Hundreds of passengers onboard what was meant to be a dream cruise are now on a hunger strike.
Thrill seekers paid between £7,000 to £10,000 for a ’boutique journey to Antarctica aboard Swan Hellenic’s SH Diana – but engine failure meant the journey was cut short.
Now, 170 passengers who missed out on the ’boutique five-star experience’ through the Antarctic are on a hunger strike because the company won’t give them a full refund.
A letter written by the passengers and seen in The TImes read: ”Some guests are elderly, disabled, and have struggled already to get to this point, only for the trip to be cut short.
‘For many of us, visiting Antarctica is a life-long bucket list that we want to achieve before death or disability.’
Swan Hellenic has offered a 50% refund or a 65% credit for use on future cruises in the next two years, along with free activities in Argentina, where the ship will dock for repairs.
The ship is scheduled to go back towards the Antarctic on December 3, but passengers are fuming.
A group of passengers, believed to be Russian, are demanding full refunds and going on a hunger strike.
CEO of Swan Hellenic, Andrea Zito, said: ‘We deeply regret having to alter the itinerary due to technical issues. But we believe our offer is fair.
‘Some passengers have already accepted it and even rebooked future trips.’
Zito said in a statement: ‘The initial unease has largely subsided. A select few chose to stage a hunger strike in their protest which is of rather counterproductive. We are working towards a swift end to this action.’
A second luxury cruise ship was stuck in Belfast for four months, finally setting off on their journey in September of this year.
Although keen to embark on their adventure, many of the 125 passengers said they had enjoyed their time in and around the city.
Passengers – mostly from North America – either rent their suites for 35 to 120 days or buy them for anything from £90,000 to £260,000.
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