Former Braemar Sails from Scotland Ahead of Villa Vie Debut

Former Braemar Sails from Scotland Ahead of Villa Vie Debut

The former Braemar has sailed from Scotland ahead of debuting for Villa Vie Residences.

After spending almost four years docked in Rosyth, the 1993-built vessel left the port under its own power on Tuesday morning.

Set to be renamed Villa Vie Odyssey, the cruise ship is now on its way to the Harland & Wolff Shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where it is expected to arrive on April 25.

At drydock, the 924-guest vessel is scheduled to undergo significant technical work, including the reactivation of systems, class inspections, general maintenance and more.

The Villa Vie Odyssey will also receive a new livery, as well as new public areas and features. Among the new additions are a culinary centre and a pickleball court.

According to Villa Vie Residences, the vessel will also be enhanced with a state-of-the-art business centre, an upgraded pool deck, a new observation deck and refurbished staterooms.

All 480 cabins are set to undergo upgrades to ensure “the utmost comfort and style,” the company said.

Following the refit, the Odyssey is scheduled to sail to Southampton to embark on its maiden voyage for the new operator.

After leaving Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ fleet in late 2022, the former Braemar was acquired by Villa Vie Residences earlier this year.

Building on a residential ship concept, the startup brand plans to offer a continuous cruise that will circumnavigate the globe every three-and-a-half years.

Passengers can buy their own “villas” onboard the ship, becoming owners of one of the ship’s cabins.

For its first world voyage, the Odyssey is scheduled to visit all seven continents, sailing to over 425 destinations in 147 countries. The itinerary also allows guests to explore 13 of the 14 Wonders of the World, Villa Vie said.

Built in Spain in the early 1990s, the former Braemar also sailed for Cunard Line, Crown Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and others.

January Update: Here Are the Latest Five Cruise Ship Moves

January Update: Here Are the Latest Five Cruise Ship Moves

Among recent cruise ship transactions, Resorts World Cruises is expanding in Asia, an AIDA ship is heading to a new home and there is much more.

Cruise Industry News looks at some of the more relevant ship moves in the last few months.

For a complete market overview of ships moving between owners and leaving the market, see the Secondhand Market Report by Cruise Industry News.

Explorer Dream
Capacity: 1,804 guests
Tonnage: 76,800
Year built: 1999
Former names: SuperStar Virgo
Move: Chartered to Resorts World Cruises; to be renamed Resorts World One
Date: January 2023

After spending several months anchored off Malaysia, the Explorer Dream found a new operator. In January, Resorts World Cruises announced plans to charter the 1999-built vessel, which will be renamed Resorts World One.

Rejoining its former fleet mate Genting Drem, the ex-SuperStar Virgo is set to debut in Singapore in February before kicking off a program of short cruises to nowhere departing from Hong Kong.

AIDAaura
Capacity: 1,270 guests
Tonnage: 42,200
Year built: 2003
Move: To be retired from AIDA Cruises’ fleet
Date: January 2023

Following its sister ship AIDAvita, the AIDAaura is set to be retired from the AIDA Cruises fleet. According to an announcement issued by the German cruise line in January, the 2003-built vessel is set to offer a farewell season before being withdrawn from service next September.

AIDA hasn’t revealed future plans for the ship, which is expected to be sold as part of Carnival Corporation’s fleet optimization initiative.

Pacific Venus
Capacity: 696 guests
Tonnage: 26,518
Year built: 1998
Move: Withdrawn from service as operator shuts down cruise business
Date: January 2023

The Pacific Venus concluded its last cruise for Venus Cruise in early 2023. After announcing plans to shut down its cruise operations, the Japanese cruise line went out of business on Jan. 4.

One of the market’s only three Japanese-flagged cruise ships, the Pacific Venus is now facing an uncertain future. Currently laid up in a shipyard in Japan, the 696-guest vessel was built at the Ishikawajima shipyard in Tokyo.

Costa Venezia
Capacity: 4,232 guests
Tonnage: 135,500
Year built: 2019
Move: Ended last cruise for Costa ahead of being transferred to Carnival
Date: December 2022

Set to be transferred to Carnival Cruise Line, the Costa Venezia concluded its last cruise for Costa Cruises in early December. Currently laid up in Italy, the 2019-built is scheduled for a drydock before launching service for its new operator in May.

Sailing from New York City on a year-round basis, the Venezia will be part of the new Carnival Fun Italian Style concept, which mixes Costa’s Italian heritage with Carnival’s experience and service.

