Albatros Expeditions - Ocean Victory failure

MV Ocean Victory => MV Ocean Failure

When the journey of your limetime becomes a failure

We are writing to express our dissatisfaction with the refund amound/process for the cancelled trip. We want to emphasize that our dissatisfaction with the refund process for the cancelled trip is not a reflection of the Ocean Victory’s crew and exploration team, who demonstrated exceptional dedication. It's important to clarify that our concerns are solely directed towards the Albatros Expeditions’ refund policy, which, unfortunately, has been a source of frustration and disappointment in navigating this unforeseen situation.

Posts about this cancellation and refund in some Facebook groups are all removed/ensored by admins. Therefore on this page the full story with all the details and photos.

The name Ocean Failure arose from the Whatsapp group with about 130 passengers of this voyage, keeping each other in touch about the refund.

All photos and data on this page may be used without permission. These are released without copyright.

UPDATE January 2025 - Ocean Albatros (sister ship Ocean Victory)

The sister ship of the Ocean Victory, the Ocean Albatros got damaged on 9th of January en-route from Falkland Island to South Georgia in the vicinity of Shag Rocks: one of the stabiliser sustained contact with a rock and therefore the stabiliser was damaged and water ingressed the ship on deck 2. The 19-day voyage was interupted. Due to high winds and high wave forecast, Ocean Albatros proceeded to South Georgia before returning to Ushuaia. After Ushuaia she moved to Buenos Aires for repairs. The planned 9-day voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands, scheduled to depart on January 21, January 30 and February 8 to Antarctica were cancelled.

Passengers got a refund of 47% of the ticket price (and 50% on a next journey with Albatros Expeditions). Communication was, like the previous two incidents, experienced as bad by the passengers. The CEO of Albatros Expeditions was onboard of this journey.

It's a bad year for passengers travelling with Albatros Expeditions for their once-in-a-lifetime journey. What captains do they have at Ocean Albatros? 😯

From passenger onboard of the Ocean Albatros:

"In our opinion the captain went way too close to the shag rocks. We compared our pictures with pictures taken from other ships (instagram) and our distance was at least half. The bridge was open during the incident and a fellow traveller was there when it happened. Apparently an alarm went off with not much reaction from the (young) captain besides putting his sunglasses on and going outside for a visual check. Afterwards what sounded like 3 loud impacts happened. The emergency alert was raised and people gathered in the lecture room with life vests. The full drill was started: checking who was there, sorting according to life boats and so on. Both ships nearby, the hanseatic nature and the hondius changed course and at least the hanseatic came to the side. The atmosphere was quite calm, but there wasn't much information provided. Approx 30 mins later the captain made an announcement that the ship is OK and that we will continue to sail towards SG. However, shortly before evening a meeting was scheduled in the lecture hall so that the captain can give additional information. Here the first time the real damage was announced with a damaged stabiliser, non functioning electronics (so the stabiliser is in the worst outside position and we cannot use any of the two anymore) and water intake. It was further announced that Antarctica would not happen. The reason we continued the journey to SG was solely due to the bad weather which didn't allow us for an immediate return. It was also said that we need 2.5 m waves on the way back, otherwise the ship would roll like hell. Anyhow, afterwards there was complete silence about the incident. Not a single word was said for two days. On the 3rd day, we found out that the CEO was onboard who was travelling kind of incognito as a regular passenger. We immediately got hold of him and complained about the total lack of communication. He more or less agreed that he should say something and in fact addressed all passengers the next day. Still we didn't know when we will return to port. This was announced only the day before we started the journey back. This day was strange as well. Since we "completed" SG with one landing less, we just anchored in front of Grytviken for a full day and waited for the weather to improve. Solely this didn't really happen and we had like 5 meter waves all the way back. The expedition leader even mentioned a 15 meter wave that hit the ship during night.. guess you can imagine how bumpy the ride back without the stabilisers was. Not much information afterwards, the refund was announced quite last minute but all questions were blocked since AE considers the travel agents as responsible to sort out the matter and not themselves."

