Showing posts with label Fred Olsen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fred Olsen. Show all posts

Saturday, 20 December 2014

Save £7 on tickets for January's Telegraph Cruise Show in London



Meet over 80 cruise lines, river specialists and tour operators, enjoy free food and wine tasting sessions from chefs James Martin, Eric Lanlard, Atul Kochhar and Olly Smith courtesy of P&O Cruises Food Heroes, be inspired by TV travel presenter Simon Reeve who will take part in a Q&A session on the Saturday, get the insiders' guide to destinations from Telegraph Travel journalists and cruise experts and much much more.

The show is packed with deals and competitions including £325 off a Fred Olsen cruise booked at the show, £100 off a Saga Cruises cruise, get a bottle of champagne with every £50 deposit placed with Cunard plus multiple competitions to win holidays, Kindle Fires, hampers and other treats.

The show is also running a daily prize draw* to win over £30,000 of holidays including a a 12 night Norwegian fjords voyage, a 7 night Caribbean or Mediterranean cruise and a 3 night break in Dubai.

Special offer: World of Cruising readers can save £7 on tickets!**
Get £13 adult tickets (£20 on the door) by quoting WOC. Book your tickets today here or call 0800 542 5859.

Find out more at www.telegraph.co.uk/cruiselondon

* See full competition details on the Telegraph Cruise Show website. **Applies to adult advance tickets for a limited time only. Booking fee applies.

Saturday, 8 November 2014

Go ‘In Search of the Northern Lights’ with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines this winter



Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is offering guests two chances to see  the ‘Aurora Borealis’ before the end of the year on cruises departing from Liverpool and Tilbury. NASA scientists have predicted that the current period of solar activity will reach a new peak this coming winter and will not return to this intensity for over a decade – meaning that travellers to the far North, over the coming months, will experience the best possible conditions for seeing this spectacular natural phenomenon. 

Boudicca’s 16-night ‘In Search of the Northern Lights’ cruise departs from Liverpool on 8 November. Prices start from £944 per person.

Black Watch’s 16-night ‘In Search of the Northern Lights’ cruise departs from Tilbury on 20 December. Prices start from £1,584 per person. 

Fares are based on two adults sharing an inside twin-bedded cabin.

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Sunday, 2 November 2014

Last few cabins available for Black Watch mystery cruise



Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has just a few cabins remaining on its Mystery Cruise, which departs from Tilbury on board Black Watch on 15 November for 14 nights.

Whilst the company is keeping the itinerary of this cruise tightly under wraps, guests will have the opportunity to visit 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites, spend eight days in port, explore four exciting countries and discover one capital city.

Other highlights of the cruise include a late-evening sailing,  two ‘murder mystery’ dinners as well as prominent authors, speakers and entertainers on board to enhance the guests’ experience

The remaining cabins on this start from just £1,299 per person, based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded ‘Inside’ cabin, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board – including special ‘mystery’ themed activities – plus port dues.

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Sunday, 19 October 2014

Ramblers Worldwide Holidays and Fred.Olsen launch their first river cruise and walk trip




Ramblers Worldwide Holidays and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines have launched their first River Cruise & Walk voyage. 

Prices include all meals, an exclusive welcome party on one evening and a traditional afternoon tea with waiter service on a sea day, walking tours, shore visits, sightseeing programmes and the services of a dedicated tour leader.  Plus up to £40 off for bookings made six months in advance.

Rivers of the French Atlantic Coast – an eight-night guided walking holiday sailing the Loire and Garonne Rivers and La Rochelle aboard ‘Braemar’.  Highlights include, Nantes with a tour of its medieval centre and the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany (above).   Price from £1,125 per person the cruise departs from Dover on 1 August 2015.

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Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Day three on Fred Olsen's Black Watch with Ramblers Worldwide


Another lovely sunrise  and you can tell we’re getting nearer to Spain as there is warm southerly wind blowing which probably explains why the birders were on the bow of Black Watch this morning.

Our Ramblers Worldwide group leader Pam took quite a few people on a mile walk around the deck at 8 which considering that some of them were still boogying away in the disco into the early hours of  the morning is pretty good going!

Two fascinating talks today on our destinations and walks and some of our group have tried their hands at line dancing and painting.  I have discovered the chocolate café where they serve the most delicious choccies and you can make a selection to go with the wonderful choice of coffees. It’s right next to the library so I can see me changing my book more often!

