Yes, we are on that ship
Fur seals getting romantic on South Georgia
Our ship and some of its passengers have unexpectedly become world famous. Yes, we are on that ship. The one with a few passengers on a hunger strike because engine problems mean we miss out on all the days in Antarctica. Bummer.
You can read one of the many newspaper articles about it here. You can check youtube.com as well. Search for hunger strike ship.
Of course, everyone on the ship is disappointed, but by law a faltering ship cannot sail into even more remote waters.
Thank goodness the Petrel is not our ship! Long ago abandoned on South Georgia
Luckily we managed to visit Tristan da Cunha, the most remote inhabited island in the world, and a bit of South Georgia. To soften the blow of the disappointment, we were all given free internet access that allows me to post to the blog. So I’m sharing a few pics now and will write much more later.
P.S. I think it’s down to one hunger striker. Also we have a few journalists on board but everyone is still trying to figure out who posted the initial story in The Times.
It’s not really a headless king penguin. Just one with an itchy bum
Where to next? 
Oh, Peggy – that is outrageous. I sent this to our son who went to Antarctica for his honeymoon 6 years ago. Neither of us (or anyone, I am sure) can fathom the disappointment. I’m so sorry.
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Very disappointing, but we had the good fortune to visit Antarctica in 2012.
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I hadn’t heard anything about your ship, so have just read the linked article in full. What a terrible shame! I can only imagine your disappointment, Peggy. At least you had been to Antactica before, and hopefully you can take the refund to part-finance another trip soon.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks Pete. Hard to start planning until we get home.
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I read the Times article as I hadn’t heard anything about this. So sorry to hear that your trip is mostly a bust.
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Mostly a bust is right. We had three landings out of an expected 12.
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I’m just thankful you are all safe, for the time being, and not actually shipwrecked!
Thanks for sharing the photos while you had time and free Internet access. 🙏🏾🩵
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We’re all safe, warm and too well fed.
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Even better. Thank goodness!
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glad you’re both safe and under sail! Where to next?
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Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Santiago, then home.
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I am so sorry. When we were there, the weather was perfect, but the captain had to pull out of a bay hours early. Ice was closing in, and a Russian ship had become trapped. Better safe than sorry.
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On our previous trip we missed a landing due to ice, and then were cut a day short for a medical emergency on board (not us).
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So sorry your trip was abandoned, but at least you are safe and hopefully can resume the trip at another time.
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We are safe, which was the main priority. We’ll see how things go from here.
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Bummer, indeed. Such is life sometimes.
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Best to be philosophical.
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Among all the inconveniences that being in this situation means, you have enough arguments to make a journalistic chronicle narrating and experiencing firsthand this unusual adventure on that ship. I hope everything ends well for you Peggy.
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Thanks so much. We hope for a good outcome too.
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Bummer indeed
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A real bummer.
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Oh my..
S
Sent from my iPhone
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Oh damn more to the point.
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You should all get reimbursed in full. Sorry about your misadventure but the photos are cool.
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Thanks, plenty more photos to come.
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How disappointing Peggy, but you seem to be taking it in your stride barely missing a beat. I’d have been in tears. I think they should fully compensate everyone – i certainly wouldn’t be booking with them if they don’t.
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We’re waiting to see what happens. Our travel agent is going to advocate for us.
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Best of luck.
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Bummer! Lunatics are everywhere it seems. What good is a hunger strike? Conspiracy theorists would think sabotage, like Faulkner’s early “Mosquitoes”.🤣 make it home safe an$ try to find out what the conical spikes in cement are for at the Petrel site. Did the crew make it home from the Petrel or did they eat each other. Now there’s a hunger strike!
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The hunger strike seems to have ended. No idea what deals, if any, were made. Interesting questions about the Petrel. I’ll investigate.
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LeggyZ,
What a disaster, the Antarctica part of the sailing was terminated… but again safety is paramount! And to bad the ship company will only refund about 30% of the cost of the trip ??!! I know you had been to Antarctica in the past… but still a big disappointment. At least you did go to a few remote islands and got some great photos.
Try your best to be a little more upbeat now traveling to Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Santiago, then home.
Stay Safe…
Sy S.
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Thanks Sy. I think compensation is still being decided. Poor John and I are both being philosophical about it. I mean, what else can you do?
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Hello PeggZ,
I have a friend who was on a world cruise, but not to Antarctica.
She said “Ushuaia Tierra del Fuego Province was beautiful.”
Also, “Buenos Aires is nice, Montevideo is dangerous….lots of tourist muggings. Our group had a police escort everywhere we went. Didn’t see much of Santiago other than the airport.”
It would be nice to get a larger money refund above 30%.
The last time you were in Ushuaia, you were able to book a spot on an Antarctica ship for half the price.. if I recall. To bad you can not stay in Ushuaia a while longer and try that again.
I look forward to seeing your photos and comments on your travels… Have a very safe traveling once again and and back home in Australia for Christmas!
Ciao,
Sy S.
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Thanks Sy. Our travel agent is trying for a better compensation. For sure it is at least 50 per cent. Lots of people have tried for last-minute deals, but there have been no cabins available.
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I had heard about this but didn’t click that you might be on it! Such a shame! But better to be safe than sorry in such remote waters.
