Showing posts with label Balmoral. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Balmoral. Show all posts

Thursday, 15 January 2015

Fred. Olsen relaxes ID requirements for British Isles cruises

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines has announced it has relaxed its ID requirements for voyages that cruise around the United Kingdom.

The company acknowledges that a proportion of the British population do not hold either a valid passport or photo card driving licence and so it will now accept the following forms of photographic identification for its voyages around the UK:

  • Passport
  • EU national ID card
  • Driving licence
  • Council-issued bus pass / travel card
  • Firearms licence
  • VALIDATE UK card

This measure is only applicable to their “Around UK” range of itineraries and does not apply to voyages calling into Eire (Republic of Ireland).

Addressing security concerns the cruise line has stated that these changes continue to meet its own company policy of being able to verify the identity of each guest, and that the cruise line also fully complies with the requirements of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (‘ISPS’) Code.

The selection of “Around UK” voyages, together with the smaller vessels operating these, allows guests to explore England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland from the convenience and comfort of a cruise ship.

The following highlighted sailings are amongst the first to benefit from the new relaxed rules:

Sailing on 28 April 2015 on-board Boudicca from Dover, guests can enjoy an 11-night voyage calling into Guernsey, Falmouth, Liverpool, Kirkwall, Rosyth and Newcastle on the 'Floral Britannia' itinerary. Prices start from £989 per person, based on an inside twin-bedded cabin, subject to availability.

Sailing on 21 June 2015 on-board Boudicca from Rosyth near Edinburgh, guests can enjoy a 7-night voyage around the Highlands, calling into Kirkwall, Lerwick, Stornoway, Tobermory and Portree on the 'Highlights of the Highlands’ itinerary. Prices start from £800 per person, based on an inside twin-bedded cabin, subject to availability.

Sailing on 23 June 2015 on-board Balmoral from Southampton, guests can enjoy an ten-night voyage calling into Falmouth, Belfast, Stornoway, Lerwick, Invergordon and Newcastle on the 'UK Islands & Landmarks' itinerary. Prices start from £1,034 per person, based on an inside twin-bedded cabin, subject to availability.

(Photo credit to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines)

Friday, 17 October 2014

Take a three-city break on Fred. Olsen's Balmoral


Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is giving guests the opportunity to visit three cultural European cities - Oslo, Amsterdam and Antwerp - with Balmoral's (above) 10-night  European Cities & Waterways cruise, departing from Southampton on 24 October from £79 per person, per night. With overnight stays in each destination.

Prices for this European city break cruise start from just £790 per person, based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded outside cabin, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, and port dues. Guests can also choose to upgrade to Fred. Olsen's all-inclusive drinks package from just £10 per person, per night.

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Monday, 13 October 2014

Experience Christmas with a difference with Fred Olsen

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has launched a new Christmas mini-brochure for December. ‘Fred’s Festive Cruising’, features 13 cruises, including winter sun escapes, Christmas market city breaks and four brand-new festive sailings from Liverpool. There is also the chance to see the  Northern Lights  on a winter sailing to Norway aboard Black Watch.

The newly-launched cruises on Boudicca are two two-night Dublin mini-breaks, departing on either 10 December 2014 or 12 December 2014, a four-night Irish Christmas Markets’cruise, departing on 14 December, and the chance to attend a Christmas party with a difference on 18 December.

In addition, Fred. Olsen is offering guests the opportunity to upgrade to its all-inclusive drinks package for £10 per person per night. Solo travellers can also take advantage of no single supplements on a selected range of cabins across the fleet.

Each of Fred. Olsen’s ships – Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch – will be decked out in Christmas decorations, and guests can look forward to a traditional Christmas dinner during their cruise. There will also be Christmas-themed shows from the entertainments team on board, a carol concert, Christmas arts and crafts classes and a seasonal quiz.

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Wednesday, 24 September 2014

Fred. Olsen's longest-ever Grand Voyage to the Far East in 2015

            




Fred. Olsen's 119-night Far East Explorer cruise, sails from Southampton on board Balmoral on 4 January 2015. Guests will visit a total of 51 destinations, in 24 countries, across three different continents, navigating three oceans and 10 seas, while passing through 13 time zones - all from just £79 per person, per night.