From the trip log:

The ship was trying to get into the best position to watch the rocks and the wildlife on it with the very windy conditions at that time. Around 11.45 one of the stabilisers sustained contact with a rock in the water,damaging the stabiliser system. We all could feel that we did hit something. Thankfully, nobody onboard has sustained injuries fromthis incident, nor was there any immediate risk to the vessel, those onboard or the environment.

The bridge team reacted directly with sending out the general alarm on the ship and towards several ships in the direct vicinity. All guests got mustered in the lecture hall on deck 5. This went very smooth, without any panic. While checking the damage, the first ship came already in sight and stayed close by until the message came that we could stand down from the general alarm and the ship was in good condition to set sail towards South Georgia. Later in the afternoon, several statements were given to ensure everybody that the ship was safe, the damage was under control and that we could operate like normal in South Georgia.

Do you have more information or want to share your opinion, mail to mvoceanfailure@gmail.com

The pictures below are not the safety briefing in the port of Ushuaia, but en-route to South Georgia (near Shag Rocks)!!

Dry dock in Buenos Aires (Jan 27)

UPDATE December 2024 - One year later...

The November 2024 voyage of the Ocean Victory has been cancelled once again mid voyage. The vessel, which had been following the same 19-day itinerary as last year — departing from Ushuaia and visiting the Falklands, South Georgia, Antarctica, and returning to Ushuaia — encountered an issue/damage on November 9th.

While off the coast of South Georgia, the Ocean Victory sustained damage from an unknown source, resulting in water ingress into void spaces aboard the ship. As a precaution, the ship altered course and returned to Ushuaia later that same day. Ocean Victory heading on November 15 to Valparaiso (Chile) , for further assessment and repairs in a dry dock. When writing this, on December 1, the Ocean Victory is still in Valparaiso. The planned 9-day voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands, scheduled to depart on November 19 and November 28 to Antarctica were cancelled.

Passengers got a refund of 55% of the paid ticket price. Think twice before booking with Albatros Expeditions 😉

The original story (2023) -- all text and pictures below belong to this voyage

Once upon a time, in the crisp and icy landscapes of the southern hemisphere, a group of adventurous souls embarked on a journey of a lifetime. The program was set, and the days ahead promised a spectacular expedition through some of the most remote and breathtaking regions on Earth.

Day 1 marked the beginning of this epic adventure on November 1, 2023. The adventurers gathered in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, filled with excitement and anticipation. The day was dedicated to embarkation, as the group boarded Albatros Expedition's Ocean Victory that would be their home for the next incredible weeks.

As day 2 unfolded, the ship gracefully sailed through the open sea, steadily approaching the Falkland Islands. The passengers marveled at the vast expanse of water around them, eagerly awaiting the wonders that awaited on the distant horizon.

Day 3 brought the expedition to the Western Falkland Islands, where the rugged beauty of the landscapes and the diverse wildlife captured the hearts of the travelers. Each day was a new chapter, and day 4 saw the ship docked at Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands, allowing the adventurers to explore the charming town and learn about its rich history.

Days 5 and 6 were spent at sea, the ship cutting through the waves as it approached the majestic South Georgia. The anticipation among the travelers grew, knowing that they were on the brink of discovering one of the most remote and untamed regions on the planet. However, on the 6th day, the expedition took an unexpected turn. A medical emergency arose, compelling the vessel to make a swift return to the Falkland Islands.

On day 8, after another two days of sailing, the group reached the Falklands once again. After dropping the patient in Stanley, the ship returned to South Georgia. After 1 day (day 9 of the iternarary) of sailing from the Falklands again, the Ocean Victory encountered some waves, resulting in damage during the night. The situation required a return to Ushuaia for repairs. On day 11, the ship arrived back in Ushuaia, marking the end of the trip. Regrettably, the adventurers had not set foot on the shores of South Georgia and Antarctica.

