• When I went on an Anarctic cruise aboard the Seabourn Venture I was mostly impressed.
• My add-on kayaking and photography masterclass excursions felt like an incredible value.
• However, I was pretty disappointed by the $1,000 submarine excursion.

Every traveler should experience a cruise to Anarctica at least once.

From the adorable, toddling penguins that you'll witness almost daily to the mind-blowing cerulean-blue icebergs, it's pure magic.

Of course, making your way south to the Great White Continent isn't cheap, especially when you tack on the myriad excursions you'll want to enjoy along the way.

I sailed to Antarctica on the Seabourn Venture in 2022 and enjoyed my fair share of top-shelf cocktails and three-course meals while on board.

My luxury cruise on the 264-passenger, all-suite vessel included daily activities, but I also chose to book several of the ship's extra outings for additional fees.

Surprisingly, the most expensive one was my least favorite, but I found two I'd absolutely recommend.

Antarctic kayaking was everything I hoped it would be

One of my goals on this trip to Antarctica was to kayak with minke whales. I'm happy to report that I achieved that goal during my add-on kayaking excursions.

Before my cruise set sail, I booked three kayaking sessions on different days for about $250 a pop.

I spaced them out throughout the five days our ship was in Antarctic waters. The weather in Antarctica can be volatile and unpredictable, so I wanted to have options in case one or two of the trips got canceled.

This experience was incredible. I encountered many glassy icebergs as I paddled around the area's frigid waters. In addition to seeing whales, I also witnessed penguins porpoising, where they torpedo themselves up and out of the water, like dolphins.

If you get lucky, you may even see (and hear) a whale spout on this excursion.

I'm glad I booked the photography outing and lecutres

One of the best parts of my cruise was a photography outing on a Zodiac cruise (a smaller inflatable vessel) with the ship's onboard photographer. The add-on also came with a series of lessons on taking and editing great photos.

I'd invested in a professional-caliber digital camera setup before my cruise, so I found this photography-specific trip and subsequent lectures to be particularly valuable.

Our group had plenty of time to slow down and take multiple shots of shimmering icebergs while on the Zodiac. Plus, I learned tips for taking photos at great angles with better lighting.

The best part is that I left with dozens of high-quality images to share with my family and friends when I returned home.

During my trip, the excursion was more informal and organized by my ship's onboard photographer. Now, it's been built up into an entire course called the Image Masters Photography Masterclass for both amateur and pro photographers.

The add-on is usually limited to 10 individuals and costs about $375 per person per day.

However, I wasn't impressed by the pricey submerisble excursion

Seabourn's high-end expedition submarines can take seven people at a time hundreds of feet underwater.

Although this required less work than kayaking, it was also far less scenic and way more expensive.

The one-hour underwater adventure cost $1,000. I felt that was too high, especially once I realized how dark Antarctica's oceans can be and how little I'd actually see.

I didn't really enjoy sitting in a tiny, cramped bubble and trying not to feel claustrophobic for 60 minutes while descending into the dark depths of the ocean.

Some optimistic part of me had hoped to see penguins or whales, but we just spent the hour cruising around a dense carpet of unmoving sea stars dotted with sponges.

According to our guide, my group on this excursion saw more marine life than most, which didn't feel like very much. It was also tricky to take decent photos due to hazy sediment and low light at the bottom of the ocean.

Truth be told, the coolest thing about the submersible excursion was nerding out with my fellow shipmates about being in a freaking submarine.

• Scientists say they've captured the first footage of a living colossal squid in the deep sea.
• The colossal squid is the world's largest invertebrate, but the one in this video is a baby.
• The footage was captured by an underwater expedition near Antarctica.

The colossal squid, a mysterious creature lurking in the Antarctic abyss, has finally made a cameo, a cohort of scientists say.

You may have heard of the giant squid, which is famous from mariners' legends and for its epic battles with sperm whales.

The colossal squid is even bigger and more mysterious. It's so elusive, living in the deep ocean near Antarctica, that scientists didn't even know it existed until 100 years ago.

Since then, fishermen have filmed a few dying colossal squids at the ocean's surface. Scientists have found chewed-up colossal squid in whale and seabird stomachs.

Nobody had confirmed a sighting in the deep sea until now.

Behold, the colossal squid

The footage below is the first to ever show a living colossal squid in its natural habitat, according to the researchers who captured it and two squid experts who verified it.

