Fred. Olsen offering shorter sailings as part of world cruise

The world cruise gets underway on January 6, 2025 sailing from Southampton.

The shorter itineraries span South America and the Pacific Islands, Africa and Australia. 

‘Our 2025 world cruise has already proven popular, and there are some incredible opportunities to be had as Bolette sails to gems across the globe,’ said Fred. Olsen’s head of itinerary product development, Martin Lister. ‘These shorter sailings will enable even more of our guests to share these experiences…’ 

The itineraries, he said, will offer ‘incredible insight into culture, history, art or the chance to seek out native wildlife such as the Magellanic Penguins in Chile, quokkas in Australia and the Big Five in South Africa…’ 

The cruise to Sydney includes a post-cruise stay, the sailing from Sydney to South Africa includes a pre-cruise hotel stay, and there are options to sail from or back into Liverpool from an additional £200 per person.

South America and Pacific

The first of the three options involves joining the ship in Southampton for a 56-night itinerary to South America and the Pacific Islands. 

Passengers will be able to see the differing landscapes of Chile, the Moai statues on Easter Island, Robinson Crusoe Island, experience Samba beats in Rio de Janeiro and visit islands in French Polynesia. 

On leaving the UK, Bolette will sail to Portugal where it will call at Lisbon, cruise by the Cristo Rei and the Abril 25 Bridge, cruise the Mouth of the River Tagus, the Belem Tower and the Discovery Monument. 

The vessel then sets sail for Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain followed by Praia, Cape Verde. 

From there, the ship moves to South America, calling at Rio de Janeiro and Ilhabela in Brazil, Montevideo in Uruguay and Buenos Aires in Argentina. 

In Chile, the itinerary includes: cruising the Magellan Strait; Punta Arenas; cruising by Cape Deseado; cruising the Chilean Fjords; overnight stay in port; Valparaiso; Robinson Crusoe Island; cruising by Alejandro Selkirk Island; Hanga Roa. 

Bolette will then sail to French Polynesia, cruising by Pitcairn Island before calling at Papeete and Bora-Bora.  

Next is Rarotonga, Cook Islands; crossing the International Date Line; Nuku’ Alofa, Tonga; Sydney, Australia. 

Prices start from £7,899 per person, including an overnight hotel in Sydney on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis on March 3, 2025 and flight from Sydney to London Heathrow on March 4, 2025. Cruise-only prices start from £6,899 per person.

Australia and South Africa

On March 3, 2025 Bolette’s 29-night ‘Australian and South African Discovery’ cruise from Sydney gets underway.

The itinerary comprises: Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Albany and Fremantle in Australia; Port Louis in Mauritius; Reunion; Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and Cape Town, South Africa. 

Prices start from £5,199 per person, including a flight from London Heathrow to Sydney, a pre-cruise overnight hotel stay in Sydney on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis on March 2, 2025 and flight from Cape Town to London Heathrow on April 1, 2025. Cruise-only prices start from £3,699 per person.

Highlights include nature, wildlife, exploring iconic sites such as the Opera House, Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the changing landscapes of Reunion Island and searching for the Big Five in South Africa.

Africa

Alternatively, the 21-night ‘Scenic Vistas and Diverse Cultures of Africa’ cruise, leaving Cape Town on April 1, 2025 will see passengers explore the vast landscapes of the Namib Desert, witness Senegalese folklore and tribal cultures, and experience the remoteness of the subtropical island of Jamestown, St Helena.

Prices start from £3,399 per person, including flight from London Heathrow to Cape Town. 

Cruise-only prices start from £2,699 per person.

The programme consists of: Cape Town, South Africa (overnight in port); Luderitz and Walvis Bay, Namibia; Jamestown, St Helena; Dakar, Senegal; Santa Cruz de la Palma, Spain, Funchal, Portugal; Southampton, UK.