HX Expeditions has unveiled its 1896 Cabin – an exact replica of the original rooms from its origins 130 years ago – on board MS Fridtjof Nansen, the expedition cruiseline’s first hybrid-battery powered expedition ship.
The immersive, overnight experience is inspired by the original 19th century cabins found on board HX’s first ships from the original voyages 130 years ago.
“This cabin was always meant to honour our origins, and what our teams and partners have delivered is extraordinary,” HX Expeditions CEO Gebhard Rainer said. “The 1896 Cabin has surpassed everything we first envisioned. We hope it gives guests a real sense of what life at sea was like 130 years ago. History, after all, is best remembered when lived.”
The 1896 Cabin blends authenticity with practicality through a curated selection of design elements, including:
- The cabin includes over 20 distinct furniture pieces, including bunk beds (sleeps 2) and a single bed, wooden chests, chairs, stools, wardrobes, an old-fashioned desk and even a hidden bar in a barrel.
- Handcrafted wooden interiors – wall planks, ceiling beams and flooring designed to evoke late-19th-century expedition ships over 140 pieces of wood have been used in the making of the space which is 28 square meters of recycled old oak planks; for the walls and ceilings – 90 square meters of recycled old threshing barn wood planks were used.
- Hours to build: 309 working hours
- Period inspired sleeping arrangements – the wood sourced for the cabin is made from an old cabin in Germany, giving it an authentic feel. There is even an old-fashioned wooden toilet seat that has been installed.
- A feature fireplace – with stone-effect detailing and ambient lighting as a focal point.
- Vintage maritime decor – horns, framed artwork and expedition-era objects woven into thespace.