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That’s what we think Anna. Besides the seas have been rough.
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That is such terrible bad luck. I don’t think a hunger strike would help and it would only annoy the crew who aren’t the ones calling the shots. Rotten bad luck Peggy. You haven’t mentioned how Dear John the Stoic reacted.
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The hunger strike was ridiculous, but it got them (and us) in the news. Who knows, maybe it will increase the compensation? Both Poor John and I think it is what it is.
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Enjoy the rest of your cruise.
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Thanks, we’re almost to Ushuaia.
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I am so very sorry to hear this news, Peggy. What a disappointment!!!! You reminded me of the time that one of our cruises had us in the news. Most of the ship passengers and staff caught the Norovirus (Norwalk). The Centre for Disease Control grounded the ship. There was no compensation. But what I realized at the time was that an “adventure” and a “vacation” are very different. Adventures carry risk that push us to our limits. I do hope that you enjoy the rest of the cruise. Safe travels!
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Thanks Rebecca. I think many people on our expedition have had some sort of disruption. All in all , it’s been great.
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So good to hear!!
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Oh my goodness, Peggy. You guys know just how to find the best adventures. I know it is disappointing, but often adventures come about when things don’t go according to plan. I’m sure you have lots of interesting stories to tell. Stay warm and have fun no matter where you are. Big hug, Jolandi.
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Thanks Jolandi. We’re warm, well fed, have seen some great sights, and met wonderful people. All good.
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What a journey! Looking forward to more!
Alison
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Just need better internet and I’ll be posting.
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I haven’t heard anything about the ship or hunger strike, but then I rarely read the current news (unless it relates to weird weather across the world on YouTube).
I can only imagine your disappointment. Secondly, cruises to the Antarctic are horrendously expensive and that alone would trigger some sort of inner turmoil for me.
Love the penguin photo.
Whatever you choose to write about from this trip will be interesting as far as I’m concerned.
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Thanks Vicki, I look forward to sharing more when I have a decent internet connection.
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I wish you a good time and that everything goes well
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Thanks so much.
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Happy traveling. Season’s Greetings and Merry Christmas.
Please note my previous Blog page is discontinued. Welcome to visit my new Blog Page. Thanks.
http://www.etc4travel.wordpress.com
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Good luck with the new link.
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Peggy, I’m not sure how I missed this post when it came out, but I absolutely love the headless penguin—it made my day! Things haven’t been the brightest for us lately, so this brought a much-needed smile.
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So sorry to hear things haven’t been so bright for you lately. We’ve only recently arrived home and I am only just getting back to reading and commenting on other blogs. Hope Christmas and 2025 are good to you.
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Hello LeggyPeggy,
With a Cyclone hitting Mayotte, destruction and lives lost last week….. I thought that maybe the bad stormy weather might have travelled across the southern part of South America… and areas you were traveling to. However, now I see you made it back home safely and just in time for the Christmas Holiday.
Wishing you and your family a Joyous and Happy Christmas!
Sy S.
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We’re totally fine Sy. Thanks for worrying about us. Now home for the holidays.
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Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to check in, especially after just getting back home. I hope your return has been smooth and that you’re settling in well. Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful Christmas and a bright, joyful start to 2025!
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Wow. Missed this story. Hope you get a replay next year!
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Thanks. We hope so too.
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Swan Hellenic’s compensation offer was more than fair and even before setting foot on the ship the passengers should have been aware of the risks in sailing the South Atlantic. What a dream cruise. What foolishness to “hunger strike” and miss out on that element of the experience. Are you booking for the next “reposition” cruise?
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The hunger strike was complete foolishness, but the strikers all turned up for the captain’s farewell reception with caviar and champagne. Still figuring out what to do in future.
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Came back to their senses
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Or thought of caviar was too tempting?
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Argh, that is disappointing, but getting stranded in Antarctica would, I imagine, be a rougher fate. And you’re still on a grand adventure! So please be safe in this New Year, and I will pass your news on to my not-so-little B’s. xxxx
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Thanks Jean. We’re home now, enjoying time with family at the coast. Hope 2025 is good to you all.
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Huzzah, glad you’re all safe! xxxxx
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What a brilliant pic of the king penguin with an itchy bum! 😂
Good that you managed to visit Tristan da Cunha … must be a fascinating place.
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Tristan da Cunha was amazing. I plan to post about it within the next few days.
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Looking forward to reading your post.
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Thanks for sharing … a lot of interesting lessons
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Luckily everything turned out fine in the end.
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glad it did
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It is hard to feel sympathy for those Russians. Cruising can be unpredictable and I have heard similar stories of cancellations. My cousin paid a bomb for a cruise to the Kimberleys and due to a cyclone floated around the ocean outside of Perth instead. It happens. Antartica is an expensive destination but this is a risk. I am sorry you got caught up in this but who would want to be sailing if it is unsafe?
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No one had sympathy for the Russians. I give full credit to Swan Hellenic for making the trip pleasant and safe in spite of the disruptions. Even better, we got to do the trip in reverse in March.
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I figured it was the prelude to the recent adventure!
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I’m sure I commented earlier but I have been remiss on following up on your later articles.
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No worries. Thanks.
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