.

Very relaxed. There is no formal dress code, even at dinner, so you don't need to pack a dinner jacket, evening gown or traditional cruise formalwear.

Most guests wear comfortable casual clothing onboard, and it's completely normal to see people heading to dinner in clothes suitable for an expedition rather than dressing up.

Comfortable flat shoes with a good grip are recommended around the ship, particularly when you're sailing in more exposed waters.

Even guests dining in HX's more premium Lindstrøm restaurant don't need to dress formally.

You'll need a valid passport for travel. It must have at least 6 months' validity from your date of return to the UK.

Please check the entry requirements for the countries you’ll be visiting, some destinations do require a visa to be organised prior to departure. You can find the latest information at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.

Yes, please ensure that you have adequate Travel Insurance in place for your holiday and that your insurance covers cruises and the countries you are travelling to. We’ve partnered with award-winning Travel Insurance Just Travel Cover to help you find the right insurance for your next cruise. At Just Travel Cover you can compare prices from multiple insurers; there’s no age limit and cover for pre-existing medical conditions.

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To review HX Expeditions' terms & conditions, please visit their website.