So you booked that swanky new ship that everyone’s talking about. But suddenly, that revolutionary new design is taking a little longer to get into the water. What happens next?

Scenic’s much-anticipated new luxury vessel, Scenic Eclipse, announced its third launch delay due to financial problems at the Croatian shipyard contracted to build it.

This brings the new launch date to mid-August 2019, a year later than first planned.

The line confirmed that passengers pre-booked on an Eclipse voyage would receive a full refund and other incidental expenses such as flights and hotels that have been booked in advance.

Scenic Eclipse delay
Scenic’s much-anticipated new luxury vessel, Scenic Eclipse, recently announced its third launch delay

Those who re-book during the next two years will also be given a cruise credit to the value of 25% of the cost of their cruise.

Scenic is not alone. Ships are built to last 20 years or more, and usually include designs to out-perform the last model. Getting it right might just need some extra time.

After all, no guest likes to sail on an unfinished ship either.

It is a situation that no one wishes for, but sometimes things are just beyond the control of cruise lines.

Read below to see how other cruise lines managed a delay in ship launch:

Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten is building the world’s first hybrid ship, able to run on battery power for short periods.

The vessel, Roald Amundsen was due to launch in July 2018 but the Kleven Werft shipyard in Norway said the ‘complexity of the project’ meant they needed more time.

Roald Amundsen delay
Roald Amundsen was due to launch in July 2018 but will now enter service on May 3, 2019

It’s now on course to enter service on May 3, 2019.

Passengers will receive a full refund, including flight cancellation costs. In addition, they are offered a number of discounts on alternative Hurtigruten expedition sailings.

Holland America Line

In 2016, Holland America Line chose to delay the launch of its new ship Koningsdam by six weeks because it wanted to add a few additional features.

Holland America issued a full refund for those who are unable to make the rescheduled departure date.

The line also offered passengers booked on the original inaugural cruise onboard credit, should they decide to travel on the delayed date.

Star Clippers

The line is building their newest ship Flying Clipper at the Brodosplit shipyard in Split. Its original launch of end 2017 was first delayed to spring 2018 but it needed more time again.

Since its voyages were not sold prior to its launch, the line’s owner Mikael Krafft decided to only announce a launch date when the ship was finally nearing completion. It is expected to begin cruising in May this year.

Royal Caribbean

Navigator of the Seas delay
Navigator of the Seas in the dry dock in Freeport, Bahamas

The Navigator of the Seas is not a brand new ship but it had to remain in the dry dock in Freeport, Bahamas, for several more days after it was upgraded due to poor weather conditions.

This resulted in its first cruise being cancelled as it returned to service on March 1 instead of February 24.

Passengers on the cancelled five-night Western Caribbean cruise were refunded their fare (including non-refundable deposits), prepaid amenities (including packages and shore excursions) and airline cancellation fees (up to $200 per guest for domestic flights and up to $400 per guest for international flights).

They also received a future cruise credit valued at 50 per cent of their cruise fare.