The year also saw the most successful Monday in the cruise line’s history on November 19 2018, when total sales reached nearly £1.6m.
Two major milestones were reached in 2018: its 30th anniversary in its hometown of Ipswich and its 170th year in shipping.
170 years in shipping
It was the latter of these two anniversaries that inspired the historic coming together of Fred. Olsen’s ocean fleet – Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch – as they united for only the second time in the cruise line’s history, at its ‘Captains in Cádiz’ celebrations.
Farewell to Mike Rodwell
2019 sees the departures of two Fred. Olsen stalwarts with the retirement of Mike Evans, head of sales, in April, and Mike Rodwell, managing director, in August. Between them, they will have dedicated almost 60 years’ service to Fred. Olsen.
Hello to Keith Norman
In 2018 Fred. Olsen launched its first dedicated river cruise ship, 156-guest Brabant, serving the Rhine, Main, Moselle and Danube rivers across Europe and Keith Norman is appointed as the company’s first-ever dedicated river sales manager, with effect from January 1, 2019. aimed at growing sales across all distribution channels to facilitate the future expansion river cruising.
The addition of Brabant, along with continuous development of its itineraries and the completion of its extensive multi-million-Pound refurbishment across it ocean fleet, have proved fruitful for Fred. Olsen, with guest numbers up by more than 10% on 2017.
Brabant sailings are over 40% sold for 2019.
The line’s new 2020/21 cruise programme will be launched in March 2019.
Braemar to break a world record
In May 2019, Braemar is set to break a world record, when the 196mtr long ship will become the largest ever to travel through the size-restricted Corinth Canal, in Greece.
Fred. Olsen will also be naming its fifth guest-funded RNLI lifeboat this month, at its Ipswich Head Office – the first time that the RNLI has ever held such a ceremony at the premises of a corporate partner.
Fred. Olsen guests raised £170,000 in the company’s 170th anniversary year to purchase the RIB which has been named ‘Pride of Fred. Olsen’. It will be based in Poole, Dorset, as part of the RNLI’s relief lifeboat fleet, and will be deployed around the UK and Ireland.
Replacements for Fred. Olsen’s managing director and head of sales roles are currently being sought and will be confirmed in 2019.
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