Shipyard issues again delayed the launch of the Scenic
Eclipse, Scenic's first oceangoing cruise ship, this time until April 13, 2019.
The Eclipse's original launch date in August 2018 was pushed
back to January 2019 last summer.
Scenic blamed a strike at the Uljanik shipyard in Croatia, where the 228-passenger luxury expedition ship is being built, for the most recent setback. Scenic said that
although shipyard workers had returned last week, "it will not be possible
to catch up the nearly six weeks of lost time due to their strike."
Scenic said passengers would receive a full refund "and
consideration of any other reasonable associated costs incurred with their
travel plans." Customers who rebook the Eclipse will receive a future
cruise credit in totaling 25% of the cost of their rebooked cruise.
"Scenic continues to be in constant contact with the
shipyard, the workers' representatives and the Croatian government to ensure
the completion of the ship as soon as possible," the company said.
The futuristic-looking, all-suite, all-balcony Eclipse will
be equipped with a helipad and storage for a mini-submarine. The ship is being
built to sail in the polar regions of the Arctic and Antarctica.