Braemar
Capacity: 977 guests
Tonnage: 24,344
Year built: 1993
Former names: Crown Majesty, Crown Dynasty and Norwegian Dynasty
Move: To be sold by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Date: November 2022

In late November, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines announced plans to rationalize its fleet and concentrate on modern tonnage. As a result, the British brand decided to retire Braemar from service.

Currently the smallest vessel of the fleet, the 1993-built cruise ship has been laid up in Scotland since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of the announcement, Fred. Olsen is also said to be looking for a buyer for the vessel, which has a capacity for 977 guests in double occupancy.

Preview: The 2023 Cruise Industry

Preview: The 2023 Cruise Industry

With the COVID-19 pandemic now in the past, Cruise Industry News looked into the trends and the highlights that are set to headline the cruise industry in 2023.

New Ships

According to Cruise Industry News’ Orderbook data, lots of new builds are set to hit the market in 2023.

The vessels will expand the fleet of 20 operators, including major brands such as Carnival and MSC Cruises, as well as niche cruise lines including American Cruise Line and Swan Hellenic.

Virgin will be the brand adding the most ships, with the Resilient Lady and the Brilliant Lady scheduled to enter service during the year.

Start-Ups

More start-ups are entering the market in 2023 while other new brands are also expanding their fleet.

New brands launching services include Compagnie Française de Croisières and Exploris, as well as Explora Journeys and Adora Cruises.

After debuting in 2022, other start-up operators – including Ambassador and Emerald – are set to add ships to their fleets over the next 12 months.

Additional brands that could debut in 2023 include Foresee Cruises, who acquired the former Sea Princess for a local operation in China.

New Crystal Cruises

Crystal Cruises is making a return in 2023, under new management and ownership.

The brand, along with two former ships, the Serenity and the Symphony, was bought by the A&K Group after the collapse of the luxury cruise line in early 2022.

With details still to be confirmed, the new luxury cruise line plans to launch operations early in the year.

First China-Built Large Ship

The first large cruise ship built in China is going to enter service in late 2023. Currently, in the final stages of construction in Shanghai, the still-unnamed vessel is set to offer year-round cruising in Asia for Adora Cruises.

With a design similar to the one used by Carnival’s Vista-Class ships, the 135,000-ton ship will have a capacity for 5,000 guests, as well as custom-designed features and public areas.

A joint venture between China State Shipbuilding Corporation and Carnival Corporation, the brand also has a sister ship currently under construction at the same shipyard.

Explora Journeys

The MSC Group is debuting a new cruise line in 2023 with Explora Journeys. As part of its expansion, the new brand will offer a luxury experience, with a fleet of purpose-built ships.

Scheduled to enter service in July, the Explora I is the first of the new mid-sized vessels.

The 922-guest ship will debut in Northern Europe, before offering itineraries in North America, the Caribbean, South America and the West Coast.

Japan Reopening

One of the most important markets in Asia, Japan is set to welcome international cruising back in early 2023.

Cruise Lines returning to the country include Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Silversea, which are set to offer full seasons in the region starting in March.

Secondhand Market

With several ships looking for new operators, the secondhand market is set to continue warm in 2023.

Vessels like Fred. Olsen’s Braemar, the Astoria, the Pacific Venus and the Birka Stockholm are currently on the market. Meanwhile, Carnival Corporation said it would sell three more ships, including two Costa ships, on this year-end and fourth-quarter earnings call in December.

Other ships potently looking for new owners include the Seajets fleet, which currently includes five ships and remains laid up in Greece, and the former AIDAvita, which remains laid up in Estonia.

Vessels formerly operated by Genting, such as the Explorer Dream, are also present in limbo.

Expedition Market

The expedition market will welcome five new vessels in 2023 as vessels are set to enter service for various brands, including Swan Hellenic, Scenic and Oceanwide according to the orderbook.

Seabourn is also continuing its expansion into the niche with the addition of the Seabourn Pursuit, its second purpose-built exploration ship.

Concluding SunStone’s Infinity class of ships, the Ocean Albatros is also scheduled to debut during the year.

Disney Expansion

Disney Cruise Line is growing its operations in 2023. With the new Disney Wish sailing its first full year, the brand is set to add a new homeport in North America and also debut in Australia and New Zealand.

Starting in November, the brand is set to expand to Port Everglades, offering four- and five-night cruises onboard the Disney Dream.

