Friday, November 29, 2024 Swan Hellenic’s luxury expedition vessel, SH Diana, has been forced to cancel its planned stops in Antarctica due to an unforeseen engine malfunction. The ship, which made its debut last year as the largest and most technologically advanced ice-class vessel in the fleet, was en route on a 21-day repositioning cruise from Cape Town to Ushuaia, Argentina, when the issue arose. SH Diana, which can accommodate up to 192 guests, had been scheduled to visit several sought-after Antarctic locations, including Elephant Island, Heroina Island, Paulet Island, and Brown Bluff.
However, the failure of one of the ship’s two electric propulsion motors forced Swan Hellenic to cancel these stops, much to the disappointment of the 170 passengers currently aboard. The ship is now headed to Ushuaia for necessary repairs. Passengers, who paid between £7,000 and £10,000 for this exclusive luxury cruise, have voiced their dissatisfaction with the situation.
Some guests have staged protests, including a hunger strike, demanding better compensation for the disruption. In response, Swan Hellenic has offered a 50% refund or a 65% credit for future cruises within the next two years. However, the offer has been met with widespread frustration, as many passengers feel the compensation does not adequately address the scale of the problem.
Passengers have expressed their anger at what they view as an inadequate response from the cruise line, with several calling for a full r.