Cruise passengers revolt with hunger strike after ‘boutique’ ship engine failure: ‘Handled very badly’
Furious passengers are staging a hunger strike aboard a luxury cruise ship after an engine malfunction derailed their voyage to Antarctica.
The SH Diana — a “boutique five-star “vessel that was only completed last year — was en route to the South Pole when the maritime mishap occurred earlier this week.
Passengers paid between $8,882 and $12,689 for tickets on the 20-night voyage and are now furious that cruise company Swan Hellenic is refusing to reimburse the full cost despite the engine issue.
“To go to Antarctica is a trip of a lifetime and this specific sailing made it achievable for many on board to do so,” one disillusioned passenger told The Times Of London.
Built in Helsinki, Finland, the luxe ship measures 409 feet long with nine decks, an outdoor pool, a spa, library, and an expedition lab, Business Insider reported.
The SH Diana left Capetown, South Africa on Nov. 13, with the highlight touted as a four-day sojourn in Antarctica, entailing visits to Elephant Island, Heroina Island, Paulet Island, Brown Bluff, D’Urville Monument, Yankee Harbour and Deception Island.
Upon arrival at their cabin, each of the 170 guests were greeted with a bottle of Champagne.
However, disaster struck after the one-year-old vessel developed an engine issue, prompting the captain to cut short port calls in South Georgia and cancel the entire journey to Antarctica.
As compensation, passengers were given the choice of either a 50% cash refund or a 65% credit toward future cruises.
Swan Hellenic also offered complimentary expeditions in Ushuaia, Argentina where the cruiseliner is slated to undergo repairs when it finally returns there.
The ship is now crawling at 6 knots (11km/h) to that site and is due to arrive there on Saturday.
However, despite the offers, many passengers felt like the cruiseliner gave them the ultimate cold shoulder — while a small group of Russian passengers even refused to eat in protest.
Photos show the devastated voyagers holding up signs demanding a full refund.
“We are unhappy and disappointed that this journey has [been] cut short under these circumstances,” vented one hangry passenger in a letter to Swan Hellenic. “For a majority of us, this is our first time visiting Antarctica, and potentially the last opportunity for many.
They added: “Some guests are elderly, disabled, and have struggled already to get to this point, only for the trip to be cut short. For many of us, visiting Antarctica is a life-long bucket list that we want to achieve before death or disability.”
In a Facebook post uploaded yesterday, disillusioned passenger Zachary Morgan accused the pleasure cruise purveyor of “scamming everyone and taking their money.”
Another voyager, who opted to remain anonymous, told the Times Of London, “They made the right call not to go to Antarctica for safety reasons, but it is being handled very badly by Swan Hellenic.”
Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito released a statement, labeling the hunger strikes “counterproductive” and pledging a “swift end to this action.”
Zito added that “any of the obviously very disappointed passengers” already accepted their “very generous compensation package” — which he claimed exceeded the “legal requirement” — and that others had rebooked.
“Swan Hellenic would like to reiterate that we deeply regret that we had to change the itinerary due to the technical problems with the propeller drive and we understand the disappointment of our guests who were looking forward to a taste of the Antarctic experience,” the cruise boss declared. “Swan Hellenic always strives to go above and beyond our guest expectations and looks forward to welcoming all our guests back on board future expeditions.”
