Holiday from hell as luxury cruiser runs aground and Covid outbreak sparks chaos

14 September 2023 , 18:17

552     0

The Ocean Explorer, a Bahamas-flagged Norwegian cruise ship with 206 passengers and crew, has ran aground in northwestern Greenland (Image: AP)

Tourists are currently experiencing the holiday from hell after their luxury cruise ship ran aground and Covid broke out, sparking chaos.

The ship has been stuck in a remote corner just off Greenland since Monday before it was pulled free today. However holiday makers on board the ship have faced a second bout of stress as cases of coronavirus have started to circulate among the mainly elderly passengers. Three passengers were said to be in self isolation,

Australian-based Aurora Expeditions, which organised the cruise said: "They are looked after by our onboard doctor, medical team and crew. They are doing well." The passengers are mostly wealthy, elderly Australians who are taking the disruption all in their stride.

A terrifying attempt to pull the vessel free was made on Wednesday which saw the large ship lean to the side. Passengers were not allowed outside during the operation. Two other attempts were made by the Ocean Explorer to break free during high tide, but these both failed. The cruise liner was finally pulled free on Thursday with the help of a fishing and research vessel, the Tarajoq.

The ship is stuck where it is (AP)

Speaking about the incident, Steven Fraser, an Australian passenger on board, said: "We do have a couple of cases of Covid-19, but there’s a doctor on board. It is a cruise that a lot of wealthy people do because they can get out into these wilderness areas." Mr Fraser added that morale remained high thanks to the beautiful surroundings, the DailyMail reports.

Missing radioactive capsule found after huge search - and it's the size of a pea

"We're sitting right near the glacier when we open our windows," Mr Fraser added. Sadly for the passengers their trip has now been cut short as the ship will be taken to a port to assess the damages. A statement from SunStone Maritime Group that owns the ship said no one was injured as a result of the ship running aground and no pollution to the environment was caused.

The ship was seen leaning slightly to the side following an attempt to move it (AP)

An investigation into how the ship ran aground has been launched. According to local media reports, a Greenlandic Police officer had been on the ship for "initial investigative sweeps which, among other things, involves questioning the relevant persons on board. The ship was supposed to cruise along Greenland's coast between September 1 and September 22.

Lydia Stephens