Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines reaching 219 destinations in 2019/20

Complementing the UK departure ports of Dover, Southampton, Liverpool, Newcastle and Edinburgh (Rosyth), there is an expanded programme of fly-cruises.

The ocean cruise programme will include 13 maiden calls: Agios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece; Alotau, Papua New Guinea; Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia; Broome, Australia; Ermoupoli, Syros, Greece; Galway, Ireland; La Romana, Dominican Republic; Lembar, Lombok, Indonesia; Patras, Greece; Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, Australia; Sabang, Weh Island, Sumatra, Indonesia; Svolvær, Lofoten, Norway and Wewak, Papua New Guinea.

In 2019/20, ‘closer’ cruising remains at the fore of the Fred. Olsen cruise experience, notes managing director, Mike Rodwell.

‘An important part of a well-balanced itinerary, scenic cruising is rated as highly as the ports of call – and sometimes even higher,’ he remarked.

More signature Norwegian fjords itineraries feature in 2019/20, as well as Greenland fjords, and the fjords of Musandam in Oman, accessible on a dhow boat cruise.

Fred. Olsen will be operating five-night ‘taster’ cruises from all five UK ports – to the Norwegian fjords and along the Seine.

Building on the success of its inaugural European river cruise season, the UK-based operator is expanding the programme on Brabant in 2019/20 to feature the Danube, Rhine, Main and Moselle rivers.

Examples of Fred. Olsen’s ‘Best Time To Go’ itineraries in 2019/20 are: Braemar’s 14-night ‘Mediterranean with Lavender in Provence’ cruise in July 2019; Boudicca’s 14-night ‘Baltic with Tallinn Song & Dance Festivals’ sailing (cultural events which only take place every five years); Braemar’s 12-night ‘Spain & Portugal with the Seville Fair’ experience in May 2019 and Black Watch’s 14-night ‘Northern Norway with Sami National Day’ in January 2020, which features traditional festivities and ‘yoik’ folk choirs.