Voyages to Antiquity Cancels 10 Cruises Due to Mechanical Issue

(12 p.m. BST) -- A mechanical issue has forced Voyages to Antiquity to cancel 10 sailings on its one ship, Aegean Odyssey, starting from today's Black Sea & Greek Islands itinerary.

All passengers that were due to sail on one of the cancelled itineraries are being contacted and provided with a full refund.

Voyages to Antiquity has confirmed that Aegean Odyssey will recommence sailing on September 7, 2019, with the 15-night Italian and Adriatic Highlights cruise.

In a statement, the line said: "We are working closely with our trade partners and doing everything possible to minimise disruption.

"Voyages to Antiquity would like to apologise for the inconvenience these cancellations will cause to our guests. The mechanical issue experienced was unavoidable and unforeseeable.

"We have been assured that, following its period in dry dock, Aegean Odyssey will be back in service in time to fulfil the remainder of its scheduled cruise timetable, starting with the Rome-Venice and associated future Grand Voyage itineraries departing from 7 September 2019."

Cancelled sailings including the line's The Norwegian Fjords itinerary -- that was due to depart from Copenhagen on July 16 -- featuring Sir Ranulph Fiennes. The world-famous explorer was due to give a talk followed by a Q&A and book signing onboard.

The line is yet to reschedule Sir Ranulph Fiennes' sailing.

Full list of affected itineraries:

• May 2, The Black Sea & Greek Islands

• May 13, Classical Greece & Southern Italy

• May 23, Renaissance Italy & Historic Islands

• June 4, European Connoisseur

• June 18, Land of the Midnight Sun

• July 3, Baltic Capitals & St Petersburg

• July 16, The Norwegian Fjords

• July 30, Iceland, Faroes & Shetlands

• August 14, The Three Rivers

• August 26, Mediterranean Odyssey