HX Expeditions is one of the original pioneers of expedition cruising, with a legacy that dates back to 1896. Born during the golden age of exploration, HX began by taking travellers to the Arctic at a time when few had ventured that far north. More than 130 years later, the company remains a global leader in expedition travel, operating immersive voyages from pole to pole.
For HX Expeditions Chief Scientist Dr Verena Meraldi, leadership in science at sea starts with rigour, not theatre. Cruise Monitor chats to Dr Verena about what HX Expeditions is all about.
What does leadership in “Science at Sea” actually mean to you?
For me, leadership in Science at Sea is a must. It’s not about the number of lectures or how scenic the backdrop is, it’s about credibility and intent.
The foundations are clear:
- Long-term research partnerships that matter to the scientific community, not just to us
- Purpose-built onboard infrastructure that allows real data collection, analysis and education
- Guest Scientists and skilled staff who can translate science accurately and ethically
- And above all, scientific integrity, doing things properly, even when it’s inconvenient
When those elements are in place, science becomes something guests participate in, not something they passively consume. That’s the difference between “lectures with a view” and genuine Science at Sea.
Your first Antarctica voyage in 2007 was a turning point. What changed for you—and how did that shape your first bold moves at HX?
Antarctica stripped everything back. The scale, the silence, the fragility, it forces you to confront how little we truly control. What struck me most was how knowledge, properly shared, altered behaviour almost immediately: people walked more carefully, asked better questions, and started to self-regulate.
That insight stayed with me. When I became Chief Scientist in 2018, my first priority was, in addition to offering our vessels as platforms of opportunity, to embed science into the daily rhythm of the voyage, not keep it apart or as “optional enrichment.” We invested in proper science spaces, expanded research collaborations, and redesigned how guests encountered information, so learning wasn’t abstract, but tied to what they were seeing, touching, and feeling in real time.
HX calls the Science Centre the heart of the onboard experience. How do you design it to shift guest behaviour?
We design the Science Centre as an open, working space, kind of an interactive museum. Equipment is visible. Data is live. Questions are encouraged. Participation is celebrated.
Equally important is rhythm. Guests might start the day making observations, discuss them informally over coffee, see the same concept reinforced during a landing, and then return to the Science Centre to reflect or analyse. That repetition, without pressure, helps guests slow down and begin to observe like scientists: patiently, critically, and with humility.
What are the key scientific ideas in Antarctica you most want guests to grasp—and what makes them stick?
There are a few that consistently change mindsets:
- Sea ice as habitat, not empty space
→ This clicks when guests realise how much life depends on ice they once thought was “just frozen water.” - Food webs starting with phytoplankton
→ Looking at plankton under a microscope often produces the biggest “aha” moment of the voyage. - The value of long-term monitoring
→ Guests understand this when they contribute data themselves and see how their single observation fits into a much bigger picture or timeline. - Weather versus climate
→ Daily conditions versus long-term trends become tangible when experienced firsthand.
What makes these ideas stick is doing, not being told.
Citizen science is central at HX. How do you choose projects and protect data quality and ethics?
We select projects that meet three criteria:
- Clear scientific value
- Ethical robustness, particularly around wildlife disturbance
- Accessibility, so guests can meaningfully contribute with proper guidance
Programs like NASA GLOBE Observer, iNaturalist, eBird and Happywhale work because they have strong validation processes and clear protocols. Onboard, our teams provide training, oversight, and context, so participation strengthens the data rather than diluting it, and encourage participants to keep engaged andcontinue contributing after the trip.
What does an ideal “ship-as-lab” collaboration look like?
At its best, it’s collaborative from start to finish:
- Planning aligns scientific goals with operational realities
- Fieldwork is integrated into the voyage without disrupting guest experience
- Guest engagement is transparent and respectful
- Data handover and outputs are clearly defined
- And results are shared; through publications, talks, or follow-up content
The most powerful collaborations are those where researchers gain access and support, and guests gain insight and purpose. Everyone leaves with more than they arrived with.
Beyond participation numbers, how do you evaluate whether HX is creating better travellers?
The real indicators come later. It’s how guests talk about Antarctica months or years after they return. Whether they correct misconceptions. Whether they observe and/or photograph wildlife differently. Whether they advocate for protection.
I’m convinced behaviour change shows up in the language used , the choices made, and confidence acquired, not just statistics. When guests continue engaging with science platforms or bring that mindset into other destinations, that’s when I know something meaningful has shifted.
“Antarctica doesn’t just change where people travel—it changes how.” What changes do you see most clearly?
People move more deliberately. They respect distance. They listen more. They become less extractive and more inquisitive in how they experience places.
Science plays a key role in that shift, it gives guests the why behind the rules and the confidence to defend them. Antarctica becomes a reference point for how to behave elsewhere.
What small changes do you hope guests carry into everyday life—and how does citizen science help?
Small, durable changes matter most: paying attention, asking questions, changing habits, sharing responsibly, staying curious.
Citizen science tools keep that connection alive. They remind guests that contributing to knowledge isn’t confined to Antarctica, it’s something they can do wherever they are.
Looking ahead: how do you scale Science at Sea without diluting it?
Scaling means pathways, not shortcuts. Deeper partnerships, such as the one we have with University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, allow us to expand learning while maintaining rigour.
The focus should be on layered experiences: entry points for curious beginners, depth for those who want more, and continuity beyond the voyage. Antarctica must remain a catalyst for stewardship, not a box to tick, and science is what keeps it honest.
