Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines relaunches once-in-a-lifetime Grand Voyage to Asia

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has unveiled a revised itinerary to its 82-night Grand Voyage to the breathtaking islands of southwest Asia.

The sailing, Idyllic Islands and Captivating Cultures of Asia, aboard Fred. Olsen’s smaller-sized Balmoral offers guests a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore ancient civilisations and discover the abundance of glorious islands throughout this magical continent.

Martin Lister, Head of Itinerary Planning and Destination Experience at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

“This Grand Voyage has been revised to include a host of ports, perfect for guests looking for a slice of paradise.

“It is filled with adventure and exploration and exceptional scenery and sapphire blue seas.

“From lush greenery to sun kissed turquoise waters, breathtaking backdrops to activities beyond your wildest dreams, historic monuments to intriguing ancient civilisations, this is going to be one of the most exciting journeys on our calendar for 2025.

“Those looking to seek out native wildlife will not be disappointed either. We have the opportunity to seek encounters with endemic and migratory species in Borneo and encounter elephants in Sri Lanka.”

The cruise, which departs in January 2025, now includes calls to idyllic islands of Weh Island in Indonesia, Phuket in Thailand, Palawan in the Philippines, and Borneo in Malaysia.

Thailand's Phang Nga Bay can be visited on a boat trip from Phuket before Balmoral cruises by the Phi Phi islands at sunset, both offering views of limestone rocks rising out of the sea up to 350m high.

Many of the islands here have hidden tunnels and sea caves, while the extended landscape is dotted with mangrove forests and tiny fishing villages.

The Philippines’ hidden gem of Busuanga Island is a particular highlight and is renowned for its outstanding natural beauty, as is Palawan, where guests will be able to explore the enticingly beautiful Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park; a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What’s more, Balmoral’s call into Mumbai has been timed to coincide with the Holi Festival, a colourful Hindu celebration that sees India transform into a real-life canvas.

Martin added: “Aside from the beauty and wonder of the idyllic islands, our specially timed call into Mumbai will allow guests to experience Holi with the bonfires of Holika Dahan followed by the joyous throwing of Gulal.

“This is a Grand Voyage that is likely to spark a lot of interest with our guests who have come to know and love our brand and those who are new to it, who appreciate the way we curate incredible and memorable experiences that are unlike any other."

The ship will no longer stop in Israeli ports as previously advertised, due to the ongoing conflict in the country, and these have been replaced with Limassol, Cyprus and Rhodes, Greece.

For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, visit www.fredolsencruises.com, call Reservations on 0800 0355 242 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm), or contact your ABTA travel agent.