A group of travellers went on a hunger strike after their the itinerary of their Antarctic was changed mid-voyage. The protests reportedly started after an unexpected issue with the propulsion electric motor stopped Swan Hellenic’s SH Diana from travelling to Antarctica during the 21-day itinerary.

Swan Hellenic's CEO said: "A select few chose to stage a hunger strike in their protest which is rather counterproductive."

Itineraries can change suddenly, especially around Antarctica, where the weather conditions can be unpredictable and extreme.

Passengers on an Antarctic cruise have staged a hunger strike after the ship’s engine failed, forcing the expedition to be cut short. SH Diana, operated by cruise company Swan Hellenic, left Cape Town on 13 November for a 21-day voyage to the southern region.

Cruise passengers on Swan Hellenic’s Diana vessel go on hunger strike over lack of full refund and cruise cancellation.

The SH Diana left Cape Town on November 13 for a 20-night trip to Antarctica before running into engine failure, which forced the voyage to be called off.

The luxury trip aboard the Swan Hellenic's SH Diana was supposed to be the cruise of a lifetime for the 170 passengers but their dreams of seeing one of the remotest corners of the world were crushed

Cruise line passengers get angry when their itinerary changes. When that happens, they demand on-board credit. If it happens before the cruise leaves, they want refunds, perhaps with some bonus credit.

A mechanical failure cut short a luxury Antarctic cruise, sparking protests and a hunger strike from passengers demanding full refunds.