A few days before that, however, Disney is also arriving in Australia and New Zealand for the first time, with the Disney Wonder offering a local program that includes itineraries sailing from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland.

In 2023, Disney is also expected to reveal its plans for the former Global Dream, which was acquired by the brand last November.

 

FRED OLSEN TO LAY-UP BRAEMAR UNTIL 2022

Fred Olsen will lay-up Braemar until 2022 owing to the likely complexity of operating a fly-cruise programme in the early stages of any permitted resumption of cruising.

The line’s focus will instead be on its ex-UK programme, with new ship Borealis likely to be the first of its four-ship fleet to return to service next year.

Borealis will embark on its maiden cruise with Fred Olsen on 23 April 2021 as originally planned – a six-night Scottish Lochs and Isles cruise.

The ship joined the line’s fleet in September, one of two former Holland America Line ships acquired by Fred Olsen to replace Boudicca and Black Watch, which have been retired.

Bolette, the second of these two new ships, will enter service on 29 May 2021 according to the line’s "back in service" timetable, followed by Balmoral on 9 June.

"Due to having an extensive fly-cruise programme, Braemar will remain in lay-up until 2022," said Fred Olsen.

 

"All guests booked onto a cancelled sailing will be notified of the changes, and will be provided with a number of options including a no-quibble refund."

Peter Deer, Fred Olsen managing director, said: "While it is regrettable that our pause in operations is longer than we originally anticipated, we have said right from the start that we will not resume sailing until we are confident that it is safe for us to do so, and we stand by that.

"The safety of our guests and crew remains our utmost priority, and it is important that we fully understand the advances in the roll-out of the vaccine, testing capabilities and other scientific developments and what they mean for how we can operate.

"This is not a process to be rushed, and we are confident that by deferring our return to sailing just a while longer, with our two new ships among the fleet, we can come back better and stronger than ever without compromising on the guest experience."

On Braemer, which Deer said typically operated Fred Olsen’s winter the Mediterranean and Caribbean fly-cruise programme, he added: "Initially, we believe it may be more complex for us to operate the planned fly-cruise programme and we will therefore instead focus on our extensive ex-UK itineraries during 2021.

"The team here are already busy working on a host of exciting and immersive cruises for her return in spring 2022, which make the most of her smaller size.

 

"These will be announced as part of our 2022/23 itinerary launch in March 2021."

Fred Olsen cancels cruises beyond May 23

Fred Olsen cancels cruises beyond May 23

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is extending the cancellation of sailings to an unspecified date beyond May 23 in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The line will be assessing all upcoming cruises from May 23 in date order.

The first five sailings by European river cruise ship Brabant have also been cancelled.

The company announced on March 13 that all ocean cruise sailings would be paused until May 23.

The ocean fleet of four ships – Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch – will remain in Scotland’s Firth of Forth, just outside the port of Rosyth, during the company’s pause in cruise operations.

Managing director Peter Deer said: “At this stage, I am not able to confirm a date when we can expect to resume normal operations, as what I don’t want to do is set an expectation and not be able to deliver what we promise.

“What I can say is that we are keeping a very close eye on the latest guidance from the relevant authorities, including the UK Government and Public Health England, as well as overseas policies.

“We are very clear on our position that we will not resume cruising until we know that it is safe for us to do so. The safety of our guests and crew is always our utmost priority, and this is especially true now.

“All guests on affected cruises will be notified with at least 30 days’ notice before their cruise was due to depart.”

He added: “It is regrettable that we won’t be welcoming guests back on board at the end of May as we had initially hoped, but we can’t wait to start sailing again as soon as the world is ready for us to do so.”

Next Four Freds Event to Take Place in Lisbon in Oct. 2021

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has confirmed that it’s the third fleet get together will be Four Fred.s in Lisbon in October 2021.

It comes after the Four Fred.s in Funchal event, which was due to take place on April 4was cancelled due to the current coronavirus pandemic.

Three of Fred. Olsen’s four ocean ships – Boudicca, Black Watch and Braemar – were already scheduled to call into Lisbon, Portugal, on Oct. 22, and the fourth itinerary aboard Balmoral has been specially created to complete the line-up.

Clare Ward, Director of Product and Customer Service at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines said: “Of course, it is disappointing that our ‘Four Fred.s in Funchal’ event was unable to go ahead. But these fleet-wide get-togethers are years in the making, and none of us could have predicted the challenging situation we have all found ourselves in today.

