HOLIDAY NEWS

Stretching out for
even more enjoyment July 14, 2008 - Fred. Olsen's Braemar is recommencing her cruise programme from Southampton following a major refit and lengthening.

Fuel surcharges raised
June 6, 2008 - Because of the rising cost of fuel, Fred Olsen is increasing the current fuel surcharge on all new bookings for cruises departing up to the end of March 2009 made on or after June 10. Bookings confirmed prior to that date will not be affected.
The supplement will be £5 per person per night for the first two occupants of a cabin, and £2 per person per night for the third and fourth occupants of the cabin. The supplement will be capped at a maximum of £70 per person per cruise.
"The global price of fuel has increased significantly and we have delayed implementing this increase for as long as we possibly can," said Olsen managing director. "Because our programme from April 2009 onwards took into account the fuel cost at that time, we are able to maintain our published prices at present for those cruises."

Crowning glory for Balmoral
Novermber 29, 2007 - The latest ship to join the Fred Olsen fleet is now in Hamburg at the Blohm + Voss Repair shipyard to begin her transformation from Norwegian Crown into Balmoral.
A newly constructed mid-section will be inserted and a major refit undertaken before Balmoral begins her cruise programme from Dover in January 2008.
The ship went into dry dock on November 16 where she will be extended by 30.20 metres. The extra capacity will allow for an additional 186 passengers and 53 new crew cabins. In addition, 60 new balconies will be added while public areas will be modified and new areas constructed.
More about the Balmoral transformation - with a picture

Many new cruises, enticing first time ports of call
July 17, 2007 - With the advent of a fifth ship, Balmoral , in January 2008, Fred Olsen's 2008/9 season offers many new cruises as well as some enticing first time ports of call.
Highlights of the new programme include two epic, long voyages. Black Watch departs from Southampton for her world cruise, travelling in a westerly direction, on January 6, 2009, for 97 nights while Balmoral's long voyage takes a very different route, travelling in a northerly direction. She leaves Dover on February 14, 2009, for a 104-night voyage, heading first to Lisbon and Valletta before reaching Port Said in Egypt and transiting the Suez Canal.
More about Fred Olsen in 2008-09

Google Earth goes to sea
June 24, 2007 - Fred Olsen has become the first cruise line to incorporate Google Earth into its website, allowing visitors to view selected long voyages via the global mapping tool.
Google Earth uses satellite imagery to three-dimensionally map the globe and provides a web search function, allowing users to search for businesses, areas of interest or get directions to their desired location.
Fred Olsen has incorporated this tool into its website to offer customers the possibility of experiencing a cruise long before they set foot on board ship.
More about Google Earth cruising

Cruise into a World of Culture
April 16, 2007 - 'Civilisations' is a new package of onboard activities on selected Black Watch cruises for 2007/8..
Perfect for those passengers with a passion for learning and a spirit of adventure, Civilisations is an add-on package which includes exclusive on board lectures from at least two specialist guest lecturers, exclusive accompanied shore excursions in the majority of ports of call, dedicated staff and a souvenir leather journal in which to record every moment of these very special holidays.
You will find Black Watch a perfect example of the Golden Age of Cruising. She was built for long, luxury cruising and this is reflected in the generous amount of space relative to passenger numbers, which means you will never feel crowded or cramped while aboard. Lectures will be conducted in the spacious 150 seat Marina Theatre which has cinema facilities to add an extra dimension to your programme.
More about Civilisations packages

Olsen to base ship in US
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.
More about Balmoral in the US

Olsen launches 2nd edition 07/08 brochure
December 7, 2006 - Fred Olsen has just launched the second edition of its Worldwide Cruise Brochure 2007/8 incorporating, for the first time, its latest ship, Balmoral.
Balmoral joins the fleet in 2008 and during her inaugural season will sail out of two new homeports - Miami and Civitavecchia (Rome).
The fleet of five ships now sails from a wider range of ports than ever before and the back cover of the new brochure carries a useful Homeports Calendar showing where each ship will be based at any given time.
More on Olsen's new 2007-08 cruise programme

Balmoral takes the plunge
August 24, 2006 - Fred Olsen has announced the first programme for its fifth ship, Balmoral.
The ship, the former Norwegian Crown, will arrive in Dover on January 23, 2008, following an extensive overhaul and refit, and sets sail from Dover a week later on her inaugural 14 night cruise to the Canary Islands.
Her second cruise will be a Transatlantic to the Caribbean, after which and she will be based in South Florida for a series of 10 or 11 night Caribbean fly/cruises between February and April. During May and June 2008, Balmoral will be based at the Rome port of Civitavecchia for a series of Eastern and Western Mediterranean and Adriatic cruises.
More about Balmoral cruises in 2008