Fred Olsen’s four ships to meet in Spain for party to celebrate 170th anniversary

//Fred Olsen’s four ships to meet in Spain for party to celebrate 170th anniversary

Cruise lines love an anniversary, and will seize any excuse for a party.

Cunard and P&O are past masters at bringing their ships together to celebrate any event that has a zero or a five at the end of it.

It’s only 15 months since Balmoral, Black Watch, Boudicca and Braemar sailed in convoy into Bergen to mark the 200 birthday of the original Fred Olsen.

Now Fred Olsen Cruise Lines are planning another celebration, this time the 170th anniversary of the company’s beginnings, carrying cargo on sailing vessels.

The four cruise ships will gather in the Spanish port of Cadiz on September 10, 2018, for a day that is promised to be “packed with lively celebrations and festivities”.

Managing director Mike Rodwell says: “We will be looking to build on the tremendous success of out ‘Four Ships in Bergen’ event with ‘Captains in Cadiz’,” adding that the captains will be leading many of the day’s activities.

“We have been calling on Cadiz since 1997. For many of our guests, Cadiz is the highlight of their cruise and the city is renowned for its historical architecture, warm welcome, and generous hospitality.”

The four cruises that include the Cadiz celebrations are:

  • Balmoral’s 14-night Cities of Spain and Portugal cruise, departing from Newcastle upon Tyne on September 2. Fares from £1,499pp.
  • Black Watch’s 14-night Portuguese Explorer itinerary, leaving Liverpool on September 1. Fares from £1,499pp.
  • Boudicca’s 15-night Island-hopping to Suez voyage, leaving Dover on September 5, with flights home from Aqaba, Jordan. Fares from £1,799pp.
  • Braemar’s Flavours of Spain cruise, from Southampton on August 31. Fares from £1,599.

They will be on sale from next Wednesday.

Fred Olsen fans who like to plan ahead should make a note that 2021 will mark the 120th anniversary of Fred Olsen’s first passenger service to Grangemouth, Stirlingshire.

Nowadays, the company is heavily involved in operating the specialist vessels that install and maintain turbines for wind farms at sea.

Fred Olsen ferries ply between the Canary Islands, and the company also owns the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast – where Titanic was constructed – and the Timex watch company.

 

By | 2017-06-15T15:59:23+00:00 25 September 2016|Cruise News|0 Comments

About the Author:

John Honeywell is a travel writer specialising in cruise ships and cruise travel. Winner of CLIA UK's Contribution to Cruise award 2017.

Leave A Comment