In 2015/16, Fred. Olsen's fleet of four smaller, more intimate ships - Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch - will visit a total of 243 destinations in 80 countries, departing from ten convenient regional UK ports: Southampton, Dover, Harwich, Tilbury, Avonmouth, Liverpool, Newcastle, Greenock, Rosyth and Belfast. 

Price is based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded, Inside cabin, and includes accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board.

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Tuesday, 4 February 2014

Fred Olsen Celebrate 100th Anniversary Of Panama Canal


The Panama Canal is going to be much in focus this year as it prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary in August, and various lines are offering cruies to mark the centenary occasion with some special voyages. 

The latest offer to take in one of the world’s most spectacular engineering feats comes from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, who are offering the chance to commemorate the occasion on style aboard their flagship Balmoral. The 31-night ‘The Americas & Caribbean’ fly-cruise starts with a departure from London Gatwick on March 19 and sails all the way from San Diego, through the Caribbean and back to Southampton.

This exotic fly-cruise is one of the sectors of Balmoral’s 104-night World Cruise, which departed from Southampton back on January 5.

The obvious highlight of this trip, though, is a scenic cruise along the awe-inspiring Canal itself. Listed in CNN’s rundown of ‘11 places to go in 2014’, Panama is a tiny, but diverse, country of volcanoes, rainforests, coffee plantations and beautiful beaches, on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, which is also home to one of the most important trade waterways on the globe.

The ‘Big Ditch’, as the Panama Canal is known, lifts Balmoral with a fascinating system of mechanics, along the three great locks – Gatun, Pedro Miguel and Miraflores – aided by on-shore ‘mule’ locomotives, and passing under the iconic ‘Bridge of the Americas’.

More info: 0800 0355 242 www.fredolsencruises.com.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.





Monday, 23 December 2013

Balmoral's New Horizons In 2015

We know ex-UK cruises are really popular with our readers at World of Cruising (and here at Time Spent At Sea), and we are always keen, therefore, to highlight new opportunities to enjoy a good quality, no-fly cruise experience.
 
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines are among the leading purveyors of cruises round-trip from British ports, and they have just unveiled a selection of new 2015 itineraries for their classic ship Balmoral, which should have signficant appeal and are on sale now.
 
The new cruises include top-rated ports, exciting new destinations and an even greater number of shore excursions than ever before. Guests who book the new itineraries can also upgrade to Fred. Olsen’s ‘all-inclusive’ drinks package from just £10 per person, per night, and relax in the knowledge almost everything is already paid for.
 
Here are two top examples:
 
Balmoral’s six-night France and Spain cruise from Southampton on August 2, 2015: This sunshine cruise will take guests to Getxo, Hendaye and La Pallice, where they can explore quaint towns, relax on beautiful beaches or sample local wines at one of the traditional vineyards. Prices start from £539 per person.

Balmoral’s 13-night ‘Canaries Perseid Meteor Shower’ cruise from Southampton on August 8, 2015: This exciting 'experiential' cruise will give guests the opportunity to view the stunning, multi-coloured Perseid Meteor Shower at the optimum time, whilst visiting the beautiful Canary Islands, Portugal and Madeira. The ship will call at Lisbon, Santa Cruz for an overnight stay, Las Palmas, San Sebastian and Funchal. Prices start from £899 per person.

Prices for these cruises are based on two adults sharing an inside, twin cabin, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes.

More info: call 0800 0355 242 or visit
www.fredolsencruises.com.

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a fabulous offer for all new subscribers this month ONLY - 50 per cent OFF the regular rate AND the chance to win a cruise in our free prize draw offer. See
this link!

Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Balmoral Boost For Santo Domingo

The Dominican Republic port city of Santo Domingo has set out to make itself a major Caribbean cruise destination in the months and years to come, and it seems the cruising world is taking notice.
 
Only last month, we reported here on Time Spent At Sea about a major conference by the country's tourism leaders to boost their cruise profile and attract new traffic, highlighting the many attractions of the city and its tour options.
 
