Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines celebrates another bumper start to the New Year

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is enjoying another bumper start to the New Year, reporting impressive sales volumes and generating more than £1 million of cruise revenue in a single day, on Monday 9th January 2017, for the second January in a row! Fred. Olsen has revealed that almost half of all its 2017 cruise places have been sold, which is up by over 5%, compared to the same period in 2016.

Neil Herbert, Head of Sales for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

“We are delighted to be celebrating another £1-million-sales day, for the second year in a row, as part of our ‘Turn of Year’ sales campaign. The first time that we achieved this – aside from on our new cruise season launch – was last year, on Tuesday 19th January 2016, so this phenomenal figure has been reached even earlier this year.

“Whilst we already have a very high guest repeat rate – with over 60% of Fred. Olsen cruisers returning time and time again – we are also attracting a significant number of customers who are ‘new-to-cruise’, or ‘new-to-Fred. Olsen’, who are keen to enjoy a holiday experience on a smaller, more intimate ship, with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.”

Fire in Black Watch Engine Room

UPDATE #1

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines can confirm that there was a fire on board its cruise ship, Black Watch, on Friday 1st July 2016, in the Auxiliary Engine Room, which was extinguished by the crew. There have been no injuries to guests or crew. The Captain is keeping guests fully informed at all times.

The fire has damaged three of the ship’s auxiliary engines, out of a total of seven, which generate electrical power on board. Some electrical power has now been restored to the ship. The four main engines are undamaged by the fire, but further investigations will need to be undertaken, before we attempt to restart them later today.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has advised the relevant maritime authorities, whilst a full assessment of the impacts is being made. We are taking all actions deemed necessary.

There are 696 guests and 365 crew on board, the majority of whom are British nationals. All guests will be compensated for loss of enjoyment and facilities during the power outage.

Black Watch departed from Dover on Saturday 25th June 2016, on her 13-night ‘Portuguese Island & Cities’ cruise. The ship is currently approximately 260 nautical miles from her next scheduled call, which is Madeira on Saturday 2nd July 2016, having left Ponta Delgada in the Azores on Thursday 30th June 2016. The weather conditions are good and sea conditions calm. Fred. Olsen will endeavour to make repairs en-route to Funchal in Madeira.‎

The safety of all guests and crew on board Black Watch is Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s utmost priority

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UPDATE #2

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines can confirm that Black Watch is due to arrive in Funchal, Madeira today [Saturday 2nd July 2016], as scheduled, at 17.00 hours, two hours earlier than previously advised.

There has been some cabling damage on board, which is affecting lighting and communications, but all other services are working as normal.

However, the cabling damage has prevented the other two main engines from running, and it is anticipated that the repairs will cause disruption to guests during the recabling. Therefore, we have made the decision - in the best interests of guests’ comfort and enjoyment - to fly them home from Funchal. Our intention is to charter a private aircraft for our guests back to the UK over the next few days, at Fred. Olsen’s expense.

Captain Henrik Mattsson has been keeping guests fully informed at all times and has reported that guests ‘are in good spirits’.

Mike Rodwell – Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines – will be joining the ship in Funchal today [Saturday 2nd July 2016], with a support team of senior executives, and will address guests and ask for any feedback.

Fred. Olsen appreciates guests’ understanding and co-operation with these new arrangements. All guests will be compensated for loss of enjoyment and facilities.

There are 696 guests and 365 crew on board, the majority of whom are British nationals.

We hope that Black Watch will be able to undertake her next cruise – a nine-night ‘Norwegian Fjords’ cruise from Tilbury on 8th July 2016 – as scheduled.

Black Watch departed from Dover on Saturday 25th June 2016, on her 13-night ‘Portuguese Island & Cities’ cruise.

The safety of all guests and crew on board Black Watch is Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ utmost priority.

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UPDATE #3

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines can confirm that Black Watch arrived in Funchal at ca. 4.30pm yesterday afternoon (Saturday 2nd July 2016).

Captain Henrik Mattsson has been keeping guests fully informed with regular updates and Mike Rodwell, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, joined the ship yesterday afternoon [Saturday 2nd July 2016], with a support team of senior executives. Mr. Rodwell has circulated a letter to guests’ cabins on board the ship this afternoon [Sunday 3rd July 2016], and has fully briefed guests on board, advising them of the latest situation.

In spite of the challenges of securing aircraft from Funchal, Madeira at late notice, Fred. Olsen has organised three private charter flights back to London Stansted and London Gatwick airports, which will depart on Monday 4th July 2016.

Special arrangements have been made for those guests, who are unable to fly for medical reasons.

Fred. Olsen will be assisting with arrangements for the transfer of guests to their onward destinations, as necessary.

