New Year luxury cruise ship with hundreds was stranded in sea for a week due to 'marine growth'

It sucks when your trip doesn't go the way you planned. It's even worse when it occurs during a holiday and you pay a premium for it. Passengers on a luxury cruise ship between New Zealand and Australia were unfortunately met with this nightmarish holiday trip. 

The 14-deck, 930-person cruise ship departed Auckland, New Zealand on December 23 for a New Year's journey. The cruise ship was supposed to go through south New Zealand, making several stops for passengers to enjoy the destinations and finally dock in Melbourne, Australia. 

Finally in Melbourne. 3 hrs on/off ship for immigration. Sad for missing excursions. #CruiseCalamity ⁦@VikingCruises⁩ pic.twitter.com/M7dJZeBJ8p

— Kenn Heydrick, EdD (@KHeydrick) January 2, 2023

But the trip did not go as planned. Instead of cruising in the sea visiting new places, hundreds of passengers were left stuck on the cruise ship for nearly a week after December 26 after the scheduled port stops denied docking for the cruise ship. 

Why? 

• Viking Orion's submerged hull had a marine infestation problem.
• Marine infestation or biofouling often includes invasive species of marine animals that may pose a risk to the biodiversity of certain environmentally sensitive seas. 
• The cruise ship reportedly missed three stops in Christchurch, Dunedin, and Hobart. 

Shame on @VikingCruises for their negligence. They have now cancelled 3 of our 8 ports, including all of prime South New Zealand & Hobart. A dirty & biohazard ship bottom. After 2 years of waiting, Viking disappoints. Great food but poor ship hygiene. Buyer beware. pic.twitter.com/Oc284Ca0Sy

— Kenn Heydrick, EdD (@KHeydrick) December 26, 2022

• Hallett said that the marine pests could prove damaging to New Zealand's economy and environment. 
• Viking Orion was forced to anchor in international waters and have divers remove the infestation. It was also denied docking at Adelaide, Australia, though the port was not on its itinerary. 

What passengers had to say? While it may seem like the stay on a luxury cruise would have been regardless of whether they were allowed to dock or not, it wasn't the case for those who had come from the US or Europe to tour New Zealand. 

• The port stops were one of the attractions that the passengers paid a premium for. Several passengers made their annoyance known on Twitter. 

You are not the only ones having problems. We are on the Viking Orion . It’s supposed to be a cruise of Australia and New Zealand. We are just sailing around (4 days) already because no port will accept the ship. Snails or fungus on the hull must be removed before we can dock.

— Paula Senn (@PaulaSenn5) December 30, 2022

7 days at sea without a port would be fine if that’s what you planned. But you booked a cruise from New Zealand to Australia and many passengers flew from USA to get there. That sucks you didn’t get what you paid for. Hope you get a full refund incl flight.

— Michael (@Mfs2k) January 1, 2023

• Others said cruise ships were a nuisance to the environment.

Sorry. But cruise ships are an environmental nuisance.

— Susan Higgins (@prepostmeltdown) January 1, 2023

• Viking Orion said in a statement that the company was working on compensation for those impacted by the inconvenience. 

Viking Orion. myfriends are onboard for Christmas and NYE cruise. NZ turned them away as poisonous algae on the hull. at sea the whole cruise. No gala dinners, no entertainment,Viking offered 50% cruise credit!
what a disgrace ! Supposed to have won awards!

— Carole Robinson (@CaroleR32412207) December 29, 2022

The cost? According to Viking Orion's website, the price for different voyages and packages starts anywhere from $4999 (Rs 4.14 lakh) and goes all the way up to $39,994 (Rs 33.10 lakh).

This isn't the first time a cruise ship was denied docking by ports. Just before the Viking Orion incident, Princess Cruises' Coral Princess was also not allowed to dock at several ports in its itinerary in New Zealand due to an infestation of snails.