“The safety of our guests and crew is always our number one priority, and last month we took the decision to take our ships out of action until the end of May – which included our scheduled ‘Four Fred.s in Funchal’ festivities.

“It is hugely exciting to be able to confirm new date and destination for our fleet reunion so quickly, as I know so many of our guests were looking forward to being reunited with friends and crew members that they have met on their travels with us.

“All of us here at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines can’t wait to welcome back our many loyal guests when we come together again in Lisbon next October and are looking forward to seeing some new faces, too.”

Ships still at sea are on cruises to nowhere

Norwegian Jewel.

It’s been five days since CLIA member lines declared a suspension of cruise operations due to the Covid-19 crisis, but several cruise ships are still at sea with passengers, and some are having trouble finding ports to disembark.

CLIA said that as of March 17, about 20% of ships were completing final itineraries.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jewel, currently on a 23-day Australia and French Polynesia itinerary, was supposed to disembark in Auckland, New Zealand, on March 20. Due to multiple port closures in the area, the ship is now scheduled to disembark in Honolulu on March 22.

Holland America Line’s Maasdam this week had to forego plans to dock at Hawaii Island because it has closed to cruise ship calls. The Maasdam does not have any known or suspected cases of coronavirus and now plans to disembark in Honolulu on March 20.

Holland America said the Zaandam had not been allowed to disembark in Punta Arenas, Chile, on March 16, so it left the port and headed for San Antonio, Chile, to pick up fuel and other supplies. The ship is not in quarantine and has no known or suspected cases of Covid-19, the company said. The ship had been on a 14-day sailing in South America scheduled to end March 21. Holland America said it does not currently know where it will disembark. 

Holland American Zaandam

The Amsterdam, currently sailing an around-the-world cruise that started on Jan. 4, was originally scheduled to end the sailing in Fort Lauderdale on May 12. It will now disembark in Fremantle, Australia, on March 21.

The fate of two Silversea ships is up in the air after passengers on both tested positive for Covid-19 on March 14.

Two guests on the Silver Shadow departed the ship for medical reasons in Recife, Brazil, one that subsequently tested positive for the virus; the other was negative, the company said in a statement.

Several guests onboard the Silver Explorer left the ship for medical reasons in Tortel and Castro, Chile, and later tested positive for Covid-19. Parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. declined to say how many passengers had tested positive.

“We are in continuous contact with the various government authorities relating to transport. This work continues,” the company said in a statement.

The cruise line said it has asked guests on both ships “to temporarily remain in their cabins in accordance with our medical isolation protocols.”

“On behalf of our guests, we are in close coordination with the governments and local health authorities to determine next best steps,” the company said.

ASTA CEO Zane Kerby criticized ports for turning away cruise ships.

“Over the course of the past few weeks, a disturbing and anti-humanitarian trend has emerged,” he said in a written statement. “Multiple cruise ships at sea have been denied entry to various ports around the world for fear that some aboard might have or spread the Covid-19 virus.”

The items in blue show where the cruise ships have anchored or on the way.

“While local governments have a responsibility to keep their citizens safe, human decency and common-sense solutions should take precedence during these times of crisis,” he said.

The British ship Braemar, operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has also had a harrowing journey over the last several days.

On March 10, one guest and four crew members tested positive for the virus. Later, one more guest who had originally gotten an inconclusive result was confirmed to be positive. As a result, the Braemar did not get clearance to disembark gusts in Barbados on March 12.

The ship spent three days in the Bahamas with 682 guests before Cuban authorities granted it permission to disembark in Havana and fly back to the United Kingdom.

The Braemar docked in Havana on Wednesday. Three flights were chartered from British Airways to fly guests to London Heathrow in the evening. 

Those who have coronavirus or have displayed flu-like symptoms along with their companions will return on a separate flight arriving at MoD Boscombe, an air force base in Wiltshire, England. Any guests not considered well enough to fly will receive medical treatment in Cuba. 

Fred. Olsen managing director Peter Deer thanked the Cuban government for allowing the ship to dock.

“Other countries would not allow Braemar to dock once we had confirmed cases of coronavirus onboard,” he said.

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines puts shipbuilding programme on hold

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines puts shipbuilding programme on hold

The boss of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines said its shipbuilding programme has been put on hold amid high prices for slots in yards across the world.

Chairman Fred Olsen Jnr revealed in 2018 that the line was looking to place an order for a 600-passenger ship to expand to its existing four-ship fleet.