This animal is the world's heaviest invertebrate, growing up to 23 feet long and 1,100 pounds. The one in this video, though, is just under one foot long. It's a baby.

Kat Bolstad, a squid researcher at the Auckland University of Technology, helped verify the footage. She had previously reassembled a dead colossal squid caught by a fishing vessel.

"This is honestly one of the most exciting observations that we've had across the time I've been working on deep-sea cephalopods," Bolstad said in a press briefing announcing the new footage on Tuesday.

In the video, Bolstad said, "you can see the iridescent shine off the eyeballs."

She also pointed out the rust-colored spots on the squid's body. Those color cells suggest the squid can switch back and forth between being transparent like it is in the video, to being opaque.

"It probably has fine control over whether it can do that in certain regions of the body," Bolstad said.

The video was captured on March 9 by a remotely operated subsea vehicle called SuBastian, operated by a crew aboard a research vessel called "Falkor (too)." It was at a depth of about 600 meters (1968 feet).

The researchers on the vessel were conducting a 35-day expedition near the South Sandwich Islands. It was a mission of the Ocean Census, which is an international scientific collaboration to search for new marine life.

Rare squid discovery: 'I started hyperventilating'

Aaron Evans, an expert in the glass squid family to which colossal squids belong, helped Bolstad identify the creature in the video. They knew it was a colossal squid once they saw hooks on the middle of its eight arms. That's a distinctive feature that differentiates colossal squids from other species in the glass squid family.

When they saw the arm hooks, Evans said in the briefing, "I started hyperventilating."

Another Antarctic expedition in 2023 captured footage of what scientists thought may have been a juvenile colossal squid, but researchers were uncertain.

In the new video, though, "we can see the animal's features in really great detail," Bolstad said.

Colossal squids are unique in other ways, too. They have hooks on their two tentacles, and those hooks can rotate 360 degrees to grab onto prey. They also have the largest eyes of any animal ever studied — living or extinct — probably to help them see in the depths of the ocean.

Researchers suspect those eyes are part of the reason colossal squids are so elusive. Their huge pupils help it see subsea research vehicles before the cameras see them.

"Most adult colossal squid are probably going to try and want to get out of the area," Evans said. "From their perspective, anytime something large is coming towards them, it's not a good thing."

The little squid in the new footage doesn't seem to be alarmed, Bolstad said, and appears to take a "wait and see" stance toward the approaching vehicle.

"Eventually, when we see the adults, we will get footage of very large ones. They will have impressive hooks. They'll be big and muscly. There will be lots of monster hype about them," Bolstad said. "But in this case, we get to introduce the live colossal squid to the world as this beautiful, little, delicate animal."

• Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs took aim at an unlikely party — Antarctic wildlife.
• The president imposed a 10% tariff on remote Australian territories near Antarctica.
• One affected territory was the Heard and McDonald Islands, inhabited only by penguins and seals.

President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs on Wednesday took aim at unlikely targets — a collection of remote Antarctic territories uninhibited by humans and best known for penguins, seabirds, and glaciers.

At the press conference held at the White House Rose Garden, Trump revealed a large poster as a visual aid for his announcement. The poster displayed tariffs and other "currency manipulation and trade barriers" that countries have supposedly imposed on the US.

The column beside that showed his reciprocal tariffs on those countries, ranging from 10% to 50%.

Among them were the Heard and McDonald Islands, which, notably, are not countries but Australian external territories with no permanent human residents.

According to Trump's poster, the Heard and McDonald Islands had imposed a 10% tariff on the US. The White House confirmed to BI that the islands were hit with reciprocal tariffs because they are Australian territories.

Located in the southern Indian Ocean, the Heard and McDonald Islands span roughly 37,000 hectares — slightly larger than Philadelphia. They are covered in glaciers and volcanic rocks and are home to large populations of rockhopper penguins and their predator, the southern elephant seals.

The islands are located about 2,500 miles southwest of Perth, Australia. The territory is managed by the Australian Antarctic Division, which oversees conservation efforts and climate research.

The islands are also recognized for their natural values and are protected under the World Heritage Convention.

The Christmas Island and Cocos Keeling Islands, which are also Australian external territories, were hit with 10% tariffs. According to the latest available data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Cocos Keeling Islands have a human population of less than 600 people.

Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs hit some countries harder than others. China was hit with a 32% tariff, the European Union with 20%, and India with 26%. Australia, like its external territories, was hit with a 10% tariff.

