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​Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines – media statement – March 13th AM

Fred. Olsen Cruise lines can confirm that our ship Braemar is still heading to The Bahamas, where we have been given permission to come alongside in order to take on supplies and medication. 

However, we have been told by authorities in The Bahamas that we may not be allowed to disembark passengers and crew there as planned.

This in an ongoing situation and a dedicated team at our HQ in Ipswich are working around the clock to find a solution. They are speaking to The Bahamas, the UK government, UK Chamber of Shipping and Public Health England.

Our top priority remains getting the guests on board Braemar home as soon as possible whilst ensuring the safety of all those on board.

On Wednesday (11th March 2020), while docked in Willemstad, Curaçao, five people on board tested positive for COVID-19 coronavirus (four crew and one guest).

This meant that the ship was unable to dock in Barbados on Thursday (12th March 2020) at the end of its ‘Islands of the Caribbean & the Azores’ (M2006) cruise. We took the decision to change course and head to The Bahamas which is our Flag State with the intention of getting everybody home from there.

The Captain and crew are doing everything they can to communicate the situation with the guests– and to ensure their time on board is as comfortable as possible.

On the advice of Public Health England, there is currently no requirement for guests to stay in their cabins but we are making it possible for those who wish to do so. We are adhering to strict guidelines to maintain hygiene. We are asking guests to keep a reasonable distance from each other and crew members, as much as possible.

There are many ports around the world who are making a decision as to whether to stay open for cruise ships. Some cruise companies have suspended their operations. We are monitoring these announcements carefully and will revise any affected itineraries accordingly. All guests booked onto any cruises which are required to change as a result will be made aware as soon as we have alternative plans confirmed. 

We are advising anyone with concerns to send us a direct message or to call our Guest Services team on 0800 0355 145.

For regular media updates, please visit:

Media Centre: http://media.fredolsencruises.com/latest_news

Twitter: @FOCLMedia: https://twitter.com/FOCLMedia @FredOlsenCruises

https://twitter.com/FredOlsenCruise

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fredolsencruiselines

For any media enquiries, please contact rachael.jackson@fredolsen.co.uk / + 44 (0)7917 323238 or ellis.barker@fredolsen.co.uk / +44 (0)7557 672265

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Georgina May

Georgina May

Press contact Public Relations Executive Public Relations
Lauren Gardner

Lauren Gardner

Press contact Public Relations Manager Public Relations 07546807099

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

At Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines we are very proud of our smaller ships – Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral - and the imaginative and unusual itineraries they allow us to offer. Every cruise is hand-crafted from scratch by our team of in-house Journey Planners to make sure you are not only visiting the best destinations, but at the best time to experience them.

For us, it’s not just about where we go but how we take you there. We put as much time into planning scenic cruising as we do in choosing the destinations themselves. On board, our Signature Experiences showcase the history, culture, nature and flavours of the destinations you’ll visit – from Treats of the Region, where you can enjoy local delicacies, to our Sky at Sea star-gazing sessions where you can relax with a hot toddy out on deck while our astronomer talks you through the night sky.

Plus, with each ship carrying 1,300 guests or less, our ships are small enough for us to offer a warm, friendly and personal service where nothing is ever too much trouble, as we visit a host of exciting ports in every corner of the globe.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Fred. Olsen House, White House Road
IP1 5LL Ipswich, Suffolk
United Kingdom
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