We arrive at La Coruna tomorrow with temperatures estimated  at 22(C) and 71 (F) and I am looking forward to our walk. It's an Indian night in the Garden Restaurant and we've booked our seats for a curry or two.

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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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Thursday, 5 June 2014

World Cup cruise specials, from £499















If you fancied watching England's opening World Cup game against Italy from the deck of a cruise ship while it is docked in Naples, then I'm afraid you're already too late. A last-minute bargain deal for a week's Mediterranean cruise from June 11 aboard P&O's Ventura (above) has just sold out.

England's other two group games against Uruguay and Costa Rica will be screened aboard P&O's Arcadia during its 12 night cruise to Iceland and the Faroe Islands departing Southampton on June 16, with prices from £669 with Iglucruise.

Or, if you want to escape the World Cup altogether, then a cruise to the Norwegian fjords aboard Fred. Olsen's Braemar from Dover on June 14 has been declared a football free zone. Fares from £499 with Iglucruise.

To book visit www.iglucruise.com or call 020 8544 6447

Saturday, 15 March 2014

Fred Olsen Promise To Get 'Closer To The Destination' in 2015

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has announced its big programme for 2015/16, with the promise they will get guests 'closer to the destination' than ever before.

The full schedule for the winter season in 2015/16 will visit no fewer than 245 destinations in 81 countries around the globe, including 42 countries on its 2016 ‘Grand Voyages’ alone. The preview ‘Launch Brochure’ for the new itineraries will be unveiled to existing guests on March 17 and the cruises will go on general sale from March 24.

Fred. Olsen’s four ships, Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch, will sail from 10 convenient regional UK departures ports – Southampton, Dover, Harwich, Tilbury, Bristol (Avonmouth), Liverpool, Newcastle, Rosyth (for Edinburgh), Greenock (for Glasgow) and Belfast – meaning British guests will be within a maximum 90-minute drive away from joining a Fred. Olsen cruise, reinforcing their reputation as the ‘local, global cruise line’.

More info: call 0845 508 4947 or visit www.fredolsencruises.com.

The next edition of World of Cruising will be out next week, and you can see the current version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.


Monday, 10 March 2014

Fred Olsen's Solo Specials

We often highlight the relative plight of solo travellers in the cruise world, with single supplements sometimes as much as 200% of the regular fare for two people in a cabin.

But Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines work hard to be attractive to solo guests, and have just introduced a ‘no single supplement’ on certain grades of twin cabins for sole occupancy, on a selection of 2014/15 cruises. These special ‘no single supplement’ deals, which came into effect this month, mean that a solo guest, occupying a twin cabin, will pay the same per person rate as a couple, on applicable cruises.

Once on board, solo travellers will find exclusive gatherings for them to get to know each other, and staff on board will seat them together for dinner, and arrange companions for solo travellers when going ashore, if required. There are also Gentleman Hosts and Dance Couples to provide dancing partners for solo guests. The relatively small size of Fred. Olsen’s four ships and the relaxed and friendly atmosphere on board also make their cruises especially attractive for those travelling alone.

These ‘twin-for-sole occupancy’ fares for solo travellers are now being offered on a range of cruise itineraries, including (subject to availability):

- Balmoral’s eight-night ‘Norwegian Rivers & Railways’ cruise, from Southampton on August 10.

- Braemar’s nine-night 'Canary Islands' fly-cruise, from Southampton on November 23 (flying back to the UK from Tenerife at cruise end).

- Black Watch’s eleven-night 'France, Spain & Portugal' cruise, from Newcastle on September 28.

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

The next edition of World of Cruising will be out on March 17, and you can see the current version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.

Thursday, 6 February 2014

Titan's New Offerings For 2014

 
Cruises that explore different destinations in high style are always going to catch our attention here at World of Cruising, and here is just that from Titan Travel, who have launched a new series of both ocean and river cruise brochures for 2014. These include a new Escorted River Cruise brochure along with a new Cruise & Tour brochure and the third edition of their deluxe river cruise programme in exclusive partnership with Uniworld.

Uniworld
The third edition of the 2014 Uniworld brochure showcases some of the grandest and most scenic waterways of Europe, Russia, China, Vietnam and Cambodia, aboard Uniworld’s fleet of exquisitely appointed floating boutique-style hotels.