In response to a request for comment from BI, representatives for the Australian Antarctic Division directed BI to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which did not respond.

• My mom and I went on a 21-day expedition cruise aboard the Seabourn Pursuit for $26,000 each.
• We went on excursions and saw wildlife throughout Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and Georgia.
• Overall, the bucket-list experience was incredible and felt like a nice value.

Antarctica is truly a bucket-list destination, as the beautiful continent can be difficult and expensive to get to.

Most Antarctic cruises cost thousands of dollars a person and many only sail through the region — I wanted to be on a ship that actually got me on the continent.

So, after a lot of research, I booked a 21-day expedition on the Seabourn Pursuit. It begins in and departs from Argentina, and its itinerary includes excursions in Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and South Georgia.

I traveled with my mom, and we initially paid $22,500 per person for an entry-level cabin. Our fare included food, drinks, and most excursions.

Here's what it was like.

We spent more money on upgrades and travel essentials before we even boarded.

We had booked our cruise about a year before its departure date and were fine with the lowest-tier room available.

About a month before we left, we received an offer to upgrade to a panoramic penthouse for $8,500 more per person. When that upgrade price later dropped to $3,500 per person, we decided to do it.

Lastly, before we left, we bought waterproof outer layers, thermals, and other items that were essential for our upcoming cold landings.

Our journey began in Buenos Aires.

We flew from the Northeastern US to Buenos Aires a day early since we were concerned about potential flight delays due to storms.

We spent a night at the Faena Hotel, which felt chic and offered fantastic service. The next day, we headed to the luxurious Avelar Palace for a one-night stay, which was included in our cruise fare.

After checking in, we visited the Seabourn hospitality room, where a representative handed us our boarding passes and told us to leave our tagged luggage outside our rooms before bed.

From there, we flew to Ushuaia to board the ship.

The next morning, we boarded an early bus to the charter flight to our ship in Ushuaia, Argentina.

This flight was also included in our cruise fare, and a Seabourn representative accompanied us on the journey. Our tagged luggage was already en route, so we didn't have to lug it with us.

The service was fine, though legroom on the plane was limited.

After a short walk around the small town of Ushuaia, it was time to board Seabourn Pursuit.

Our panoramic suite felt fairly spacious.

Our panoramic suite featured plenty of storage space, heated floors, and incredible floor-to-ceiling windows.

It also came stocked with thoughtful touches like umbrellas and Swarovski Optik binoculars for us to use throughout our trip.

Our bathroom also seemed very large.

We had a more sizable shower than we've had on other cruises and a jacuzzi tub.

There was a double vanity with a large mirror above it and, again, plenty of storage space.

Overall, the ship's food was pretty good.

Most days, we had breakfast and lunch at onboard restaurant The Colonnade. These meals were served buffet-style, though we could also order eggs or daily specials from the waitstaff.

The main dining room, The Restaurant, offered waiter service for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

For the most part, the food on our trip was quite good — especially considering we were essentially on a floating base camp for three weeks.

Room service was also available 24/7, which we often took advantage of during rough seas. I loved that we could order caviar anytime and anywhere.

We also spent time at the onboard lounge The Club, where we could listen to live music and order a selection of nigiri, sashimi, and rolls.

However, the real highlight of the cruise was all of the adventure.

The main reason to embark on an expedition cruise like this is to witness awe-inspiring landscapes and encounter wildlife.

We frequently saw whales and birds from the boat, but the true highlights of our trip were the excursions and Zodiac cruises, where we boarded a small boat called a Zodiac to explore more remote locations.

Most days, the expedition team offered both a morning and afternoon activity.

Our itinerary stayed flexible, and we got to learn about our stops.

Every day was truly an adventure, as the weather frequently changed, so too did our plans.

Our captain and expedition leader emphasized the need for flexibility throughout the trip and later reported that we'd deviated from our planned itinerary 86 times during the 21-day journey.

It didn't bother me. The Antarctic was truly breathtaking.

Each evening, we had a briefing about the plan for the following day.

Our first landing was on the Falkland Islands.

Our first landing was on New Island in the Falklands.

We hiked about 5 miles through stunning terrain and saw rockhopper and Magellanic penguins, elephant seals, and other wildlife.

We also had our only "dry landing" of the trip in Stanley, the capital of the Falklands. I particularly enjoyed our visit to Bluff Cove, where we saw several King Penguins.

