The line said the cancellations come after the voyages did not reach expected capacity levels at a time when fuel costs are higher.

The company has also moved Bolette’s winter schedule from Tilbury to Dover and Southampton. Impacted guests have been contacted and the vessel is set to return on 21 December for its Christmas sailing to Norway. 

Fred Olsen has also been forced to cancel Balmoral’s planned cruise from Rosyth on Monday (29 August) due to an issue with one of the vessel’s propellers. It will resume sailing again from Southampton on 11 September and the rest of its schedule will remain unchanged.

Managing director Peter Deer apologised to customers and said cancelling cruises is "never a decision we take lightly".

"The winter is always a quieter period for cruising and this year a small number of sailings have not quite reached the guest numbers we were hoping for, at a time when fuel costs are particularly high for us all," he added.

Deer said Fred Olsen will use the additional time freed up by the cancellations to advance technical work ahead of a short dry dock already planned for Bolette next year.

"We are very grateful for the support of our trade partners in finding the best solution for our mutual guests, and are honouring agent commissions on these cruises," Deer added.

He said neither of the changes are related to the resignation of the line’s chair, Fred Olsen Jnr.