On many of these itineraries there are some significant savings at the moment, such as £2,050 off a 17-day ‘Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong’ tour departing on September 2. The cruise now costs from £2,999 per person (if booked by February 28) and contrasts the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, with the tranquillity of the Angkor Temple Complex in Cambodia and an unforgettable 7-night cruise along the Mekong River. Cost includes flights, all meals on board, wine, beer and soft drinks with dinner, 7 nights in hotels on a B&B basis, the 7-night cruise, many excursions and Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service.

A further enhancement to the VIP Home Departure Service for passengers travelling with Uniworld this year is the addition of friendly Titan airport representatives to assist in the check-in process.

Escorted River Cruise
Also out this month is the second edition of the escorted river cruise brochure. New for 2014 is the 8-day ‘Highlights of Belgium and the Netherlands’ cruise. This is a no-fly holiday and passengers travel in a comfortable coach to Cologne, via Eurotunnel, and then board the all-inclusive A-ROSA Viva. Highlights include Amsterdam with its romantic canals, the ‘diamond city’ of Antwerp and the charming medieval city of Bruges, famed for its architecture. With departure dates in June and September, prices start from £1,545 per person and include coach travel with experienced drivers, 7-night cruise, 21 meals, all-inclusive drinks package on board, a Titan onboard drinks party, many excursions and Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service.

Cruise & Tour
The second edition of the 2014 Cruise & Tour Brochure is now out and combines the freedom of a journey by sea with all the excitement of a land-based tour. Titan pioneered these innovative style holidays back in the 1990s to deliver the best of both worlds and the popular concept has now developed into an exciting range of globetrotting tours from exotic adventures in far flung corners of the globe, as well as experiences closer to home. 

New for this edition is a series of four tours that have been combined with a Fred. Olsen cruise, such as the 29-day ‘Great South American Odyssey’. Providing the perfect introduction to Latin America the cruise on board the Fred. Olsen’s Black Watch is combined with the rhythms of Rio, the majestic Iguazu Falls, Buenos Aires and the spectacular glaciers of Chile. Departing in January 2015, prices start from £4,295 per person including flights, 6 nights in hotels, 20-night cruise, 67 meals, Titan on-board cocktail party, various excursions, and Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service.

More info: call 0800 988 5858 or visit www.titantravel.co.uk.

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.

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.





Tuesday, 5 March 2013

OperaBabes Return To Fred. Olsen

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines have a real treat in store for fans of classical music this summer as Boudicca’s 14-night ‘Scandinavia and St. Petersburg’ cruise combines stunning Baltic ports with a theme of Classical Music, through its award-winning onboard enrichment programme, Vistas. The highlight of this cultural cruise will be live performances by The OperaBabes, making their third appearance with Fred. Olsen, who are set to electrify audiences with Puccini’s aria ‘O mio babbino caro’, made famous by Maria Callas, amongst their repertoire. 

As part of the Music theme, guests can enjoy fascinating talks, as well as star quality live entertainment. Hosting the theme is music expert Peter Hudson, who will be speaking about the great Maria Callas, renowned as the finest opera singer of the 20th Century. Peter is a passionate opera-lover, who has been giving talks and lectures about Maria  and her fascinating, tragic life story for more than 20 years.

The OperaBabes – Rebecca Knight, soprano, and Karen England, mezzo soprano – will join this cruise in Copenhagen on August 11. Boudicca departs from Liverpool on July 31, calling first at Kristiansand in Norway. Founded by King Christian IV in the 17th Century, it boasts some of Norway’s finest beaches. Next is Visby in Gotland (Sweden), the setting for hundreds of historical sites, including burial mounds, medieval churches and fortresses, with many treasures from the Viking era. Moving further east, the ship then calls into Tallinn, the lovely capital of Estonia, with its domed churches and cobbled streets, one of the most popular ports in the region and always a delight to visit.

A major highlight of the cruise is the magnificent city of St. Petersburg, Russia’s most European city and a treasure trove of fine art and architecture. There is an overnight stay here and guests can choose an optional tour to visit the ballet or enjoy a classical music performance. The next port is Finland’s attractive and cosmopolitan capital, Helsinki, created by the czars as a ‘miniature’ St. Petersburg. On the return voyage, the final port of call is another capital – Copenhagen in Denmark – which has so much to offer; from the delightful Tivoli Gardens to the charming Little Mermaid statue and the colourful buildings of the former sailors' district, Nyhavn, there really is something for everyone. Two relaxing days at sea bring Boudicca back to Liverpool.