Eventually, we set sail for South Georgia.

After three days in the Falklands, we set sail for South Georgia. Here, we saw countless fur seals amid the ruins of old whaling stations.

We also visited Salisbury Plain, home to tens of thousands of breeding pairs of King Penguins. We visited by Zodiac but did not land in order to take precautions against avian flu.

During downtime, I'd head to the spa or onboard lectures.

In between activities and excursions, I often headed to the cruise's onboard spa (an added cost) to indulge in a massage or enjoy the sauna.

The ship had multiple jacuzzis and a small pool, too. Most of them had incredible views of the landscape and waters surrounding us.

I also spent some of our time at sea attending talks and lectures from members of the expedition team, who spoke about a range of topics, such as marine biology, geology, history, and oceanography.

One of the trip's highlights was an excursion involving a submersible.

Perhaps the most incredible part of the trip was peering below the ocean floor in one of the ship's two submersibles.

After hearing about the OceanGate submersible disaster in 2024, I was nervous to set foot in one of these vehicles. However, our pilots thoroughly explained the submersible technology and how it was tested.

They also noted we were descending only 300 meters — OceanGate's vessel had attempted to go thousands of meters underwater.

Reassured, I took a Zodiac to the sub, then climbed down a short, three-rung ladder into the craft, which holds up to six guests and a pilot. I found it surprisingly easy to navigate getting in and out.

Once under the water, the experience felt otherworldly. We observed a variety of invertebrates on the seafloor, and the phenomenon of polar gigantism, where animals living in the poles are far bigger than their counterparts near the equator

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience.

The Seabourn Pursuit felt more like a luxury basecamp than a cruise ship, with a dedicated team of marine biologists, geologists, historians, kayak guides, and even submarine pilots.

Each day at sea was truly an adventure. I saw colonies of chinstrap and Adélie penguins, countless whales, and striking geological formations. I got to go under the water and explore a continent I'd long dreamed of seeing.

The trip was expensive but felt like a worthwhile investment considering our journey was long and included multiple incredible stops and excursions.

I had such a good time on this cruise that I booked another expedition trip on the Seabourn Pursuit to Australia's Kimberley region while still on board.

• My husband and I skipped Thanksgiving this year to visit our 7th continent together.
• Our kids, who've visited 25 countries with us, supported our dream and followed our trip virtually.
• It was a trip we'll always remember, and we saw unbelievably gorgeous sights.

My husband and I just marked a significant milestone by visiting our seventh continent together: Antarctica. During the past 20 years, our mutual love for exploration has taken us to every corner of the globe, but our recent journey to this vast, icy desert feels distinctly different.

Once a destination reserved for scientists and the most intrepid travelers, Antarctica has become more accessible in recent years thanks to expedition voyages offered by various companies. We embarked on an extraordinary 11-day adventure to Antarctica with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions.

Here's what it's like to visit Antarctica and why we're glad we saved the "frozen" continent for last.

Each day was an adventure

The flight itinerary included a 24-hour, two-connection route from the US to Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world. We spent one night at Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa, which has fantastic views of the town and the Beagle Channel.

The following morning, we ventured briefly to Tierra del Fuego National Park. In the early evening, we boarded our vessel, ready to set sail on an exciting seven-night voyage.

Though Antarctica's harsh conditions left my fingertips frozen daily, setting foot on its pristine, glacial landscapes filled me with an unexpected sense of warmth and wonder. The awe of being immersed in such a stunning setting made every challenge worthwhile.

Each day was a thrilling adventure. We boarded zodiac boats to reach remote bays for morning and afternoon excursions, engaging in various activities from serene kayaking to invigorating hikes. Between these outings, we gained a deeper understanding of the continent's unique ecosystem and marine life through expert-led presentations on various topics, including (of course) penguins. We learned that penguins can take up to 10,000 naps per day, each lasting about 4 seconds.

Throughout the trip, we had close encounters with these adorable creatures. We watched them porpoise through the cerulean waters, gracefully leaping in and out with remarkable agility. On land, we watched them waddle and slide on their bellies up and down the "penguin highways" — well-worn paths carved by penguins walking the same routes between the ocean and their colonies.

