Russian tourists went on hunger strike on cruise ship they bought for thousands of dollars

Tourists from Russia have declared a hunger strike on a cruise ship on its way to Antarctica, as the ship experienced engine problems.

More than 170 passengers are stuck on the “SH Diana” liner on its way to Antarctica, Russian media reports.

The ship was supposed to take tourists from different countries to the sights of the coldest continent. The cheapest tours cost about half a million rubles ($4.7 thousand), but the price tag reached 1.3 million rubles ($12.4 thousand). However, on November 22, the advance to the South Pole stopped – engine problems arose.

There are many Russians on board among the tourists. According to sources, they began to protest and went on a hunger strike because the cruise company Swan Hellenic, according to them, refuses to reimburse them the full cost of their tickets – they only offered some compensation, which did not suit the customers.

The ship is currently slowly making its way to the city of Ushuaia in southern Argentina at a speed of 6 knots (11 km/h). It is due to arrive there on Saturday, November 30. There, specialists will attempt to repair it, but not to continue the current cruise, but to start the next group, which is scheduled for December 3.

USM previously reported that about 600 Russians were stranded on the Spectrum of The Seas cruise ship, which was heading to Shanghai from Japan.