Fred. Olsen appreciates guests’ understanding and co-operation with these new arrangements. In recognition of the inconvenience caused, Fred. Olsen will arrange compensation as follows:

- 100% refund of the whole of the cruise fare, to arrive with guests shortly after their return home. Fred. Olsen will also be refunding guests any reasonable out of pocket expenses connected with the curtailment of their holidays

- In addition, Fred. Olsen will also offer guests a future cruise voucher of up to 50% of the fare paid for this cruise, to be used within Fred. Olsen’s current cruise programme

An advice desk for guests has been set up in the Guest Services area of the ship for guests to be able to request further information, and we have made the cabin telephones available free of charge to guests to enable them to contact relatives.

There are 696 guests and 365 crew on board, the majority of whom are British nationals.

Black Watch departed from Dover on Saturday 25th June 2016, on her 13-night ‘Portuguese Island & Cities’ cruise.

The safety of all guests and crew on board Black Watch is Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ utmost priority.

Discover ‘Scenes from the Silver Screen’ on a Fred. Olsen ‘UK set-jetting’ cruise

For the very first time, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is offering guests the chance to visit film locations featured in top blockbusters and hit TV shows, including James Bond’s Skyfall, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Braveheart,Game of Thrones, Broadchurch and Poldark, on a ‘UK set-jetting’ cruise! Guests looking for a ‘location vacation’ can choose between two ‘UK Scenes from the Silver Screen’ sailings in 2017: the first is a 10-night cruise aboard Braemar, departing from Southampton on 21st May 2017; and the second is an eight-night adventure aboard Balmoral, departing from Newcastle on 6th August 2017.

Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

“There is an increasing trend amongst holiday-makers to want to visit the set of their favourite TV shows and films, and Fred. Olsen’s brand-new ‘Around the UK & Ireland’ cruises are bound to be attractive to these ‘set-jetters’. For instance, we saw a surge in demand for our Arctic voyages after Sky Atlantic’s TV thriller Fortitude was aired, and similarly following the BBC’s recent series, Ireland with Simon Reeve, which prompted heightened interest in the ‘Emerald Isle’.

“Many cruisers want to experience something unique and extra special on their holiday: visiting a destination in a ‘new way’, such as taking a tour to the mighty Glencoe in Scotland – which was featured in 2012’s 007 adventure Skyfall – or visiting the Poldark Mines and St. Agnes Head in Falmouth – the backdrop for the BBC’s romantic drama Poldark – offers even the most seasoned traveller a chance to discover something they may never have seen before!”

Details of Fred. Olsen’s two ‘UK Scenes from the Silver Screen’ cruises, which are available to book from 9th March 2016, are as follows:

- Braemar’s 10-night M1712 ‘UK Scenes from the Silver Screen’ cruise, ex Southampton on 21st May 2017

Guests will arrive first in Rosyth, for tours to the fascinating city of Edinburgh. Guests can take their pick of the Scottish capital’s many connections to TV and film: discover the mysterious Rosslyn Chapel, which featured in The Da Vinci Code, with Tom Hanks; head to St. Andrews West Sands, the Blue Flag beach adjacent to the famous golf course, which was used in the opening scenes of Chariots of Fire; or visit Doune Castle, from Monty Python and the Holy Grail and the historical TV drama series, Outlander.

Next is a call into Fort William, which is located at the end of Loch Linnhe. Guests can marvel at Glencoe, arguably Scotland’s most historic glen, which was the filming location for the final scenes in the James Bond film, Skyfall; or take in the Glenfinnan Viaduct, where iconic moments of Harry Potter and the Chambers of Secret and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban were filmed.

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Braemar will then spend a full afternoon cruising past Loch Linnhe, Corran Narrows and Duart Castle, in Scotland.

Belfast, in Northern Ireland, is the next port of call; on just a short journey from the city, guests can visit some of the top filming locations from Sky Atlantic’s highly-successful fantasy television programme Game of Thrones, including the Castle Ward Estate – the setting for the fictional land of ‘Winterfell’.

An overnight stay in the lively city of Dublin, in Ireland, follows. Guests can visit Trinity College, where the film Educating Rita, starring Julie Walters and Michael Caine, was filmed, or Kilmainham Jail, where scenes from The Italian Job – another Michael Caine classic – took place.

Braemar then arrives in Falmouth, in Cornwall, home to sandy beaches and spectacular landscapes. The town is also the gateway to some of England’s most impressive attractions: the Eden Project, the Lost Gardens of Heligan, St. Michael’s Mount and Lizard Peninsula. It is also the setting for the iconic drama series, Poldark. Guests can go behind-the-scenes and visit locations associated with the hit BBC show, and the books upon which the series was based, plus enjoy a tour to Truro, which is said to be the inspiration behind the original stories.

In Portland, the final port of call on this unique cruise, guests can visit nearby Lyme Regis, where ITV’s British crime drama,Broadchurch, was filmed. Braemar then returns to Southampton.