When not on an excursion, we made the most of our time aboard the ship. The main lounge was a delightful place to unwind, socialize with fellow travelers, and enjoy incredible views. Although I experienced some queasiness while crossing the infamous Drake Passage, we were fortunate to have traversed the "Drake Lake." Our expedition leader said we were blessed with some of the calmest seas he had ever seen.

We also enjoyed meal options like butter confit lobster tail and a special Thanksgiving dinner featuring turkey, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cranberry sauce, and gravy.

We saw plenty of beautiful sights, but 5 stood out

One of the highlights of the trip was when the ship parked on a bed of fast ice at Charlotte Bay. We disembarked and walked directly on the ice, observing a small group of penguins.

Cierva Cove has jaw-dropping scenery befitting a postcard. There, we marveled at the dynamic interplay between the ocean, icebergs, and floating sea ice.

We also kayaked in Chiriguano Bay, a protected inlet on the southern end of Brabant Island in the Palmer Archipelago. Paddling with the backdrop of towering snow-covered mountains was so calming.

Portal Point is a stunning, rocky outcrop northeast of the Reclus Peninsula, with dramatic mountain ranges and glacial tongues. It's one of those places you have to see to believe.

And finally, Deception Island's volcanic terrain starkly contrasted the icy landscapes found elsewhere in Antarctica. The island features warm sands and geothermal waters along its coast.

It's a trip we'll always remember

At the end of the cruise, we embarked on a nonstop flight from Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Martin Airport, located within Chile's Antarctic base on King George Island, to Puerto Natales, Chile. The flight provided a seamless and scenic transition from the frozen wilderness back to the verdant landscapes of the South American mainland.

Our trip to Antarctica was undoubtedly our most unforgettable trip to date. The rare privilege of navigating this phenomenal landscape, leaving footprints where few ever will, was a challenging physical journey and a profoundly emotional one, too. It left us with an enduring connection to a world that is both formidable and incomparable in its beauty — a place that will forever occupy a special space in our hearts.

• Jonathan Mutch is a helicopter pilot in Antarctica with the tour company Quark Expeditions.
• Flightseeing is included in select Antarctic itineraries, which cost up to $26,000 per person.
• Only highly experienced pilots are hired, and a team of at least 13 people is needed to run flights.

Quark Expeditions helicopter pilot Jonathan Mutch is working his third season in Antarctica, flying high-paying tourists to some of the planet's remotest places.

Mutch told Business Insider that flying helicopters across the seventh continent is no easy feat.

It takes a team of pilots, flight engineers, mountain guides, and expedition leaders to run the operation safely. Quark says it has strict environmental parameters to avoid affecting wildlife.

"It's a lot more complicated than it looks," Mutch said. "We'll start with a study of our maps and charts and previous experience with the weather, and we'll brief over the preceding days."

He said that because Antarctic weather can be harsh and unpredictable, guests must have realistic and flexible expectations.

Helicopter flightseeing excursions are included in all Antarctic itineraries on the Ultramarine, the luxury vessel where Quark guests live during their voyage and where the helicopters take off and land.

Mutch said Quark prioritizes getting everybody a 15-minute flightseeing trip, followed by potential landings.

Pricing for the 2025-2026 season starts at about $14,000 per person and includes flightseeing, meals, housing, and other activities. Helicopter landings are $530 extra.

Deep-pocketed tourists can also pay $26,000 or more per person for a more helicopter-focused tour that includes landing near an Emperor penguin colony.

Helicopter travel is different in Antarctica

Mutch said Quark has two Airbus-made H145 helicopters, which are fitted with safety technology to operate in the polar south, such as a redundant two engines and advanced autopilot.

The helicopters are stored and maintained in hangars on top of the ship. Here, guests board and disembark, the aircraft are refueled between trips, and the crew plans flights.

Mutch said both helicopters are needed to prep the landing sites before taking passengers. Pilots and engineers ensure things like lighting and recirculating snow won't impact safety or vision.

Veteran expedition leader Jake Morrison told BI that a flightseeing operation requires at least 13 employees, or 20 or more for ice landings.

Experienced mountain guides test the landing ice thickness and ensure the sites are safe for walking and void of crevasses.

"We won't get airborne if the experience is going to be lackluster or if there's any risk of leaving anybody out there," Mutch said. He added that Quark operates to the same standards as airlines, and the ships' crew will always follow the helicopter's location.

Mutch said Quark pilots are trained beyond minimum standards, including twice a year in a flight simulator, and have a background in complicated flying.