Olsen Jnr, pictured, said it was “not all doom and gloom” as the line had refurbished ships Braemar, Balmoral and Black Watch last year and plans to revamp Boudicca this autumn.

“We had a serious look last year at a small ship,” he said. “We are staying calm for the moment. We do have a shipbuilding programme, but the prices are high in the shipyards.”

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines targets ‘exploration’ cruise growth

Managing director Peter Deer, who took over from Mike Rodwell last year, said it was his job to put the concept together and persuade Olsen Jnr and his family to invest in a new vessel.

However, he added: “We know that the moment is not right today. We are getting better with creativity but it will take some time before we get there with that. Bear with us, we are going in the right direction.”

Meanwhile, Braemar was prevented from docking in La Romana in the Dominican Republic last week due to “a small number of influenza-like cases on board”.

Olsen Jnr admitted that the line was working hard to provide reassurance to customers over the spread of coronavirus during these “troubling times”.

“We’re trying to provide reassurance so that they do not get scared,” Olsen Jnr said. “We just need to reassure the public and tell them to go and enjoy their holiday.”

The line has launched a new “booking reassurance guarantee”, allowing passengers to cancel their cruise for free and change to another sailing in the same year.

The deal applies to new bookings made from March 4 until May 5.

“It is important that we work together so people continue to travel,” Deer added. “Risk is everywhere…let’s carrying on cruising.”

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines to revamp three ships

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines to revamp three ships

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is sending Braemar, Balmoral and Black Watch into dry dock this winter in preparation for the 2020-21 season.

All three will receive new public areas and cabin improvements during their revamps, taking place from now until December 21 at Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany.

In addition, a number of cabins on 804-passenger Black Watch will receive bathroom upgrades.

On Balmoral, an Oriental Room will be added on deck six, where teas and Far Eastern-themed cocktails and drinks will be served.

A photo gallery and flower shop will also be installed on to the 1,325-passenger ship.

More: Fred Olsen Cruise Lines targets ‘exploration’ cruise growth

 Fred Olsen Cruise Lines targets new audience with Channel 4 ads

Engineering works, general maintenance and other refurbishments will also be carried out.

Braemar entered dry dock on Thursday and will return to service on November 24 when it sales a nine-night French, Belgian & Spanish City Overnights cruise from Southampton.

Balmoral will enter the yard on December 10 before emerging 10 days later, while Black Watch will go in on December 11 and come out on December 21.

The line’s fourth ship – 880-passenger Boudicca – will go into dry dock in autumn next year.

Peter Deer, managing director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines said: “We are very proud of our smaller, classic cruise ships and we recognise the importance of investing in ongoing upgrades to ensure that our guests can continue to enjoy them at their very best.

“Our refreshed and the renewed fleet has been very well-received by both new and existing guests following the last round of improvements at Blohm+Voss in 2017 and 2018, and we are keen to showcase the latest enhancements to our guests before Christmas.”

New Fred Olsen ships ‘on the drawing board’

New Fred Olsen ships ‘on the drawing board’

Fred Olsen Cruise four ships together

Time is right to consider building new ships for Fred Olsen Cruises, according to the cruise line’s chairman.

Speaking at the launch of the operator’s 2018/19 season brochures Fred Olsen Jnr, son of the company’s founder Fred Olsen Snr, said there were plans ‘on the drawing board’ for new ocean vessels.

“Just over ten years ago in 2005 we looked at having a new ship but in terms of finances it didn’t make sense at the time. We are looking at it again and we have ships on the drawing board.

“Any new ships we do produce in the future will be smaller ocean ships which is what we want as a brand and what our customers want.”

UK managing director for the cruise line Mike Rodwell said: “We look at opportunities all the time and a new ship is of course an aspiration of ours but it has to make financial sense.”

At the London launch event on Wednesday evening, the cruise line unveiled its first ever dedicated fly-cruise brochure which Rodwell said had been created following support from the travel trade.

“We’re known for our ex-UK sailings but in the last few years fly cruises have become more important to our customers and to the agents who are selling them,” he said.

“This is a brochure we believe the travel trade can really get behind, as it is what they have told us their customers want.”

In addition to the fly-cruises the line’s four ships – Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch – will visit 13 new ports of call, including Anavilhanas in Brazil, Khasab in Oman, St Tropez in France and Sanremo in Italy.

Newly appointed sales and marketing director Justin Stanton revealed the line was almost 80% sold for 2017/18, and said he looked forward to working with the trade and sales team to increase agent engagement and knowledge of the brand.