And, while they have a long way to go, with only a handful of cruise lines currently scheduled to call, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines are the latest to arrive, with an inaugural visit from their classic ship Balmoral (above).
 
The call was marked with a traditional Plaque & Key event, with the exchange protocol being made by Victor Stoica (Balmoral's captain) and Sharon Mei, the Commercial Director of Santo Domingo's Sans Souci Ports organization, as well as other executives of the Port and the shipping agency Maritima Dominicana.

During the event, Ms Mei, gave a formal welcome to the boat authorities at the same time giving a big vote of confidence in Santo Domingo as a cruise destination, where MSC
Cruises' MSC Musica is already a regular visitor (right).

Balmoral made its first call at the Sansouci Terminal, bringing some 1,175 visitors from the UK and 515 crew members. This cruise is scheduled to visit Ponta Delgada, St. Maarten, Tortola, Grand Turk, St. Lucia, Saint Vincent, Granada, Barbados and Madeira as well as Santo Domingo.

More info: for Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, visit www.fredolsencruises.com or call 0845 421 2661; for Santo Domingo, visit www.godominicanrepublic.com.


And don't miss our new-look January issue when we'll have more about Santo Domingo and it's many attractions.

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a fabulous offer for all new subscribers this month ONLY - 50 per cent OFF the regular rate AND the chance to win a cruise in our free prize draw offer. See this link!



 

Friday, 6 December 2013

Titan's New Iceland & Norway Extravaganza

I was beginning to think we were over-dosing on the Arctic here at World of Cruising but we are always keen to highlight something new, and Titan Travel's latest itinerary for Iceland and Norway looks well worth mentioning.

This represents a superb new cruise for 2014 to an area of incredible natural beauty and stunning landscapes. Journeying past waterfalls and glaciers, fjords and mountains, and witnessing bubbling springs is nothing short of magical.
 
And, with an exceptional catalogue of optional and diverse shore tours available - from whale-watching and bathing in the Blue Lagoon to puffin-spotting, train-journeying and city-touring - guests can tailor their holiday to be as active or leisurely as they choose.
 
From Iceland’s colourful Reykjavik, with its must-see natural wonders, to the magnificent Norwegian fjords leading to the fascinating port towns and cities of Olden, Bergen and Stavanger, this tour has something for everyone and should definitely be on your wish-list for cruises next year.

The 15-day cruise costs from £1,545pp and will be on Fred. Olsen’s classic ship Balmoral, departing May 31.
 
Additional features include:
 
  • Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service
  • Port taxes
  • ATOL protection fee
 
More info: call  0800 988 5823 or visit
www.titantravel.co.uk.

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a fabulous offer for all new subscribers this year - 50 per cent OFF the regular rate AND the chance to win a cruise in our free prize draw offer. See this link!


Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Warm Up This Winter With Fred Olsen!

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has launched a new ‘Warmer Cruising’ brochure, offering a selection of tempting cruises, departing between September 2013 and February 2014. These cruises are ideal getaways for the winter and offer some excellent savings, with prices starting from just £49 per person per night, with the opportunity for guests to upgrade to Fred. Olsen's ‘all-inclusive’ drinks package for just £10 per person per night (£39 per person, per night for mini-cruises, £29 per person, per night for ‘festive’ sailings).

Examples of the excellent prices available in the new ‘Warmer Cruising’ brochure include:
 

Black Watch’s 8-night ‘Strictly Spain & Portugal’ cruise, dep Dover Nov 16
This cruise visits Lisbon, Leixoes (for tours to Oporto) and Vigo and La Coruna before returning to Dover. Prices start from £49 per person, per night. A bonus for guests on this cruise will be former ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ contestant and ex-MP, Edwina Currie, who will be joining as guest speaker on the theme of ‘Ballroom Dancing’, through Fred. Olsen’s award-winning onboard enrichment programme, Vistas.
 

Balmoral’s 8-night ‘Christmas Markets of N Europe’ cruise, dep Southampton Dec 13
Take in the best of the best Christmas markets in Northern Europe, in preparation for the festive season. Balmoral calls at Zeebrugge, Copenhagen, Hamburg and Bremen before returning to Southampton. Prices start from £49 per person, per night. All prices are based on two adults sharing an inside, twin cabin, and include all meals and entertainment onboard and port taxes.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's leading cruise-agent specialists.

