Cruise passengers revolt with hunger strike after engine failure of ’boutique’ ship: ‘Treated very badly’

Furious passengers are staging a hunger strike on board a luxury cruise ship after an engine malfunction disrupted their trip to Antarctica.

The SH Diana – a “boutique five-star” ship that was completed only last year – was en route to the South Pole when the maritime disaster occurred earlier this week.

Passengers paid between $8,882 and $12,689 for tickets on the 20-night voyage and are now angry that cruise company Swan Hellenic is refusing to refund the full cost despite the engine problem.

“Going to Antarctica is a trip of a lifetime and this particular cruise made it possible for many on board to do so,” one disappointed passenger told The Times of London.

Built in Helsinki, Finland, the luxury ship is 409 meters long with nine decks, an outdoor swimming pool, a bathroom, library and an expedition laboratory, Business Insider reported.

SH Diana left Capetown, South Africa in November. 13, with the culmination billed as a four-day stay in Antarctica, including visits to Elephant Island, Heroine Island, Paulet Island, Brown Bluff, D’Urville Monument, Yankee Harbor and Deception Island.

Upon arriving at their cabin, each of the 170 guests was greeted with a bottle of champagne.

However, disaster struck after the one-year-old vessel developed an engine problem, prompting the captain to cut short port calls in South Georgia and cancel the entire voyage to Antarctica.

As compensation, passengers were given the choice of a 50% cash refund or a 65% credit on future cruises.

Swan Hellenic also offered complimentary expeditions to Ushuaia, Argentina, where the cruise ship is scheduled to undergo repairs when it finally returns there.

The ship is now crawling at 6 knots (11 km/h) to that location and will arrive there on Saturday.

However, despite the offers, many passengers felt like the cruise line gave them the last cold shoulder – with a small group of Russian passengers even refusing to eat in protest.

Photos show devastated travelers holding up signs demanding full refunds.

“We are unhappy and disappointed that this journey has taken place [been] cut short in these circumstances,” said one hungry passenger in a letter to Swan Hellenic. “For most of us, this is our first time visiting Antarctica, and potentially the last chance for many.

They added: “Some guests are elderly, disabled and have already struggled to get to this point, only to have the journey cut short. For many of us, visiting Antarctica is a lifelong bucket list that we want to achieve before death or incapacity.”

In a Facebook post uploaded yesterday, disappointed passenger Zachary Morgan accused the cruise supplier of “swindling everyone and taking their money”.

Another passenger, who chose to remain anonymous, told the Times of London, “They made the right call not to go to Antarctica for safety reasons, but she is being treated very badly by Swan Hellenic.”

Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito issued a statement, calling the hunger strikes “counterproductive” and promising “a quick end to this action.”

Zito added that “some of the obviously very disappointed passengers” had already accepted their “very generous compensation package” – which he claimed exceeded the “legal requirement” – and that others had re-booked.

“Swan Hellenic would like to reiterate that we are very sorry that we had to change the itinerary due to 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. declared the boss. “Swan Hellenic always strives to go above and beyond our guests’ expectations and looks forward to welcoming all of our guests on future expeditions.”