- Balmoral’s eight-night L1717 ‘UK Scenes from the Silver Screen’ cruise, ex Newcastle on 6th August 2017

Balmoral will arrive first in Oban, in Argyll, Scotland; a small, yet fascinating, area, overlooked by the prominent McCaig’s Tower. With dramatic landscapes, shaped by mountains, lochs and islands, many artists, authors and poets have been inspired by its beauty. Nearby is impressive Glen Nevis, in the shadow 1,344-metre-high Ben Nevis, where 1995 filmBraveheart, starring Hollywood mega-star Mel Gibson, was filmed.

Balmoral will then cruise past Duart Castle and Firth of Lorn, in Scotland, before arriving in Belfast,Northern Ireland’s vibrant capital. Here, attractions include the remarkable Titanic Belfast exhibition and tours to the exceptional natural phenomenon of the Giant’s Causeway. Guests can also take a tour to the Castle Ward Estate, where many scenes from Sky Atlantic’s Games of Thrones are filmed, for an opportunity to try a spot of archery and take photographs of costumes from the show.

After a call into Dublin, in Ireland – where the Oscar-winning film My Left Foot, featuring Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis – was filmed, Balmoral arrives in Falmouth, in Cornwall. This beachfront town is home to the series Poldark, whose central character, played by the actor Aidan Turner, has become quite a heartthrob!

Guests will then spend a day in Portland, which clings to the south coast of the UK, via the shingle-covered ‘tomobolo’ of Chesil Beach – part of the UNESCO-listed Jurassic Coast. Portland is the gateway to a plethora of historic attractions, including Salisbury Cathedral and Stonehenge. Guests can also take a tour to nearby Lyme Regis, which was the setting for the 1981 film The French Lieutenant’s Woman – fans could visit the ‘secret meeting place’ at the Lyme Regis Undercliff, where stars Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons first met! Balmoral will then return to Newcastle.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines celebrates record-breaking sales success following the launch of its new 2017/18 cruise programme

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines saw its most successful sales day on record on Tuesday 15th March 2016, following the launch of its exciting new 2017/18 cruise programme to its top tier of Oceans loyalty club members. Nearly 50% more revenue and 31% more guests were booked on the first day of Fred. Olsen’s new 2017/18 cruise itineraries going on sale than on the first ‘on sale’ day last year.

Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

“We are very encouraged by the tremendous response that we have received to our new 2017/18 cruise programme, and we would like to thank all our travel trade partners for their support.

“For Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, it is less about the ship, more about the experience, and we are in a very fortunate position that our smaller ships provide us with the ability to create and tailor-make such rich itineraries.

“We have worked even harder than ever to create over 100 innovative sailings in 2017/18, which will enable our guests to see the world in a very different, and very special, way.

“We would encourage all our agents to get behind our new cruise programme, and we hope that we can all benefit from our unique, immersive itineraries.”

Fred. Olsen’s ‘Top 10’ 2017/18 best-sellers so far are as follows:

1) Balmoral’s 17-night L1705 ‘Mediterranean Islands’ cruise, ex Southampton on 5th April 2017

2) Boudicca’s 14-night D1718 ‘Fjords of Greenland’ cruise, ex Liverpool on 14th August 2017

3) Black Watch’s 25-night W1704 ‘Croatia & Venice’ cruise, ex Southampton on 24th April 2017

4) Braemar’s 28-night M1724 ‘Eastern Mediterranean’ cruise, ex Southampton on 11th September 2017

5) Braemar’s 14-night M1710 ‘French & Spanish Rivers’ cruise, ex Southampton on 28th April 2017

6) Balmoral’s 14-night L1712 ‘Spitsbergen’ cruise, ex Newcastle on 10th June 2017

7) Black Watch’s 14-night W1709 ‘Iceland’ cruise, ex Dover on 30th June 2017

8) Black Watch’s 27-night W1710 ‘Fjords of the Arctic’ cruise, ex Dover on 14th July 2017

9) Braemar’s14-nightM1715 ‘Scandinavia & St. Petersburg’ cruise, ex Southampton on 24th June 2017

10) Balmoral’s 11-night L1711 ‘Swedish Waterways’ cruise, ex Newcastle on 30th May 2017

Fred. Olsen has announced that, in 2017/18, its fleet of four smaller, more intimate ships – Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca andBlack Watch – will be visiting no fewer than 220 destinations in 70 countries around the globe, plus 118 areas of scenic cruising, sailingfrom a total of ten convenient, regional UK departure ports: Southampton, Dover, Harwich, Tilbury, Falmouth, Liverpool, Newcastle, Rosyth (for Edinburgh), Greenock (for Glasgow) and Belfast.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ ‘Top Ten’ recommendations for 2017/18

In its new 2017/18 cruise programme, on general sale from 18th March 2016, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has highlighted the following ‘Top Ten’ experiences, representing outstanding destinations and a ‘different way’ to see the world!