The iternary (weather depending) and the reality

In the following table the voyage, and the actual journey. In green according to schedule, orange partly deviating, and red not on schedule at all. Also included the track from the AIS transponder of the Ocean Victory. Source: Marinetraffic.com

Medical emergency

Could this be avoided? Yes, maybe, no…

Before embarking on an expedition, especially to the remote corners of our planet, requires a careful consideration of one's health and abilities. Participants signed the following health declaration on the website of Albatros Expeditions.

Regrettably, one of the participants, who is over 80 years old, experienced a medical emergency that brought to light a clear non-compliance with the health declaration. This individual could almost not walk on his own and required assistance, contrary to the stated commitment of self-sufficiency.

This situation not only raised concerns about the individual's well-being but also impacted the overall experience for the rest of the participants. The incident emphasized the importance of ensuring that all expedition participants are capable of meeting the requirements outlined in the health declaration, especially considering the remote locations visited during the journey.

Considering the participant's limitations, it seems apparent that denying him boarding would have been a prudent decision. There are more medical evacuations on Albatros Expeditions in 2023/2024 season, see incidents below.

Ship’s damage + return to Ushuaia

On November 9th at 03:20 AM ship’s time (06:20 UTC) the vessel experienced the impact of waves (approximatly 5 meter height according to MarineTraffic), resulting in damage to certain glass doors between the rooms and the balconies on deck 4. This incident led to the flooding of some rooms with seawater, necessitating the evacuation of occupants to alternative accommodations.

The encounter with waves resulted in damage to the ship, raising understandable concerns among the participants about the vessel's seaworthiness. Navigating the Drake Passage (which we didn’t), known for its tempestuous seas, often involves confronting even higher waves and challenging conditions. Another particular concern that has surfaced during our expedition is the height of the waves in relation to the ship's balconies (about 8 meters above water level). The inherent design of the balconies, positioned relatively low, becomes a pertinent consideration when faced with the formidable waves that characterize the Drake Passage.

Some passengers complained at the staff some days before this incident that water was leaking in and around their balcony doors. The CEO knew about the problems with the ship, one of the expedition staff shared the following message on Whatsapp.

According to AIS data, the Ocean Victory was sailing at a speed of about 10 kts with a course of 110 degrees. Waves were about 5 meters in height, with a period of about 9 seconds coming from the south (180 degrees).

Weather and sea data from MarineTraffic.com. Click here to download AIS data in CSV format.

Refund

What compensation did Albatros Expediton offer?

56% refund
Costs of flight changes up to 19 November (original disembarking date). Therefore it was not possible to hop on another expedition to Antarctica without paying the changes yourself
50% discount on the next voyage of Albatros Expeditions (on the original price!). Because many booked with discount, this discount has no effect.

Albatros Expditions offered a 56% refund based solely on the days leading up to the return to Ushuaia, without having the opportunity to explore South Georgia and Antarctica, has understandably raised concerns about the fairness of the refund policy. The circumstances surrounding the medical evacuation further contribute to the sentiment that a more equitable resolution should be possible.

We understand the suggestion to consult travel insurance regarding extra refund, but it's important to note that many travel insurance policies do not cover situations such as missed opportunities to visit specific destinations, variations in the itinerary because of medical evacuation of other people. This leaves participants in a challenging position, especially when seeking reimbursement for unfulfilled days of the expedition.

While we acknowledge the unforeseen challenges faced during the expedition, including the medical emergency, the current refund offer does not align with the initial expectations of experiencing the full scope of the journey. We believe that a fair resolution should consider the unfulfilled segments of the itinerary and the potential for avoiding the medical evacuation if circumstances had been different. Even the CEO knew of the problems that the ship already had before leaving Ushuaia.

