PHOTO: G Adventures cancelled its Dec. 7 trip to Antarctica while its Expedition ship is repaired. (Courtesy of G Adventures)
Adventure tour operator G Adventures "regretfully" cancelled its Dec. 7 Antarctic voyage because its ship remains under repair after the portside engine failed Nov. 18 in Ushuaia, Argentina.
"Our engineering staff and the engine manufacturers have been working to rectify the issue in time for the scheduled departure on Dec. 7," the company said in a statement. "However we were advised that we could not guarantee the repair would be completed within the timeframe required for the departure of this cruise."
The ship, the 134-passenger M/S Expedition, has an Ice Class 1B rating and underwent a $13 million renovation in 2009.
G Adventures said it has contacted travel agents and passengers regarding alternative arrangements. All passengers have been offered a full refund. Those who rebook on a future Expedition cruise can do so at a 15 percent discount. Or, those who rebook another G Adventures tour will get a 20 percent discount.
The cancelled 15-day "Journey to the Antarctic Peninsula" was scheduled to sail round-trip from Ushuaia, through the Drake Passage to the Weddell Sea, South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula. Fares started at $8,999.
The M/S Expedition is a sturdy ship built for polar cruising. It has all ocean-view cabins with en suite bathrooms, a fleet of Zodiacs for exploring, a 360-degree top observation deck, single-seating dining room with international cuisine, outdoor barbecue facilities, a medical clinic, sauna, a fitness area, and a computer room with Internet where available.
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