Balmoral, latest addition to the Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ fleet, has completed her inaugural cruise to Florida, her base for Caribbean cruising. The ship left Dover on 13th February, and after calling at La Coruna and Tenerife, crossed the Atlantic to the Caribbean, with arrival in Miami on schedule on 1st March.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has greatly increased the use of regional airports for its programme of fly/cruises to the Caribbean and Mediterranean in 2008/9. One of the most popular airports in the programme is Stansted and on Monday 3rd March, the first Fred. Olsen charter took off for Miami to join latest cruise ship, Balmoral, on an 11-night cruise round the islands of the Eastern Caribbean.
Following the success of the first Civilisations programme, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has just launched a brochure for a second season of these very special cruises.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines offers a comprehensive programme of fly/cruises, to the Caribbean and Mediterranean for 2008. The cruise line uses a wide choice of regional airports, including Bristol.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines recently launched an online competition, inviting entrants to send in the best of their travel shots for a prize of Olympus photographic equipment.
The ship – formerly Norwegian Crown - docked on 16th November at dry dock ELBE 17 at Blohm + Voss Repair, Hamburg. She will be extended by 30.20 metres and the extra capacity will allow for an additional 186 passenger 53 new crew cabins. In addition, 60 new balconies will be added while public areas will be modified and new areas constructed.
The vessel, which will eventually be renamed Balmoral, will sail across the Atlantic to Blohm + Voss Repair GmbH Hamburg where it will undergo an extensive refit and refurbishment. It is expected to arrive in Hamburg in 10 days time.
Originally only offered on Black Watch cruises, for 2008-9 Civilisations will be available on selected Black Watch and Boudicca itineraries to a variety of destinations.
The site extends to approximately 4.5 acres and will house the new UK headquarters of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. “We are delighted to have acquired this prime location for Fred. Olsen” said David Lowe, Consultancy and Development director at EWS, who handled the negotiations. “It was selected after a rigorous search and review process of office development sites in the area” he continued.
The extensive 2008-9 cruise programme offers the greatest ever number of ports of call at 306 in 116 different countries, with around 21 ports new to Fred. Olsen.
The work will be carried out by Blohm + Voss Repair GmbH Hamburg which will be handling a similar project on the company’s latest acquisition, Balmoral, later this year.
Highlights of the new programme include two epic, long voyages.