In light of these considerations, we kindly request a reevaluation of the refund policy, taking into account the missed opportunities to explore Antarctica and South Georgia. We believe that a more balanced and comprehensive approach to the refund calculation would better reflect the spirit of the expedition and the expectations of the participants.

Is 56% refund fair from what you have read? Would you book (full price) with Albatros Expeditions if you know they do not care about a fair refund? Some people paid over 20K USD, while most people booked with a 50-60% discount (prices ranging from 6000 USD for a triple porthole room, and 9000 USD for a balcony room)

Received letters onboard (to be added):

Letter 1
Letter 2
Letter 3
Letter 4
Letter 5

Note: Albatros Expeditions encouraged travel agencies to refund their commission to customers. Trave

Only about 5 people out of more than hundred passengers managed to get a refund from their travel insurance, all other are were rejected. The refund process is far from ideal, some passengers received their refund end January.

Other accidents & incidents

Read some incidents from other companies resulting in loss of expedition days. We'll try register all medical evacuations in season 2023/2024 of all companies. Source: user reports.

Update Dec 2024, with final reports, as seen below Albatros Expeditions had the most medical evacuations in season 2023/2024!!

Quark Expeditions – 15 November 2022 –Zodiac accident on Elephant Island 2 dead: Full refund
Viking Expediitons – MV Viking Polaris – 28/29 November 2022 – Returned after 3 days sailing from Ushuaia. On first day in Antarctica (28 Nov): explosion on Zodiac, injured person. Evacuation required, returning to Ushuaia. On Drake Passage rogue wave hit the ship (29 Nov), 1 dead. – Full refund – Investigation report: https://www.nsia.no/Marine/Published-reports/2023-06
Albatros Expeditions - Ocean Victory - 9 November 2023 - Returned to Falklands after medical evacuation and returned to Ushuaia due to ship damage. Missing 8 out of 10 expedition days (all days on South Georgia and Antarctica. 56% refund and 50% discount on next voyage
Aurora Expeditions - Sylvia Earle (similar ship as Ocean Victory) – 12 November 2023 - Broken stabilizer after 3 days sailing from Ushuaia. Returned to Ushuaia – Full refund + 25% discount on next voyage
Intrepid - Ocean Endeavour – 13 November 2023 – Returned after 2 hours of sailing from Ushuaia due to a medical emergency. Missed half a day (one landing) on Antarctica. Passengers received each 1000 USD (?)
Quark Expeditions – Ocean Adventurer - 4 December 2023 - Returned after 3 days of sailing from Ushuaia: Full refund or free rebooking on another Quark ship, even to more expensive expeditions (note: this was the final offer by Quark after other refund offers were rejected by passengers)
Atlas Ocean Voyages - World Voyager - Returned to Ushuaia after 1 day of sailing because of 'damage' - 8 December 2023 - 50% discount on next expedition. Tripadvisor
Albatros Expeditions – Ocean Albatros – x December 2023: medical evacuation via King George Island, missing one day of activities
Albatros Expeditions – Ocean Victory - 27 December 2023: staying in Beagle Channel after leaving Ushuaia due to weather (6 m waves in Drake Passage), missing one day of activities. Nothing to blame, safety reason..
Albatros Expeditions – Ocean Victory - 13 January 2024: medical evacuation (returning to Ushuaia after 12 hours sailing from Ushuaia), missing one half day of activities
Albatros Expeditions - Ocean Albatros - 12 February 2024: medical evacuation via King George Island
Aurora Expeditions - MV Polar Pioneer - 13 February 2024: medical evacuation via King George Island
Oceanwide Expeditions - MV Hondius - 23 February 2024: medical evacuation via King George Island
Albatros Expeditions – Ocean Victory - 10 March 2024: medical evacuation via King George Island
Antarpply- MV Ushuaia - 11 March 2024: medical evacuation via King George Island

Please think twice before you book and read their refund policy!

Not Antarctica, but a ship was not allowed to enter a destination: full refund

For questions, mail to mvoceanfailure@gmail.com

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