YEAR 2008-09

March 26, 2007 - Fred Olsen has announced plans to base its latest acquisition Balmoral in the United States for the winter season during 2008/2009.

The ship will sail from its British base port of Dover in October 2008 on a transatlantic voyage via Canada ending in New York. This will be followed by a 12-night 'fall foliage' itinerary to Boston, eastern Canada, and returning to New York via Portland, Nantucket, and Newport.

Balmoral then proceeds to her winter home of Miami taking in Bermuda, Port Canaveral and Nassau en route.

Balmoral's Caribbean programme will consist of 11 cruises of 12, 14 and 16-nights' duration comprised of two standard 14-night east and west routes, with adjustments to allow for convenient air travel over the Christmas period. The range of ports goes from Guatemala and Cozumel in the west to Barbados in the east; and from the Bahamas in the north to Isla Margarita in the south of the region.

Balmoral's smaller size - only 34,242 tons and 987 passengers - means she is able to visit ports that larger ships miss out completely, or have to anchor a long distance out. For instance the little island of Bequia is only a few minutes tender ride from Balmoral. In both Road Town in Tortola (British Virgin Islands) and Santo Thomas de Castilla in Guatemala Balmoral's neat size allows her to tie-up at the dock, thus avoiding a tender ride completely.

Says Nigel Lingard, Olsen marketing director: "The expansion of our fleet to five ships is very exciting for us and allows us to offer even more variety to our year-round programme. The early enthusiasm shown by the North American market for our already announced Miami itineraries on Balmoral has encouraged us to return for the whole of the winter 2008/09 season."

Full details of all cruises are featured on their website or for reservations, call 01473 742424.