MS Vasco da Gama: Series of Cruise Cancellations Due to Technical Defects

This wave of cancellations stems from a persistent cascade of technical failures on the vessel, which is over 30 years old. The issues began in April 2026 near the end of its world cruise off West Africa, when the starboard controllable pitch propeller system failed, forcing an early termination of the voyage in Lisbon. Shortly after repairs were completed in a French shipyard, a new, independent defect occurred in one of the main engines during a relaunch attempt in the English Channel. Because standard replacement parts no longer exist for the historic engine components, critical parts must be custom-manufactured, significantly extending the time spent in dry dock.

Prior geopolitical crises added extra wear and tear to the material: due to security tensions in the Red Sea, the ship had to bypass the African continent entirely, covering thousands of additional nautical miles in the open ocean. The economic consequences for Nicko Cruises, which primarily specializes in river cruises, are substantial, as their entire ocean-going business remains halted during the high-revenue early summer season. To support its sales network, however, the operator is maintaining a fair policy and paying travel agencies their full commissions for the cancelled voyages.

From a travel law perspective, affected passengers hold a strong position. According to German jurisprudence, technical defects and resulting shipyard delays fall under the operator's operational risk and do not constitute "force majeure." In addition to a prompt refund of the cruise fare, customers are often entitled to significant compensation for loss of holiday enjoyment due to such short-notice cancellations. Depending on how close the cancellation is to the departure date, claims can realistically range between 50 and 70 percent of the total travel price and must be paid out in cash.