Nicko Cruises has cancelled yet another voyage aboard the Vasco da Gama.
Marking the sixth sailing scrapped since the vessel entered a French shipyard for emergency repairs in late April 2025, the German cruise line recently informed booked passengers that a 14-night Norway and Scandinavia cruise scheduled to depart on 2nd July 2026 would no longer operate. This extends the ship’s unplanned drydock period.
The cancelled voyage was set to explore destinations throughout Norway and Scandinavia over a fortnight.
With port calls including Hammerfest, Alesund and Bergen, passengers who had booked the sailing received email notifications from Nicko Cruises explaining the decision to cancel the departure.
According to German maritime publication Schiff und Kreuzfahrten, the company cited safety and quality concerns as the primary reasons for extending the shipyard stay.
This marks the latest setback for the 1994-built vessel, which has been out of service for more than two months.
Safety and Quality Remain Top Priorities
In communications with affected guests, Nicko Cruises emphasised its commitment to passenger welfare and experience standards.
“Our goal is to offer our guests a safe, reliable, and thoroughly enjoyable holiday experience at all times,” the company stated in the email to booked passengers.
The cruise line added that guest safety and the quality of its travel experiences remain top priorities.
These factors directly influenced the decision to cancel the additional cruise. Nicko assured customers that teams both aboard the vessel and at shore-based offices have been working tirelessly to expedite the necessary repairs and return the Vasco da Gama to service as quickly as possible.
Compensation Options for Affected Passengers
Nicko Cruises is reportedly offering individual solutions to passengers impacted by the latest cancellation.
According to Schiff und Kreuzfahrten’s report, affected guests can choose from several options designed to accommodate their preferences and circumstances.
The compensation package includes rebooking opportunities for alternative cruises within Nicko’s fleet.
This allows passengers to transfer their bookings to other available departures. Full refunds are also being offered to those who prefer to cancel their plans entirely, alongside additional solutions tailored to individual situations.
Ongoing Repairs at French Shipyard Facility
The Vasco da Gama remains at the Damen Shiprepair yard in Brest, located in northern France.
Here it has been undergoing extensive repair work since late April. The facility specialises in complex vessel maintenance and repair operations for cruise ships and other maritime vessels.
The 55,819-tonne ship was taken out of service following technical issues that emerged during the final leg of its world cruise.
The problems proved significant enough to warrant an immediate shipyard period, cutting short the global voyage and disappointing passengers who had booked the complete itinerary.
Five Previous Sailings Already Cancelled
Prior to the latest announcement, Nicko Cruises had already cancelled five sailings aboard the Vasco da Gama due to the extended repair period.
The cancellations have affected hundreds of passengers who had booked voyages between late April and early July 2025.
Among the previously cancelled departures was an 18-night cruise to Iceland and Scandinavia that was scheduled to depart from Germany on 14th June 2026.
The string of cancellations represents a significant operational challenge for the German cruise operator.
They rely heavily on the vessel for its summer European programme.
The company had initially hoped to resume operations in early July, but the latest cancellation suggests repairs are taking longer than originally anticipated.
Vessel’s History Before Joining Nicko Fleet
The Vasco da Gama has served multiple cruise lines throughout its three-decade career at sea.
Originally built at the renowned Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the vessel entered service for Holland America Line as the Statendam in 1994.
The 1,270-passenger ship subsequently sailed for P&O Cruises Australia before joining the fleet of now-defunct Cruise & Maritime Voyages.
Nicko Cruises acquired the vessel in October 2020, adding significant capacity to its European cruise operations.
Technical Issues Cut World Cruise Short
The current shipyard period stems from technical problems that surfaced during the Vasco da Gama’s world cruise in April 2025.
The issues became apparent during the final leg of the global voyage, forcing Nicko Cruises to make the difficult decision to cut the itinerary short and head directly to the Brest shipyard.
The nature of the technical problems has not been publicly disclosed by Nicko Cruises.
Though the extended repair period and multiple cancellations suggest substantial work is required.
World cruises represent significant investments for both cruise lines and passengers, making the early termination particularly disappointing for all parties involved.
The company has not yet announced a confirmed return-to-service date for the Vasco da Gama, leaving future sailings in uncertain territory as repairs continue at the French facility.
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