Passengers demand refunds after engine failure ruins Antarctic cruise
- About 170 passengers faced disappointment when their luxury cruise to Antarctica was cut short due to an engine failure.
- Passengers initiated a hunger strike, demanding full refunds from the cruise line after the ship was rerouted to Ushuaia, Argentina.
- The CEO of Swan Hellenic acknowledged the dissatisfaction and offered compensation but noted that not all guests accepted the proposal.
On November 28, 2024, a group of approximately 170 passengers on board the Swan Hellenic SH Diana began a hunger strike in protest of an engine failure that forced the luxury cruise ship to abandon its planned voyage to Antarctica. The ship, which had departed from Cape Town on November 13 for a 20-night repositioning cruise, encountered mechanical difficulties due to an issue with one of its electric motors, preventing it from reaching its intended destinations in the Antarctic region. As a result, the cruise was rerouted to Ushuaia, Argentina, where the ship is expected to undergo repairs before its next sailing on December 3. Passengers expressed their disappointment, stating that this cruise represented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, particularly as many were visiting Antarctica for the first time. Reports indicated that some passengers had paid between £7,000 to £10,000 for the voyage. In reaction to the cancellation, a contingent of tourists from China and Russia staged a hunger strike, demanding full refunds, while others attempted to negotiate with the cruise line for better compensation. Swan Hellenic's CEO, Andrea Zito, acknowledged the dissatisfaction among passengers and stated that the compensation offer was significantly higher than the legal minimum of around 30%. He noted that while many passengers accepted the initial compensation, not all were satisfied, leading some to escalate their protests through hunger strikes. Zito expressed the company's regret over the itinerary change due to mechanical problems but emphasized that they were working to address the situation. Moving forward, the cruise line plans to rectify the ship's issues and offer excursions in Ushuaia to the passengers while also hoping to quell the rising tensions among the guests. This incident raises important questions regarding customer rights and compensation in the cruise industry, especially in the context of unforeseen technical difficulties that can disrupt planned voyages.