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A cruise ship has been caught in the middle of a severe Antarctic storm due to sudden changes made to the schedule, causing frustration among some passengers.
“Do not make a reservation for a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line,” stated @ruinedvacation on their TikTok video posted on 9 February. “Our cruise to Antarctica has been cancelled without notification as the cruise name was changed on the app.”
“Their destination does not include mainland Antarctica, which is what we originally paid for,” she stated. She also expressed that she and fellow passengers felt deceived and taken advantage of due to this alteration.
Eric Huang, a fellow passenger, expressed to ABC News that the experience has been mostly underwhelming due to the lack of direction.
“I do not feel like I truly experienced Antarctica during this cruise. I believe I would need to come again in order to do so,” he added.
The passengers aboard the cruise were informed that their journey would take them to South America and Antarctica. They were under the impression that the ship would make a stop at the beautiful Paradise Bay in Antarctica. However, to their surprise, the ship only made a stop at Admiralty Bay, an island located 200 miles north, before resuming its voyage to the Falkland Islands and South America.
A representative from Norwegian Cruise Line stated that although they strive to keep itineraries unchanged, sometimes alterations are necessary for the best experience. In order to provide guests with more time to explore Stanley, Falkland Islands, the current itinerary has been adjusted to include a cruise through Admiralty Bay, Antarctica instead of Paradise Bay.
They stated, “Furthermore, as a result of a recent regulatory mandate in the region, the ship is traveling at a slower pace, which is also affecting its initial schedule.”
However, not all travelers were outraged by the alteration. One individual, who chose to remain unidentified, expressed to The Independent: “This vessel is navigating to Antarctica through some of the most hazardous waters in the world, not following a strict timetable; we must remain flexible and understand that circumstances may change. I approached this trip with this understanding.”
“Our trip to Antarctica was fantastic, as the weather was in our favor and the captain and navigational team did an outstanding job.”
The ship’s journey to Antarctica was confirmed on February 16, 2024, through an updated version of this article. However, it did not reach its intended destination as originally planned.
Source: independent.co.uk