Hunger strike on cruise ship after propulsion electric motors fail
The ship in question on a previous voyage, courtesy of Swan Hellenic
Tourists who are on the ‘cruise of a lifetime’ aboard SH Diana are hunger striking after their trip has not gone as expected. Seemingly they’re seeking much higher compensation than they have been offered by providers Swan Hellenic . . . because they’re not going to make it to the Antarctic.
“Our vessel has encountered a mechanical malfunction and is currently estimated to arrive in the port of Ushuaia [Argentina] on the 30th of November. We are originally sailing to the Antartica peninsula to visit eight destinations on the continent,” says an email from a passenger, sent directly to MIN.
“We have been offered a mere 50 per cent refund when we have missed the ENTIRE continent of Antartica! As a result, passengers have been going on a hunger strike.
“Right now there is a group heading up on four days without food, sleeping in the lobby, with signs demonstrated. I’ve seen other passengers around the ship with signs around their neck demanding a full refund.”
According to Andrea Zito (Swan Hellenic CEO) during the cruise there was an unexpected malfunction in one of the ship’s two propulsion electric motors (while passing South Georgia).
As a result of this technical issue, the captain changed the planned route on day 14 of the 21-day cruise.
“The 3.5 planned days in Antarctic Peninsula had to be curtailed for safety reasons and the ship set a direct course for the next accessible port – Ushuaia, where it will dock on 30 November where a team of maker technicians will board with tools and spares in order to rectify the damage in time for the next planned cruise,” says Zito.
But, the unhappy passenger says: “As of now, we are running on half power, the elevators are out of service, and everyone is unhappy and being low balled by Swan Hellenic.”
The ‘low ball’ refers to the compensation being offered.
Hunger striking passengers sleeping in lobby
The passenger says they’ve been offered a 50 per cent refund, and this has caused unrest. As a result, some passengers are on a hunger strike and sleeping in the lobby, demanding a full refund. They also claim that the captain has told passengers that the coast guard and police will board the ship as they approach Ushuaia.
“We feel we have offered a very generous compensation package, beyond what is legally required,” says Zito. “Swan Hellenic always strive to go above and beyond our guest expectations and looks forward to welcoming all our guests back onboard future expeditions.”
Zito points out that guests are able to use the ship’s facilities for the remaining days until their return flight and daily excursions have been made available, but concedes that the 3.5 days lost on the Antarctic Peninsula leg of the sailing was considered, by most guests, to be a highlight of the 21-day cruise.
Compensation offer higher than legal requirement
“In terms of compensation, the technical difficulties mentioned above occurred on day 14. As a result, guests were offered a 50 per cent cash refund on the price of the cruise. This offer is significantly higher than the legal requirement of approximately 30 per cent.
“Alternatively, guests were offered a 65 per cent future cruise credit on any SH cruise.
“Many of the obviously very disappointed passengers accepted this offer and some have already rebooked.”
Another passenger, who runs a travel account on X (formerly known as twitter) under the moniker AndyBTravels, says the ‘mutiny’ brewing onboard is counterproductive. “It doesn’t make sense to me as the team onboard the ship are not the people to make decisions. I think they are just spoiling their enjoyment for the rest of the trip. Safety comes first.”
Mutiny on the Diana!
— AndyBTravels (@AndyBTravels) November 26, 2024
There is a mutiny brewing onboard! pic.twitter.com/JlBbnPxqqp
Passengers making demands for higher compensation
“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,” says Zito.
“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.
“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.”
But, that’s not enough for some passengers.
“We are powerless against Swan Hellenic and need people to know how they are wronging us,” says MIN‘s initial contact. “We are gathering and discussing our options on the ship to begin a potential class action lawsuit,” and signs off ‘traveler on the SH Diana, where our holiday has been ruined.’
The year old ship is now travelling at 6 knots (11km/h) to Ushuaia.
It departed Cape Town on November 13 for the 20-night cruise when the itinerary included Elephant Island, Heroina Island, Paulet Island, Brown Bluff, D’Urville Monument, Yankee Harbour and Deception Island in Antarctica over the course of four days.
In a letter to Swan Hellenic (shared by The Times), a group of holidaymakers wrote: “Understandably, we are unhappy and disappointed that this journey has [been] cut short under these circumstances.
“For a majority of us, this is our first time visiting Antarctica, and potentially the last opportunity for many. 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.”
It’s understood that many of those on the trip paid between about £7,000-£10,000 for the voyage.
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