Nicko Cruises Cancels Vasco da Gama Sailing After Propulsion Issue

Stuttgart-based Nicko Cruises has cancelled Vasco da Gama’s May 1, 2026 roundtrip sailing from Hamburg after a propulsion-related speed issue forced the 1993-built ship into an unscheduled shipyard visit. The nine-night Scandinavia cruise was removed from the schedule after the same problem shortened the ship’s 175-night world cruise and prevented a timely return to Germany.

The disruption reached beyond one Hamburg departure, moving the world cruise endpoint to Lisbon on April 25 and later affecting another scheduled sailing from Hamburg. Nicko told passengers it would help with support and alternatives after the cancelled Scandinavia itinerary.

The May 1 voyage had been scheduled to call at Gothenburg, Oslo, Kristiansand, Mandal and Skagen, with onboard culinary programming featuring celebrity chef Johann Lafer. In a notice to booked guests, Nicko said the ship needed drydock time and could not reach Hamburg for embarkation. “We ask for your understanding that your booked cruise cannot take place,” the company said, adding that it apologized for the inconvenience.

World cruise shortened before repair work

Vasco da Gama had originally been due to complete its world cruise in Hamburg on May 1. Nicko instead cut the voyage short in Lisbon on April 25 to allow time for repairs, after the vessel began operating at reduced speed because of the propulsion issue.

Before cancelling the full Hamburg-Scandinavia sailing, Nicko had already removed the final leg of the world cruise for passengers who were not booked on the complete 175-night itinerary. The first passenger notice described a planned drydock at Lisnave Shipyard in Setubal, Portugal.

Vasco da Gama is Nicko’s only ocean ship. It was built by Fincantieri in Monfalcone in 1993, measures 55,877 gross tons and has 630 cabins, with passenger capacity listed at about 1,000 to more than 1,260 guests depending on configuration.

Shipyard delay affects a second Hamburg sailing

Nicko later cancelled an additional Vasco da Gama cruise scheduled to depart Hamburg on May 9, 2026. That 18-night sailing had been planned for the British Isles, Ireland and the Netherlands.

In a later passenger statement, Nicko said the vessel was in Brest, France, for an unplanned shipyard stay. “Despite their best efforts, the necessary work will take longer than originally anticipated,” the company said, citing information from its partner shipping company.

Nicko said it was working on a shortened replacement cruise from Bremerhaven to Hamburg from May 13 to May 26. The company said that plan depended on completion of the shipyard work and related logistics, with guests to be advised once arrangements were confirmed.

Passenger measures for the affected May 9 cruise included a 30 percent fare discount, partial refunds for beverage packages and fuel surcharges, and adjusted travel arrangements to Hamburg, including rail tickets and parking changes.