Hurtigruten said Kleven Verft had informed the company that, due to the complexity of the project, more time is needed to complete the vessel. The first voyage available for booking is May 3, from Lisbon to the Atlantic islands.
The ship was just floated out from Kleven's Ulsteinvik facility earlier this month.
Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam has been informing passengers by letter of the delay.
'While we are eager to welcome you on board this truly unique vessel as soon as possible, this delay means that we unfortunately must cancel the voyage that you had booked with us. Please accept my sincerest apologies, and rest assured that we will do everything within our power to make your Hurtigruten adventure happen,' he wrote.
Passengers will receive a full refund, including flight cancellation costs. In addition, they are offered a number of discounts on alternative Hurtigruten expedition sailings.
A 21,000gt sister ship, Fridthof Nansen, is scheduled to emerge from Kleven in summer 2019. Its construction is well under way and, according to the yard, the delay for Roald Amundsen should not affect the second ship.
Last year Hurtigruten and its owners became the largest partners in a consortium established to bolster Kleven with a reported 300m Norwegian kroner ($38m) infusion for a 40% stake in the yard.
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