They may be Norwegian owned, but the four ships in the Fred Olsen Cruise Lines fleet provide one of the most British experiences at sea.
Most of their departures are from UK ports, including Newcastle, Greenock, Liverpool, Rosyth and Portsmouth as well as the more familiar Southampton and Dover.
Drinks – and everything else on board – are priced in pounds. There’s never a problem getting a “proper” cup of tea (even though they have recently started charging extra for posh afternoon tea) and the entertainment – which has included acts such as Lulu, Kenny Ball, and the Merseybeats, is perfectly pitched for the typical traveller.
A whole new set of itineraries for the 2011-12 season was announced this week, with the four ships – Black Watch, Boudicca, Braemar and Balmoral – set to visit 247 ports in 115 different countries.
The list includes a 108-night world cruise on Balmoral (above) and a 106-night cruise on Black Watch, both departing in January 2012.
Marketing director Nigel Lingard is obviously hoping to attract some early bookings – a 35-night cruise to the Red Sea on board Black Watch in October 2011 is already 60 per cent full.
In the meantime, there are plenty of late deals for Olsen cruises this summer.
An eight-night cruise from Dover on Braemar, departing on July 21, visits Amsterdam, Antwerp, L’Orient, St Malo and St Peter Port, Guernsey. Fares from £619. Go to www.cruise118.com or call 0800 280 2614.
Balmoral sails from Dover on August 7 for a 14-night cruise to the Western Mediterranean, with stops at Gibraltar, Cartagena, Livorno, Corsica, Ibiza and Lisbon. Fares from £899. Go to www.readeroffers.travel or call 0845 604 7479.
Sail from Southampton on August 31 for a five-night cruise aboard Black Watch, visiting Rouen, St Peter Port and St Malo. Outside cabins available from £414. Go to www.gillscruise.com or call 08456 58 23 23
Or take a late-summer voyage to the Norwegian fjords on board Balmoral, departing from Dover on August 28 and visiting Amsterdam, Invergordon, Stavanger, Eidfjord, Skjolden, Olden, Molde, Bergen and Antwerp. Fares start at £935. Go to www.fredolsencruises.co.uk or call 01473 742424
About the Author: John Honeywell
John Honeywell is a travel writer specialising in cruise ships and cruise travel. Winner of CLIA UK's Contribution to Cruise award 2017.
Have just retired and can’t wait to get back cruising with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines. Beautiful compact vessels.
Relaxed and pampered from the minute you step aboard it’s a truly wonderful experience where ever you chose to go and whatever the weather is back home.