"We'll put the aircraft into white-out conditions and test the pilots' decision-making," Mutch said, speaking about the simulator training. "We want guys who are not going to be too proud [that causes them] to push on and make mistakes."

Environmental considerations

Antarctic conservation is a hot topic as a record-breaking number of tourists visit the continent. Ice levels are decreasing, and wildlife is at risk for pollutants from ships, aircraft, and humans.

The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators tries to curb environmental risks by limiting the number of people on the continent at once, governing what tourists can and cannot bring on the ice, and more.

Flying carbon-emitting helicopters across Antarctica will impact the environment, but Quark said it does what it can to minimize its footprint.

Morisson said the H145 helicopters are more fuel-efficient and quieter than similar aircraft in its category.

Mutch said flightseeing tours are intended to show the landscape, so pilots will not fly within a mile of wildlife. The flight-following crew on the ship helps maintain distance.

For Emperor penguin landings, he said there is typically an iceberg between the birds and humans — so Quark guests are "virtually inaudible and invisible."

"The last thing we want to do is change the behavior of any wildlife or interact in any way with the wildlife down here, whether it be penguins, seals, sea birds, or whales," Mutch said. "We explain this to passengers when we board."

Guests should have realistic expectations

Weather will determine if a flight can safely operate, so there are some days when a tour is scheduled but cannot fly — meaning guests must prepare for uncertainty and possible disappointment.

It's easy to get frustrated considering the high cost of the tour, but that's the reality of flying in the polar south.

"We're quite conservative about when we fly, but we'd ideally want a blue-sky day," he said, adding the company completes an average of 200 flights per season. "We'd like to fly three or perhaps four times per trip, but it's really what the weather will allow us."

Most people do get the chance to fly over Antarctica, thanks to the long itineraries and various options of places to fly.

The single-pilot flightseeing tours carry up to six passengers, with everyone getting a window seat. To optimize capacity, landings will carry up to nine, as prime seating is unnecessary.

"There's Fournier Bay on Anvers Island, an amphitheater of steep ice cliffs … and if we can get above the ridge, you can see up to 100 miles of the Antarctic Peninsula on a clear day," Mutch said, speaking about his favorite sites. "It's not unusual to have guests welling up, overwhelmed with emotion."

• A luxury cruise from South Africa to Argentina canceled its leg to Antarctica after an engine issue.
• Some passengers on the ship, the SH Diana, wanted more compensation to reflect their inconvenience.
• The cruise company's CEO said "a select few" staged a hunger strike, which was "counterproductive."

Some luxury cruise passengers have gone on hunger strike after their trip to Antarctica was canceled.

Swan Hellenic's 21-day cruise had to change course after a problem with one of the engines on the SH Diana, CEO Andrea Zito said in a Friday statement shared with Business Insider.

The Times of London reported that many passengers paid between £7,000 and £10,000 ($12,689) for the trip from Cape Town to Ushuaia, in southern Argentina.

The SH Diana is 409 feet long and has nine decks with space for 192 guests. Amenities include an outdoor pool, a spa, a library, and an expedition lab. On arrival, each cabin comes with a bottle of Champagne.

Zito said the SH Diana was supposed to stop in Antarctica for three and a half days, but the captain decided this was unsafe given the engine issue.

Instead, the ship is set to dock in Ushuaia on Saturday, leaving many passengers feeling upset after missing out on a key part of the trip.

"To go to Antarctica is a trip of a lifetime and this specific sailing made it achievable for many on board to do so as it's a repositioning sailing that had attractive deals," one passenger told The Times.

Swan Hellenic offered passengers a 50% cash refund, which Zito said was above the legal requirement of 30%. Alternatively, passengers could take a 65% "future cruise credit."

However, some people on board weren't pleased with the offer.

"A select few chose to stage a hunger strike in their protest," Zito said. He added that it was "rather counterproductive."

"We are working towards a swift end to this action."

The Times obtained pictures of some of these passengers with signs calling for a 100% cash refund.

"Swan Hellenic would like to reiterate that we deeply regret that we had to change the itinerary due to the technical problems with the propeller drive and we understand the disappointment of our guests who were looking forward to a taste of Antarctic experience," Zito said in the statement.

"We feel we have offered a very generous compensation package, beyond what is legally required," he added.

"Swan Hellenic always strive to go above and beyond our guest expectations and look forward to welcoming all our guests back on board future expeditions."