Earlier this month, the Norwegian coastal line gained a positive high court ruling concerning the original leasing financing of its fleet of coastal cruise ships after subsidiaries of Russian state leasing firm GTLK were impacted by sanctions relating to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

However, it is now waiting on debts to the original financing partner to be cleared before it can take over Polaris, construction of which has been completed in Turkey.

"We could have brought the ship home in time for start-up on schedule on 29 December," said Havila managing director Bent Martini. "It is expected we will get clarification within the next few weeks. We will work on this through the Christmas period and into the new year, and both hope and expect a solution in January."

Four sailings departing Bergen on 29 December, 9 January, 20 January and 31 January have been cancelled as a result, with Martini insisting Havila will seek delivery by mid-January in order for Polaris to start sailing the coastal route from Bergen by 11 February 2023.

"We will not give up and will now do everything we can to take delivery of Havila Polaris as soon as possible to avoid further cancellations," Martini continued. "There will not be an early Christmas holiday for any of us, and we will come back with an update on progress as soon as we have something new to report."

Those booked on the four cancelled departures will be offered the opportunity to move their booking to another ship, or to a later date, or cancel free of charge.