Crystal Expedition Cruises has postponed the launch of its luxury expedition ship, Crystal Endeavor.

The news comes following the temporary closure of the MV Werften shipyards, which has halted operations in ship production to protect its employees during the global coronavirus pandemic.

Due to uncertainty regarding when production will resume, Crystal has had to delay the delivery of the ship – previously planned for this August – and cancel all scheduled itineraries through 31 October 2020.

The ship’s maiden voyage will now be the Tasmania & Fjords of New Zealand 14-night cruise embarking on 14 November 2020.

Crystal Cruises president and CEO, Tom Wolber, said: “We know that, like us, our guests have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to explore anew with Crystal aboard this ground-breaking ship, and we deeply regret that this change has become necessary and has disrupted our guests’ travel plans.”

“While this unprecedented global health crisis inhibits our journeys for now, we are looking ahead with great optimism to introducing Crystal Endeavor to the world on 14 November and welcoming travellers on their next great adventure.”

The cruise line has said that it is contacting guests and their travel advisors directly with rebooking options.

Our view:

The cruise industry is facing an unprecedented and ever-changing situation, and we are committed to keeping you informed with the most up-to-date news. However, we firmly believe that the cruise industry will bounce back. When it does, we’ll be on hand to help you get back to selling the cruises that people love.

Visit gov.uk for the latest coronavirus travel updates.