Prices for this cruise start from £1,599 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside, twin cabin, and include all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes. The OperaBabes will perform live during the cruise, and there is no extra charge for enjoying the Vistas ‘Classical Music’ themed activity and entertainment.

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

Saturday, 23 February 2013

Try A Spanish Spring With Fred Olsen

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has some lovely spring cruises in 2013, visiting attractive Spanish and Portuguese destinations, with departures in April, from a choice of southern UK ports. The perfect time to visit the Iberian Peninsula, April is warm and sunny and many lovely cities and beaches beckon.

Boudicca’s cruise ‘Portugal & Spain with Barcelona’ departs from Portsmouth on April 6 for 14 nights. This port is easily accessed by road or rail, and the cruise includes two of the most popular and vibrant Iberian cities, Barcelona and Lisbon. First port of call on leaving Portsmouth is Gibraltar, where a trip to the top of the famous Rock gives stunning views while next is vibrant Barcelona, with its colourful street life and the arresting Gaudi architecture to enjoy. Boudicca then visits Palamos on the Costa Brava, a fishing village since the 12th century, and a popular and attractive holiday resort. 

The pretty island of Menorca is next, with a call at capital Mahon, then it’s on to Portugal, with a call into the lovely Algarve port of Portimăo, with great beaches and fresh sardines at every café. The final call is into Lisbon, cosmopolitan and colourful capital of Portugal, before Boudicca returns to Portsmouth. Prices for this sunny, spring cruise start from just £799 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin. 

Braemar also offers a spring cruise to Iberia, of 14 nights, departing from Dover on April 8.  The cruise ‘Spain & Her Islands’ calls first into Lisbon, before moving on to a lovely selection of Spanish ports. First of these is Malaga, on the Costa del Sol; from here, guests can enjoy an optional tour to the magnificent Alhambra Palace in Granada. Next is the ancient port of Cartagena, which has been an important port for over 2,000 years and has some fine Roman remains. 

The island of Mallorca is next, with Braemar calling into the capital, Palma. The old city is dominated by the cathedral, with attractive cobbled streets and narrow alleyways to explore. Don’t miss the Museum of Spanish Contemporary Art, with a superb collection of works from Picasso to Dali. Vibrant Barcelona is the next port, a destination that never disappoints, before Braemar begins her return voyage. She calls into Gibraltar, then finally La Coruna, where guests can marvel at the ‘Torre de Hercules’, the world's oldest lighthouse.  The cruise then returns to Dover. 

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's leading specialist cruise agents.

Saturday, 9 June 2012

Fred Olsen Chase Northern Lights Again In 2013

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has added a new Norwegian itinerary in 2013, giving guests more opportunities to seek the amazing experience of seeing the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, one of nature’s most spectacular phenomena.

The exciting 14-night voyage is aboard Boudicca and departs from Portsmouth on March 13, 2013, following the success of a similar voyage earlier this year.

The new itinerary, ideally suited to a cruise line with a strong Norwegian heritage, calls first at Ålesund, the pretty Norwegian town famous for its Art Nouveau-style buildings and national Art Nouveau Centre. Alesund is also close to Runde Island, home to one of the largest colonies of puffins in the world (above).

Next is Tromsø, far up into the Arctic Circle, where Boudicca will stay for two nights, giving guests the maximum chance of seeing the Northern Lights. From here, guests can choose to take Fred. Olsen’s ‘Chase for the Lights’ tour. This year's first-ever ‘Norway Winter’ cruise was lucky enough to see this amazing natural light show from Tromsø several times. 

Boudicca then calls at Alta (Finnmark, Norway), the most northerly port on this cruise. From Alta, guests can travel to Hammerfest, thought to be the most northerly town in the world. On the return voyage, the ship visits Kristiansund, with its picturesque old town and quaint wooden buildings, complete with a unique ‘Klippfish’ – or ‘dried cod’ – Museum, before sailing back to Portsmouth. 

Prices for this special cruise start from £1,599 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. 

For bookings, visit this link to our sponsors The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's leading cruise-agent specialists.




Thursday, 13 October 2011

Listen Very Carefully, I Will ‘Sail’ This Only Once!

