Cruise & Maritime Voyages has cancelled the first cruise of the Discovery under the company banner following an unfinished refit on the 700-passenger vessel, according to reports.

Passengers were sent home after boarding the vessel in Portland, which had apparently arrived late back to the UK following a refit in Genoa.

The ship was built in 1972 and most recently sailed for Voyages of Discovery before a charter agreement with Cruise & Maritime was inked, sharing the ship with Voyages of Discovery in a joint venture.

The next cruise is scheduled to depart on March 15.