Cruise Ship Forced to Turn Back to Antarctica Due to Engine Failure: Passengers Go on Hunger Strike

antarctica - A luxury cruise to Antarctica turned into a nightmare for 170 passengers as the ship had to return early due to engine issues, leaving passengers dissatisfied with the compensation offered by the cruise company.

A luxury cruise to Antarctica turned into a nightmare for 170 passengers aboard the SH Diana operated by cruise company Swan Hellenic. Departing from Cape Town, South Africa on November 13, the cruise was supposed to visit various islands over twenty days before heading to Antarctica.

However, before reaching Antarctica, the ship had to turn back northward due to a motor problem, limiting its journey. The one-year-old ship then sailed at a slow pace of 6 knots (11 km/h) to Ushuaia, Argentina.

Passengers, who paid between 8000 to 12000 euros for the cruise, feel let down by the cruise company as Swan Hellenic is only offering a 50 percent refund or a 65 percent discount on a future cruise instead of a full refund.

A passenger interviewed by The Times expressed disappointment with Swan Hellenic's handling of the situation, stating, 'They made the right decision for safety reasons not to sail to Antarctica, but Swan Hellenic is handling this very poorly. Many passengers are angry. The company needs to make a better offer to quell the ongoing anger.'

A small group of Russian passengers even went on a hunger strike to protest the situation, demanding a full refund.

Swan Hellenic's CEO, Andrea Zito, remains firm, mentioning that the refund offer is already 'significantly higher than the legal requirement of around 30 percent.' Zito hopes to end the hunger strike soon by addressing the passengers' concerns.