Saturday, 27 July 2013

Fred Olsen's Worldwide Focus

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has brought together its superb offering of world cruises and longer voyages for 2014/15 in a single brochure of ‘once in a lifetime’ cruises. 

The ‘Grand Voyages 2014/15’ brochure features Balmoral’s epic 104-night ‘Around the World with Burma, Japan, Hawaii & Latin America’ cruise in 2014, and Black Watch’s 114-night ‘South America and Australasia World Voyage’, visiting Latin America, Australia, New Zealand and the Far East – Fred. Olsen’s longest-ever cruise. Also featured are itineraries for 2015, with each ship cruising in a different direction, to some of the world’s most exciting destinations. 

Balmoral's ‘Far East Explorer’ is a sailing of 119 nights – beating the 2014 record as the longest-ever cruise! – departing from Southampton on January 4, 2015. This voyage takes in Malaysia, Japan, China, Vietnam and Thailand. It visits a total of 51 different ports, including Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Nagasaki (Japan), Beijing (China), Utheemu (Maldives) and Athens (Greece).

Black Watch sets sail on her ‘South American Discoverer’ cruise of 69 nights from Southampton on January 6, 2015, visiting 25 ports, including Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Montevideo (Uruguay), Callao (Peru) and Cartagena de Indias (Colombia.)

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's cruising specialists.

Monday, 10 September 2012

Back In Time With Fred. Olsen's Antiques-Themed Cruise

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is offering a special antiques-themed cruise in autumn 2013, through its acclaimed onboard enrichment programme, Vistas. This 14-night ‘The Art of the Mediterranean’ cruise aboard Balmoral departs from Southampton on September 27 and will be accompanied by Lars Tharp (above), the Danish-born historian, lecturer and broadcaster, as the onboard antiques expert.

Lars is one of the longest-standing experts on the ‘Antiques Roadshow’ and this enticing Mediterranean cruise calls first at Malaga, the wonderfully warm and inviting capital of the Costa del Sol. Balmoral then continues to Palamos, a historic Spanish fishing village which dates back to the 12th Century, and Ajaccio on the exotic island of Corsica, overflowing with reminders of its most famous resident, Napoleon. 

The cruise goes on to visit Mahon (Menorca), famous for its Xoriguer Gin Distillery, and Cartagena, an important port for over 2,000 years, before reaching Portugal’s lively capital, Lisbon. Here, guests can take in the delightful mix of palaces, churches, Art Nouveau cafés, museums and splendid bridges. Balmoral will then have a relaxing day at sea before returning to Southampton on October 11.

Prices for this cruise start from £1,459 per person, based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded ‘Inside’ cabin, Grade ‘I’, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, plus port taxes. Guests can join Lars’ fascinating talks free of charge. 

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's cruise-agent experts.

Wednesday, 11 July 2012

Famous Explorer Aboard Fred Olsen's Arctic Voyage

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' Balmoral will have a very special guest lecturer aboard the 16-night ‘Arctic Mountains, Fjords & Polar Bears’ cruise, which departs Southampton on July 26 - Sue Stockdale, the first British woman to ski to the North Pole, who will be aboard as part of the Vistas enrichment programme.

After leaving Southampton, the cruise calls first at Ǻlesund in Norway. This pretty town was destroyed by fire in 1904 and completely rebuilt in Art Nouveau style and is one of the most picturesque places in the country. After this call, Balmoral heads north into the Arctic Circle. She calls at Tromsø, surrounded by snow-capped peaks even in summer, then on up to HonningsvÇ»g for the North Cape – the very ‘top of Europe’. 

The next two ports are even further north. Longyearbyen, Svalbard, enjoys daylight around-the-clock in the summer months. The town has 1,600 inhabitants and reindeer can be seen roaming the streets. Originally a mining town, it has a museum dedicated to its mining and whaling history. Next port, Ny Alesund, is the most northerly permanent settlement in the world and is home to a scientific research centre.

