Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines unveils its ‘Worldwide Cruises 2014/15’ brochure to 246 destinations in 85 countries

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines – voted ‘Best Affordable Cruise Line’ and runner-up ‘Best Cruise Line’ in the prestigious ‘Cruise International Awards 2013’ – has launched its new ‘Worldwide Cruises 2014/15’ brochure, featuring its most ambitious cruise programme ever. In 2014/15, Fred. Olsen is offering guests the chance to visit a total of 246 destinations – even more than in the previous cruise season – in 85 countries around the globe, aboard its fleet of four smaller, more traditional ships – Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch.

Fred. Olsen’s 2014/15 cruise programme will see it sailing from Southampton, Dover, Harwich, Liverpool, Newcastle, Rosyth (for Edinburgh), Greenock (for Glasgow), Belfast, and the two newly-added ports of Tilbury and Avonmouth, further enhancing Fred. Olsen’s reputation as the ‘local, global cruise line’.  In 2014/15, Fred. Olsen will be making even more overnight stops in spectacular cities worldwide, in response to guests’ desire to spend more time ashore in the ports that they visit. Fred. Olsen will also be working with destination ports to create an even greater link between its cruises and local events, such as the 'Baltic Festivals' of ‘Kieler Woche’ in Kiel, Germany and the world-renowned ‘Jazz Festival’ in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Highlights of Fred. Olsen’s 2014/15 cruise season include:

• The ‘Undiscovered Adriatic’ from Avonmouth, a 28-night cruise departing on 17^th May 2014, taking in Sicily, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Hvar then Koper (Slovenia), as well as Venice and Athens

• A 32-night ‘Canada & New York’ cruise, departing from Southampton on 1^st September 2014, visiting Canada’s eastern seaboard when the Fall foliage will be at its best, with overnight stays in Quebec, Boston and New York

• A very different ‘Caribbean’ cruise, of 34 nights, with an overnight stay in Havana, Cuba, as well as stopovers in Bermuda, the Bahamas and Grand Turk, plus plenty of other favourites

• Two fabulous 28-night ‘Black Sea’ cruises, one from Liverpool in October 2014 and the other from Southampton in June 2014, both with visits to Athens, overnight stays in Istanbul, and cruising deep into the Black Sea and the Crimea

• Five ‘In Search of the Northern Lights’ cruises to Norway in February and March 2014, and Fred. Olsen’s first winter season in its historic homeland, in November and December 2014, to give guests the chance to marvel at one of Nature’s most awe-inspiring phenomena,  the ‘Aurora Borealis’, or ‘Northern Lights’ 

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

“I am so excited about our new 2014/15 programme, which is based on extensive research with existing guests and, equally important, the wider market and those who are yet to cruise.

“We are proud to be offering such a diverse range of worldwide itineraries, with so many exciting new ports of call; for instance, we will be embarking on our longest-ever ‘Grand Voyage’, with an 119-night ‘Exploring the Far East’ sailing on Balmoral, which is seven days longer than its 2013 ‘World Cruise’, but visits 19 more ports.

“In addition, we have three new cruise product types for the 2014/15 season: ‘Inspirational Experiences’, such as ‘Film Stars & Fast Cars’ and ‘Northern Lights’; the new ‘Triple-City Cruise Break’, which allows our guests to truly discover destinations, with overnight stays in each city, and is a far more cost-effective option than flying and taking a hotel to each one; and new ‘Introductory Cruises’, with our first series of two-night cruises.

“I am confident that this, plus the number of new destinations that we will be visiting across many of our itineraries, makes our forthcoming cruise programme the best and most varied that we have ever featured.”

Fred. Olsen will be offering many new destinations in 2014/15, which promise guests a wealth of unforgettable holiday experiences. For instance, there will be an impressive 13 maiden calls on Balmoral’s ‘Asia Grand Voyage’ in 2015: Galle (Sri Lanka), Ujang Pandang (‘Makassar’, Indonesia), Naha (Okinawa, Japan), Tokyo (Japan), Nagasaki (Japan), Jeju City (Jeju Island, South Korea), Dalian (China), Nha Trang (Vietnam), Nathon (Koh Samui, Thailand), Malacca (Malaysia), Hambantota (Sri Lanka), Utheemu (North Thiladhunmathee Atoll, Maldives) and Uligamu (Ihavandhippolhu Atoll, Maldives).

Other new destinations for Fred. Olsen in 2014/15 include:

·  Vila do Porto, Santa Maria, Azores – this main town is famed for its superb beaches and wonderful weather

·  Peniscola, Spain – often referred to as the ‘Gibraltar of Valencia’, and locally as ‘The City in the Sea’, this peaceful, scenic town has a castle and fortress, and famously was the setting for the 1961 film, ‘El Cid’

·  Eskifjordur, Iceland – a secluded fishing town in eastern Iceland, perfect for walking and exploring, with the impressive sight of Mount Holmatindur dominating the landscape

·  Runavik, Faroe Islands – this quaint port boasts stunning landscapes and charming, picturesque villages

·  Shelburne, Canada – an undiscovered gem, perfect for canoeing, bird-watching and sailing, with an historic waterfront and fine seafood restaurants

·  Hvar, Croatia – known as the ‘St. Tropez of the Adriatic’, this idyllic island – just off the Dalmatian coast – offers fragrant pine forests, olive groves, fruit orchards and fields of lavender, thanks to its exceptionally warm and sunny climate

Guests can also take advantage of Fred. Olsen’s great-value ‘all-inclusive’ drinks package on any cruise featured in the ‘Worldwide Cruises 2014/15’ brochure, from just £10.00 per person, per night*, on a wide selection of alcoholic and soft drinks on board, helping them to budget more easily for their Fred. Olsen cruise holiday.