Two stars of the BBC’s much-loved Second World War comedy, ’Allo ’Allo!, Herr Otto Flick of the Gestapo (Richard Gibson) and Private Helga Geerhart (Kim Hartman), are to join two Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ voyages in 2012. Both actors will be lecturing and performing on the theme of ‘Comedy’ as part of the line’s award-winning cruise enrichment programme, Vistas.

They will be taking centre stage on board Boudicca’s 14-night ‘Canaries & Morocco’ cruise in January and on a 25-night sector of Balmoral’s epic ‘New World’ cruise, in March.

Boudicca’s voyage is a 14-night cruise, departing from Southampton on January 5, calling at the islands of Madeira, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote, then Agadir in Morocco and a final call into Lisbon before returning home. Prices start from £1,189 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘H’, and include all meals and entertainment on board, as well as port taxes.

Balmoral’s cruise is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on March 9 to Southampton, also calling at Salvador, Recife, Fortaleza and Santarem (all in Brazil), then the Cape Verde Islands and, finally, Funchal, Madeira, before reaching Southampton on April 3. Prices for this exciting cruise sector start from £2,684 per person, based on two adults sharing a superior outside twin cabin, Grade ‘B’, and include all meals and entertainment on board, as well as flights from London to Rio and port/airport taxes. There is no extra charge for enjoying the company of Herr Flick and Private Helga!

Find out more at www.fredolsencruises.com or consult the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Sunday, 28 August 2011

Fred. Olsen extends ‘No Fuel Surcharge Guarantee’

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is pleased to announce that its ‘No Fuel Surcharge Guarantee’, introduced earlier this year, has been extended to cover all bookings made up to and including December 31, for cruise departures from January 1.

The extension of this guarantee provides reassurance to those booking within this period that they will have not have to face any additional fuel-related costs to their cruise, providing they make the commitment by the end of this year.

For more info, visit www.fredolsencruises.com or, for bookings, see the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Thursday, 28 July 2011

Peter Sissons and Terry Neill Cruise with Fred. Olsen

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is proud of its philosophy ‘It’s all about the people’ and the cruise line is famed for its personal touch. Part of the pleasure of a cruise is to meet new people and enjoy stimulating discussion – perhaps learning something new along the way. An eclectic mix of speakers appears as part of Fred. Olsen’s cruise enhancement programme, Vistas, which covers a host of fascinating topics that guests can enjoy at no extra cost.

Two very different speakers featured in the 2012/13 Vistas programme are veteran newscaster and broadcaster, Peter Sissons (above), and the Northern Ireland footballer and former Spurs and Arsenal manager, Terry Neill.


Thought to have been Britain’s longest-serving TV news presenter, with a career spanning 45 years, Peter Sissons is best known for his long and distinguished career with the BBC. Having worked for both ITN and Channel Four – where he won three consecutive BAFTAs – he joined the Corporation to present Question Time and the Six O’Clock News. Latterly, he presented the Nine O’Clock News from 1994 until it moved to its present ten o’clock slot.


Prior to his successful life in journalism, Peter studied alongside some famous classmates. Growing up in Liverpool, he was at junior school with John Lennon and Jimmy Tarbuck and then attended the Liverpool Institute, where, among his fellow students, were both George Harrison and Paul McCartney. Many people will remember Peter as the newsreader who was trusted with the momentous task of announcing to the nation the death of the Queen Mother in 2002 – and was castigated by some (and applauded by others) for wearing a burgundy tie, rather than a black one!

He left the BBC in 2009 to concentrate on writing his memoirs, since published under the title ‘When One Door Closes’, and promises to be a fascinating speaker on Boudicca’s 23-night cruise to the Mediterranean, departing from Portsmouth on October 12, 2012. The cruise visits Portimăo (Portugal), Ibiza (Spain), Valletta (Malta), Piraeus for Athens (Greece), Alexandria (Egypt) for an overnight stay, Tripoli (Libya), Algiers (Algeria) and Gibraltar, before returning to Portsmouth. Prices are from
£2,379 per person.