Balmoral then begins her journey south, visiting Kristiansund, famous for its Klippfish (dried cod) Museum, and, finally, the pretty fjord land village of Olden, before returning to Southampton.

Prices for this memorable voyage start from £1,879 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside, twin cabin, Grade ‘I’. The price includes all meals and entertainment on board and port taxes. There is no extra charge for taking part in Vistas activity.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's cruising specialists.

Sunday, 22 May 2011

Aalborg Set To Welcome Fred Olsen


The Danish port of Aalborg will be opening its new city centre cruise berth this Wednesday (May 25), and the first ship to dock there will be Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ 1,350-guest Balmoral. The new Aalborg Royal City Berth is right in the centre of the town, making it extremely convenient for cruise ship guests to go ashore. This quay is also used by the Danish Royal Yacht, Dannebrog.

On inauguration day, there will be a ceremony on the quayside, with a performance of music and dance – Samba Show, performed by members of the Aalborg International Carnival, the largest carnival in Northern Europe. This will be a delightful spectacle for crew and guests on board ship and visitors to the quayside.

There will also be a ceremonial opening of the cruise berth, with Balmoral's Master, Captain Olav Soevdsnes, cutting the ribbon. The City of Aalborg will then present a plaque to the Captain, commemorating the ship's first visit to the new berth.

Find out more by visiting http://www.fredolsencruises.com/,

Tuesday, 5 April 2011

Fred Olsen's No Fuel Surcharge Guarantee

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has announced a ‘No Fuel Surcharge Guarantee’ on all bookings made up to August 31 this year, for cruises departing from January 1, 2012.

Any Fuel Cost Supplement already applied to 2012 bookings – currently levied at 5.5% of the cruise fare paid after any relevant discounts have been deducted – will remain on the booking, but the ‘No Fuel Surcharge Guarantee’ now provides protection against any future fuel-related fare increases.


For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, visit the website at www.fredolsencruises.com or, for bookings, see The Cruise Line Ltd.

Wednesday, 9 March 2011

Agatha Christie Meets Fred Olsen!


Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Easter cruise to Iberia and Morocco, aboard Balmoral, will be something special. To celebrate the 120th anniversary of the birth of legendary author Agatha Christie, the cruise is being completely themed in conjunction with Agatha Christie Limited.

A highlight of this ArtsClub theme – Fred Olsen’s programme of special interests on board – will be talks and lectures on Christie and her work from exclusive guests, including her grandson Mathew Prichard, who will enthral the audience with personal memories of his grandmother.

Julius Green, producer at the Agatha Christie Theatre Company, will also be on hand to discuss the great crime writer with guests. In addition, there will be live performances of some of Christie’s rarely-heard 30-minute radio plays.

A special extra attraction can now be revealed – the chance to sample the exclusive ‘Delicious Death’ cake. This cake was specially created by Jane Asher to celebrate the 120th birthday and re-creates a deadly cake that featured in Christie’s 50th novel, A Murder is Announced (1950). In this novel, the victim has indulged in a birthday tea that includes the rich and decadent chocolate cake, before she is found dead from poisoning - although, of course, the Fred Olsen version will be entirely poison-free!

The cruise is of 10 nights, departing from Southampton on April 23. Ports of call are La Coruna (Spain), Casablanca (Morocco), Gibraltar, Portimao (Portugal) and Lisbon (Portugal), returning to Southampton. Prices are from £980 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘G’. The price includes accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes. There is no additional charge for taking part in The ArtsClub’s ‘Agatha Christie’ theme.


More details can be found at www.fredolsencruises.com/ or from cruise agent specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

Saturday, 15 January 2011

Fred. Olsen Celebrates Burns Night!

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is proud to celebrate Burns Night aboard each of its four ships - Balmoral (above), Braemar, Black Watch and Boudicca. As the ships' names suggest, the cruise line has strong ties with Scotland, and Burns Night - January 25 - is always marked in style.

Details may vary from ship to ship, but the occasion is always a 'Formal Night' on board, so guests will be in full evening dress for dinner and are encouraged to add a "Hint of Tartan" to their outfits. Of course, many Scottish guests will wear the full Scottish formal dress, complete with kilt and sporran.

