Lindblad Expeditions has announced that it has cancelled the first cruise of its new vessel, the National Geographic Quest, being built by Nichols Bros. Set to sail on June 26, the ship is now expected to sail her first cruise on July 8.

In his letter to guests, Sven Lindblad, President and CEO, said: “Everything was proceeding extremely well with the National Geographic Quest until the process of moving her from land to sea started—an intricate and complex process with one simple aim. During our launch, the shipyard team encountered circumstances in which the vessel began moving out of alignment, forcing the operation to halt. The ship remains poised to launch, but the nature of tide cycles, and the need to realign her entry in the water caused delays that will affect the yard’s ability to deliver the vessel to us in a timely manner. We are beyond sorry.”

Guests on the inaugural voyage had already been advised of the possible cancellation on June 1, at which time they were also provided a variety of options to avoid disruption of their holiday plans.

As compensation, guests booked on the inaugural have a variety of options to choose from, some which are within four days of their original travel dates to several weeks from June 26. In all cases, Lindblad Expeditions will cover any air penalties that may be incurred; and will have a dedicated team of expedition specialists available to help with any questions, clarifications, and/or help guests make the best decision possible.