“Travel agents are absolutely key to our continuing success, especially as more than two-thirds of our sales are done through the trade,” he said.

“The next year will see a renewed focus on supporting agents in their knowledge of the product and we can’t wait to get agents on board Black Watch since its drastic renovation.”

Fred Olsen reports record start to 2016

Fred Olsen reports record start to 2016

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is claiming a 27% hike in sales in the first week of January.
The seven days represented the line’s most successful in its history for both yield and volumes with an increasing number of bookings by first-time cruise passengers.

The line says 80% of people booking new five-night Norwegian fjords cruises from Newcastle are first-time cruisers, and are seven years younger than the Fred Olsen average.
The boost over the same record breaking period last year means that some 2016 departures are now sold out.

Sales and marketing director, Nathan Philpot, said: “We are in a very fortunate position that our smaller ships provide us with the ability to create and tailor-make such rich itineraries, for example, our popular river and waterways cruises on shallow-drafted Braemar.

“Our regional departures also give us the significant benefit of making a Fred Olsen cruise even more accessible to our guests.

“A number of our sailings for 2016 are already sold out, or only have a handful of cabins left. We will be moving our largest ship, Balmoral, to Newcastle this year, which was an ambitious decision, but the travel trade have been extremely supportive, and our sales in the north-east are well ahead of expectations.”

He added: “A key strategic driver for us is to attract new guests to the brand. Whilst we have a very high repeat rate – with a significant number of Fred Olsen cruisers returning time and time again – January has seen the share of ‘new to cruise’ guests shift by seven percentage points, and the average guest age has fallen by 11 months across the fleet.

“This is against a backdrop within the cruise industry that has seen the average age grow by five years, with an increasing reliance on existing customers.”

The line’s 2017/18 cruise programme is being released in March, which will see its fleet of four ships sail from ten UK departure ports to more than 200 destinations worldwide.

Fred. Olsen's four ships converge on Bergen

All four ships in Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ fleet have come together for the first time in Bergen today (Tuesday).

Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch carrying almost 4,000 passengers have converged on Norway’s second city for a joint ‘Four Bs in Bergen’ celebration.

All four ships arrived in the port of Bergen at 8am and will depart at 6pm.

The Fred Olsen Company originated in the village of Hvitsten, outside Oslo, in 1848, when three Olsen brothers – Fredrik Christian, Petter and Andreas – bought their first ships and began an international shipping company.

The company is now into the fifth generation of the family.

Managing director, Mike Rodwell, said: “This is a very special occasion for Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, and we know that the city of Bergen is looking forward to welcoming our fleet on this unique day.

“We are committed to the city of Bergen – known as the ‘Gateway to the Fjords’ – on our Norwegian cruise itineraries.

“The Olsen association with Bergen can be traced a long way back, probably as far as the original Olsen brothers themselves, and we shared in a very successful partnership with Bergen Line during the 1960s and 1970s.

“In fact, the number of days that Fred Olsen ships have spent in Bergen from 2006 to 2015 is 176 in total, and we know that the city is a highlight to many of our guests on cruises to our historic homeland.”

Three Fred Olsen ships to be revamped before Christmas

Three Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ ships - Black Watch, Braemar (pictured) and Balmoral - are to be refurbished before Christmas.

The vessels are all due to enter dry dock in Hamburg in November and December in preparation for the forthcoming winter cruise season.

Work has started with 804-passenger Black Watch ahead of a 14-night mystery cruise departing from Tilbury on November 15. An additional 27 balcony cabins are being built as part of the revamp.

The 929-passenger Braemar will arrive in Hamburg on November 12 for work prior to a three-night cruise to France from Southampton on November 20.

Balmoral’s dry dock work starts on December 9 with the 1,350-passenger ship leaving the shipyard for a two-night pre-Christmas sailing from Southampton on December 19.

The line’s managing director, Mike Rodwell, said: “We experience extremely high demand for balcony cabins across our fleet, and in particular on board the smaller-sized Black Watch, and our new balcony terrace cabins are an innovative response to this.

“We are also looking forward to being able to give guests the experience of fine coffee and chocolates on board Balmoral and Braemar, as they have already been enjoying on Boudicca and Black Watch.

“Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is pleased to be returning to Blohm+Voss for this important work. Balmoral and Braemar are both well-known to the Hamburg shipyard, as they both underwent mid-section extensions in 2007 and 2008 respectively.”