HUNDREDS of holidaymakers have been stranded on board a cruise ship over New Year after a fungus was found on the hull.
The Viking Orion was reportedly turned away from several ports in South Australia, seeing passengers stuck at sea for five days.
Cooped-up travellers suffering from a serious case of cabin fever have described the ordeal as the "trip from hell".
The cruise ship has not dropped anchor in a port since it began its voyage from Wellington in New Zealand on Boxing Day.
Australia's Fisheries Department denied the vessel permission to dock after discovering a "marine growth" on its hull.
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Officials said the fungus, which it labelled biofoul, was "potentially harmful" and must be cleaned before the ship was granted access.
The Viking Orion was rejected from four ports, including Christchurch, Dunedin and Hobart, before since setting off to try and dock in Adelaide.
Authorities said they found small amounts of biofoul – marine microorganisms, plants, algae, or small animals – on the ship.
They then ordered the cruise liner to clean up its act before entering Australian waters.
But despite over 800 weary passengers hoping it would spell the end of their ordeal, they claim to have been told by staff that they will not be able to dock in Adelaide.
Seasick tourists say they were instead warned that the 14-deck cruise liner will anchor 17 miles away from the coast.
Divers will be deployed in the water to clean the hull before it is expected to finally arrive in Melbourne on Friday.
One person said that passengers were "livid" that their dream winter cruise had turned into a "horrible journey."
The frustrated bloke wrote: "Our @VikingCruises trip to NZ & Australia missed 4 of 8 ports b/c of dirty/biohazard ship hull.
"800 people, mainly Americans, are upset and angry over negligence. Viking Orion. Disappointing after 2 years of waiting, anticipation, & $$$$. Help please."
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Another dubbed her extended time at sea as the "trip from hell" in a scathing tweet - and said she now just wants to go home.
The woman said: "It's been the most surreal and enraging experience. I guessed this morning before they announced it that we'd be missing yet another port.
"Now, I just want to get off this ship and go home. They've ruined New Zealand and Australia for me."
Others claim to have been promised compensation after the hellish start to their holiday.
Passenger John Davidson told 10 News First: "We have been told we will be compensated.
"Currently, it's 50 percent but we think that offer is going to be improved going forward."
In a letter on Friday, the ship's captain expressed his sadness that "the current cruise falls short of your expectations".
Marko Snajdar said a member of Viking's customer relations team would make an "adjusted offer of compensation" to guests in the coming days.
Operator Viking said the ship would sail for Melbourne on New Year's Day before resuming its itinerary tomorrow.
They said in a statement: "A limited amount of standard marine growth is being cleaned from the ship’s hull – a standard cleaning procedure for nautical vessels.
"While the ship needed to miss several stops on this itinerary in order for the required cleaning to be conducted, she is expected to sail for Melbourne as planned on January 1, and we are expecting the scheduled itinerary to resume completely by January 2.
"Viking is working directly with guests on compensation for the impact to their voyage."
The Australian Fisheries Department said the management of biofoul is a common practice for all arriving international vessels.
They added: "The vessel is required to undergo hull cleaning to remove the biofoul and prevent potentially harmful marine organisms being transported by the vessel.
"Professional divers were engaged directly by the vessel line/agent to clean the hull while at anchor outside Australian waters."
