A group of cruise passengers staged a hunger strike after their Antarctica itinerary was cut short.
The SH Diana ship encountered an “unexpected malfunction” with a propulsion electric motor, according to Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito. The vessel was forced to sail to Ushuaia, Argentina, losing three-and-a-half days of planned exploration in the Antarctic Peninsula.
The change took place two weeks into a 21-day sailing. Many guests paid roughly $8,900 to $12,600 for the cruise, which departed from Cape Town, South Africa, on Nov. 13, British newspaper The Times reported.
Swan Hellenic offered guests a 50% refund or a 65% future cruise credit, Zito told USA TODAY in a statement dated Nov. 29. The line also said guests could take excursions and use the ship’s facilities while waiting for their flights.
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“As expected, not all of the guests were immediately satisfied with this compensation and have tried to build up pressure through discussions on board and by making demands on the captain and senior staff in order to obtain an even higher compensation for themselves,” the statement read. “The initial unease has largely subsided. A select few chose to stage a hunger strike in their protest which is … rather counterproductive.”
Three Russian guests posted up outside an onboard dining room, Mark Stratton, who was on the ship at the time, wrote for The Telegraph. “Swaddled in blankets, they bore placards calling for a 100 per cent refund of the voyage,” Stratton wrote.
Zito did not specify how long the passengers participated in the action. The strike has since ended, and technicians are working on the vessel.
Expedition cruise itineraries can change at the last minute depending on conditions in a given destination, particularly in a place like Antarctica, where the weather is often unpredictable.
“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 Antarctic experience,” Zito continued. “We feel we have offered a very generous compensation package, beyond what is legally required. Swan Hellenic always (strives) to go above and beyond our guest expectations and look forward to welcoming all our guests back onboard future expeditions.”
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cruise guests stage hunger strike over rerouted Antarctica voyage