From a very different world comes William John Terence (‘Terry’) O’Neill. Born in Belfast in 1942, Terry has been involved in football from his earliest days, playing as a junior for Bangor before moving to Arsenal in 1959. In the early 1960s, he made 29 league appearances for The Gunners, and was also a regular player for the Northern Ireland team. He became Arsenal captain in 1968 and played 275 games for them, scoring ten goals in total. He moved to Hull City in 1990, as one of the youngest ever player/managers, and was later manager of Tottenham Hotspur, returning to his beloved Arsenal as its manager until his retirement from ‘the beautiful game’ at the early age of 41. Since then, he has run a number of successful sports bars in London, and still commentates on Arsenal games for Arsenal TV.


Neill will be speaking on Boudicca’s 35-night voyage to the Caribbean, departing from Southampton on January 19, 2012. The cruise visits Tenerife, Barbados, Curacao, Colombia, Jamaica, Cuba (for an overnight stay in Havana), the Turks and Caicos Islands, St Maarten, and the Azores, before returning to Southampton. Prices are from £3,249 per person.


Prices are based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘I’ and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment onboard, including the celebrity speakers, and port taxes.


Find out more at www.fredolsencruises.com or contact the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Friday, 22 July 2011

Tony Soper Joins Fred. Olsen

Expedition leader, naturalist and veteran broadcaster, Tony Soper, will be joining guests aboard Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Braemar cruise to the North Cape in June 2012. Appearing as part of its Vistas cruise enhancement programme, Tony’s expert topic will be ‘Flora and Fauna’.

Tony Soper started his career as a trainee with the BBC and is a co-founder of its Natural History Unit. His many TV credits include BBC2’s ‘Nature’ and the film series ‘Discovering Birds’ and ‘Beside the Sea’. A renowned bird watcher, he is also an accomplished expedition leader, having led wildlife safaris to both the Arctic and the Antarctic, and is a pioneer of expedition cruising.

Many people will have fond memories of his time on the classic children’s nature programme, ‘Animal Magic,’ which he co-presented with multi-voiced Johnny Morris. The much-loved series ran for 21 years, from April 1962.


The cruise also lends itself perfectly to Tony’s subject. Setting sail from Dover on June 14, the first port of call is Ijmuiden (for Amsterdam), then Braemar cruises north to Leknes, in the Lofoten Islands, inside the Arctic Circle. The wild landscape, with jagged peaks and white sand, is visually stunning, and one of the most picturesque in Norway.

Next port is Tromsø and from there the classic ship travels right up to the North Cape, to Honningsvǻg, Norway’s most northerly village, framed by rugged mountains and the Arctic Ocean. At this time of year, there is daylight around the clock, so the sightseeing is unparalleled. On the return journey, Braemar visits Trondheim, then Ǻlesund, with its strikingly pretty ‘Art Nouveau’ architecture, and, finally, the bustling port of Bergen, with its cobbled streets and quaint wooden buildings. The cruise then returns to Dover on June 27.


A North Cape cruise offers many opportunities for spotting birds and wildlife, including reindeer, whales and many species of seabird, and no doubt the guests’ enjoyment will be greatly enhanced by Tony Soper's fascinating and well-informed talks.

Prices for this cruise start from £1,529 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, and there is no extra charge for the Vistas activities.

For more info, see www.fredolsencruises.com or the specialist cruise travel agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Wednesday, 18 May 2011

OperaBabes Set Sail With Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines


As part of the popular ‘Music and Laughter’ programme of cruises, with high quality, live entertainment, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is delighted to welcome back, for a second season, The OperaBabes.

Rebecca Knight, soprano, and Karen England, mezzo soprano, were discovered by a talent scout in 2001 when they were busking in Covent Garden. Their first big break came when they were booked to perform at the FA Cup Final, giving them a worldwide audience of 500 million people, and they have never looked back.

Their first album was launched to great critical and popular acclaim and reached Number 1 in the UK Classical Charts, selling over a million copies, and also reaching Number 4 in the USA chart.

They entertained guests aboard a Fred. Olsen cruise last October, to enormous acclaim, and will now be cruising once more and delighting guests with their special style of opera and glamour.

The cruise featuring this high class headline act is Braemar M1123, to Iberia, an 11-night voyage departing from Dover on October 28. The OperaBabes will join the cruise to entertain guests from November 3-8. The ports of call visited are Motril (Spain), Ibiza (Spain), Cartagena (Spain) and Lisbon (Portugal) before returning to Dover.

Prices start from £948 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘I’, and include accommodation, all food and entertainment on board, and port taxes.

Find out more at www.fredolsencruises.com or contact specialist cruise agents 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.