Fred. Olsen’s ‘Top Ten’ recommendations for 2017/18 are as follows:

1) Boudicca’s 16-night D1706 ‘Discovering the Amalfi Coast’ cruise, ex Falmouth on 13th April 2017

Fred. Olsen will be visiting one of the Mediterranean’s most stunning regions, the UNESCO-listed Amalfi Coast, also will also be calling at historical Sicily, Sardinia and Rome. This 16-night cruise requires only 10 days’ leave from work, as it falls over the Easter holiday.

2) Black Watch’s 25-night W1704 ‘Authentic Croatia & Venice’ cruise, ex Southampton on 24th April 2017

Discover 12 destinations, including maiden calls in historic Pula, Croatia, and Lipari, the largest of the Aeolian Islands, in Italy, plus an overnight stay in Venice. Guests can also experience a full day on the stunning island of Hvar, cruising past Dubrovnik’s Old Town harbour.

3) Braemar’s 14-night M1710 ‘Rivers of Spain & France’ cruise, ex Southampton on 28th April 2017

Fred. Olsen guests will be able to take part in Seville’s most important event of the year – the ‘Seville Fair’, or ‘Feria de Abril’ – with an overnight stay on this colourful cruise. Shallow-drafted Braemar will also be cruising along three French rivers – the Seine, Gironde and Garonne – as well as one Spanish river, the Guadalquivir. There will also be overnight stays in Rouen and Bordeaux.

4) Boudicca’s eight-night D1708 ‘Lochs of Scotland’ cruise, ex Belfast on 8th May 2017 (also available across the rest of the Fred. Olsen fleet)

Up to 11 hours of scenic cruising along the most beautiful and tranquil of Scotland’s lochs, including Loch Fyne, the country’s longest sea loch, and a tour to Loch Ness, home of the legendary ‘Nessie’.

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5) Balmoral’s L1710 ‘Fred.’s Five-Night Fjords’ cruise ex Newcastle on 25th May 2017 / Balmoral’s L1719 ‘Fred.’s Five-Night Fjords’ cruise, ex Newcastle on 23rd August 2017

These special five-night Norwegian fjords experiences with Fred. Olsen – THE fjords specialist – are only achievable from a Northern port, such as Newcastle, and incorporate Bank Holidays, meaning that they require just three days’ annual leave. The ideal ‘taster’ break for the new-to-cruise guest, there is no better way to take in the majesty and beauty of this unique part of the world – Fred. Olsen’s historic homeland.

6) Boudicca’s 26-night D1713 ‘Americas Cup & Bermuda’ cruise, ex Liverpool on 9th June 2017

Fred. Olsen guests will be able to enjoy the action of the 35th America’s Cup, which will be taking place in Hamilton, Bermuda on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th June 2017, where Boudicca will be spending three nights. This nautical extravaganza combines the skills of the world’s best sailors and fastest boats, as they fly across the water at speeds close to 50mph!

7) Black Watch’s nine-night W1708 ‘German Waterways’ cruise, ex Dover on 21st June 2017 (also available across the rest of the Fred. Olsen fleet)

Sail along the River Weser and the River Elbe, enjoying calls into Hamburg, Bremen, Lübeck (from Travemünde) and Kiel.Black Watch will also be taking in the spectacular ‘Kieler Woche’ sailing regatta, with its traditional German food and festivities.

8) Black Watch’s 27-night W1710 ‘Exploring the Fjords of the Arctic’ cruise, ex Dover on 14th July 2017

This cruise takes in the splendid destinations of Norway, Spitsbergen, Iceland, Greenland, and even the secluded Faroe Islands. Covering 12 ports of call, and over 30 areas of scenic cruising, guests will be able to witness awe-inspiring sea-cliffs, waterfalls, icebergs and fjords.

9) Balmoral’s 40-night L1726 ‘Caribbean Discovery’ cruise, ex Southampton on 29th October 2017

This Caribbean island-hopping exploration will visit 15 sun-soaked destinations, and offers iconic landmarks, exotic flora and fauna, laid-black towns and ‘must-do’ experiences galore!

10) Black Watch’s 108-night W1801 ‘Wonders of the World’ ‘Grand Voyage’, ex Southampton on 5th January 2018

Discover five of the ‘New Wonders of the World’: Chichén Itzá, the Colosseum, the ‘Lost City’ of Petra, Machu Picchu and the Taj Mahal, along with two of the ‘Ancient Wonders of the World’, the Great Pyramid of Giza and ruins of the Temple of Artemis.

In 2017/18, Fred. Olsen will be visiting no fewer than 220 destinations in 70 countries around the globe, plus 118 areas of scenic cruising, from ten convenient regional UK departure ports