Situation on board escalates: cruise guests go on hunger strike in protest

A breakdown forces a cruise ship to prematurely end its journey through Antarctica. Some passengers react drastically.

Passengers on a cruise ship have gone on hunger strike out of anger over what they see as inadequate compensation for an abbreviated journey through Antarctica. On handwritten signs they are demanding reimbursement of the entire travel costs of up to 10,000 pounds (11,190 francs), as the British newspaper “Times” reports.

The provider Swan Hellenic confirmed the incident upon request and spoke of a “counterproductive” attitude from “a small number” of guests. “We are working on a quick end to this campaign,” it said. According to the Times, there are a total of around 170 passengers on board.

During the three-week cruise from the South African city of Cape Town to Ushuaia in the south of Argentina, there was a malfunction in one of the two electric drive motors of the “SH Diana” near the island of South Georgia. The captain then decided to change the planned route and shorten the planned three and a half day passage along the Antarctic Peninsula, Swan Hellenic said.

50 percent refund offered

In messages to The Times, passengers complained that they were missing the “trip of a lifetime.” The provider’s compensation offer is too low. The company, however, emphasized that it had offered a 50 percent refund – which was well above the legal requirement – or a 65 percent discount on a future cruise.

Many passengers would have accepted this. However, not all guests were satisfied and tried to put pressure on crew members to get higher compensation, the company said.

The ship is scheduled to arrive in Ushuia this Saturday. Technicians go on board there to repair the “SH Diana” in time for the next trip.

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dpa, dmu