The entire winter cruise programme of Tui UK and Ireland ship Island Escape has been cancelled due to poor demand.
The 30 year old ship will be taken out of service from November to March 2012.
The company previously planned to withdraw the 1,500-passenger vessel from service between January and March 2012.
Thomson Cruises ship Thomson Celebration will be sailing the Island Escape’s itineraries from Cyprus in November and December.
Tui UK said that it was ”still intended” that Island Escape will return to service for the summer 2012 starting on April 3, 2012 on seven-night itineraries from Palma in Majorca.
The company said: “It is best business practice to review its capacity continually and to make adjustments according to customer demand. Regrettably, following such a review, the decision has been taken to cancel the entire Island Escape winter 2011/12 programme.
“The ship was previously scheduled to be non-operational from January until March 2012. However, this has now been extended to commence in November 2011.
“Whilst we understand that this decision will be frustrating to customers already booked to travel on the Island Escape in November and December, it has been taken in the interest of customers as we continually focus on the standards of our cruising.”
The company apologised for any inconvenience caused, adding that its retail staff will be happy to find alternative cruises.