Norwegian Cruise Lines Removes Antarctica from Itineraries, Leaving Passengers Furious
Norwegian Cruise Lines has left passengers furious after removing Antarctica from the upcoming itineraries of its ship, the Norwegian Star, at the last minute. The decision has left passengers locked out from the once-in-a-lifetime destination, sparking uproar among those affected.
Over the weekend, the Norwegian Star, currently in the Drake Passage, informed passengers that the trip would have to be altered for operational reasons. This change meant that the current sailing and another upcoming trip departing on February 18 would no longer be reaching Antarctica, effectively shortening NCL’s cruise season. Additionally, the February 26 sailing has also substituted a call on Antarctica for Admiralty Bay in the sub-Antarctic South Shetland Islands.
According to a notification sent to travellers, the decision to alter the itinerary was made to optimize the guest experience and accommodate certain circumstances. However, this sudden change has left many passengers infuriated, especially as any mention of Antarctica has been removed from the sailing on the NCL app and online platforms.
Guests aboard the Norwegian Star have expressed their frustration, stating that the ship was operating under a ‘go-slow order,’ which has significantly affected the itinerary. The original stop in Paradise Bay and continental Antarctica would no longer be reached, with the ship now skirting past the tip of the sub-Antarctic South Shetland Islands and Elephant Islands.
Australian cruiser Shane Grant, along with other passengers, expressed their dissatisfaction after discovering the update on the ship’s passenger app, which was renamed from ‘Antarctica and South America’ to ‘just South America’ without any explanation. This unexpected change has left passengers feeling ‘pissed off’ and angry.
Passenger Greg Giles, who is booked on the upcoming February 18 sailing, voiced his frustration, stating that he was ‘angry to say the least.’ The decision has impacted a large group of 8 guests from South Australia who were eagerly anticipating the Antarctica experience.