The evening begins with a themed cocktail party then, at dinner, there is the 'Parade of the Haggis', and 'Address of the Haggis' by a Scottish team member or guest on board. A special flyer on the history of Robert Burns is provided to all guests, and a themed quiz held after dinner.

Marketing Director Nigel Lingard says: "Many of our guests enjoy traditional celebrations and Burns Night is always popular. The Olsen family has long-established ties with Scotland and we are pleased to welcome many Scottish guests on our ships throughout the year - and, of course, we cruise from two Scottish ports, Greenock and Rosyth, regularly."

Find out more at www.fredolsencruises.com or contact the UK's leading specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

Sunday, 28 November 2010

All Aboard with the Archers.

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Fans of the BBC's classic long-running radio soap opera The Archers will get a treat in 2011, when Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines hosts two Archers-themed voyages as part of its popular programme of special-interest cruises, The ArtsClub. Archers aficionados will get the chance to mingle with their favourite cast members from the long-running show, whilst cruising around the beautiful Mediterranean.

Various Archers cast members will be on board both cruises. They will be available to chat to at the Captain’s Welcome Cocktail Party and will perform a 'mock' recording whilst on board - complete with all the rural sound effects fans have come to associate with this much-loved show!
Balmoral departs from Southampton on a 10-night Easter cruise on April 23, 2011, calling at La Coruna, Casablanca, Gibraltar and Portimao (where she anchors), before returning to Southampton. Prices for this cruise start at £1,014pp, based on two adults sharing an inside twin-bedded cabin. The price includes all meals and entertainment on board, plus port taxes.

The Balmoral cruise also offers the supporting ArtsClub theme of Wine, where guests can learn more about wines from around the world, and discover the onboard expert’s recommendations.

Black Watch departs from Dover on September 12, 2011 for a 13-night cruise around the Western Mediterranean, taking in Cadiz, Almeria, Ibiza, Mahon, Palma and Lisbon, before returning to Dover. Prices for this cruise start at £1,392pp, based on two adults sharing an inside twin-bedded cabin. The price includes all meals and entertainment on board, plus port taxes.

The Black Watch cruise also offers keen golfers a dedicated package, Flagship Golf, providing the ideal opportunity to play on some of the finest courses in the region whilst relaxing in the comfort of Fred. Olsen's classic liner. The cost for this package is £375 per golfer.

Find out more at http://www.fredolsencruises.co.uk/ or through specialist cruise travel agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

Saturday, 21 August 2010

Cruising the Planet

By guest blogger Steve Newman

For those seeking the ultimate in cruising, a world cruise is hard to beat. So if you are thinking along those lines, or maybe considering just sampling one of these grand voyages in sections over a period of time, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has launched a mini-brochure featuring its longer cruises for 2012.

Their Black Watch undertakes a 106-night World Cruise departing from Southampton on 11th January 2012. This cruise travels in an easterly direction, visiting Egypt and the Suez Canal, India, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Borneo, Australia – including the Great Barrier Reef – the South Pacific - including Vanuatu, Fiji, Bora Bora and Tahiti - South America and the Caribbean.

Prices for this all-encompassing cruise start from £9,499 per person (based on two sharing an inside twin cabin) and include all meals and entertainment on board and port taxes. The world cruise can also be booked in four shorter sectors – Southampton to Singapore; Singapore to Sydney; Sydney to Callao (Peru); and Callao to Southampton.

Balmoral (above) has an epic voyage around South America, departing 5th January 2012 for 89 nights, also from Southampton. She travels via the Canary Islands and Caribbean and takes in some of North America, visiting Key West, New Orleans and Galveston (for Houston) as well as Cozumel in Mexico and transits the Panama Canal before travelling all round the coast of South America.

This itinerary is something of a departure for a South America cruise and combines a wonderful variety of ports. It can also be booked in four shorter sectors – Southampton to Montego Bay, Jamaica; Montego Bay to Valparaiso, Chile; Valparaiso to Rio (Brazil); and Rio to Southampton.
Prices for the full cruise start from £7,999 per person.

You can find out more at Fredolsen.co.uk

Fred Olsen will also be exhibiting at the big Cruise Show at Birmingham in October.