Passengers offered vouchers as compensation after a cruise turned into a 'trip from hell' when 'marine growth' was found on the vessel

• Hundreds of passengers who traveled on Viking Cruises' Orion cruise ship are set to be compensated.
• Passengers missed several stops due to a "marine growth" on the ship's hull.
• Viking Cruises said guests will receive a voucher equal to what they had paid, per Reuters.

Hundreds of passengers who traveled on Viking Cruises' Orion ship have been offered compensation in the form of vouchers after they were forced to miss several stops.

The cruise ship, which set sail on Boxing Day, had been due to stop at nine ports around New Zealand and Australia, per Reuters.

However, the ship was turned away from four ports, and passengers were instead forced to stay on board due to a "marine growth" on the ship's hull, Insider reported.

The vessel had amassed plants, algae, and microorganisms known as biofoul, on its hull. This needed to be removed before the ship was allowed to dock or enter Australian waters.

In a statement shared with Reuters, Viking Cruises confirmed that guests would receive a voucher equal to the cost of the cruise to use on future voyages.

At the time of the incident, passengers on board the cruise took to social media to complain about the journey.

One passenger wrote on Twitter: "People are livid. Thank you @VikingCruises for a horrible journey. Another day sitting at sea where 2 boats are cleaning the ship hull. Negligence plus."

Another passenger described the cruise as a "trip from hell."

She 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."

Representatives for Viking Cruises did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.