All aboard in 2015 for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' Great British Sail Away

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has launched a new brochure – ‘The Great British Sail Away’ – showcasing the amazing breadth of destinations and experiences to be enjoyed on a cruise in 2015, from right here on our own doorstep, from just £799 per person.

Fred. Olsen’s dedicated ‘The Great British Sail Away’ brochure features a selection of ‘Around UK & Ireland’ cruises in 2015, offering special themes and events, such as the  ‘Myths & Legends of Ireland & the UK’ – with shore excursions to Stonehenge, the Giant’s Causeway, and the Blarney Stone – and a ‘Highland Games & Edinburgh Tattoo’ experience, taking in two of Scotland’s most spectacular events, the Cowal and Dunoon Highland Games and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Included in Fred. Olsen’s new ‘The Great British Sail Away’ brochure are the following cruises:

- Boudicca’s 11-night D1509 ‘Floral Britannia’ cruise, ex Dover on 28^th April 2015. Prices start from £989 per person.

Boudicca will visit St. Peter Port in Guernsey, known for its cobbled streets and picturesque seafront marina, before stopping at Falmouth. Here, guests can take a tour to the Eden Project, one of the UK’s top visitor attractions, featuring the world’s largest indoor rainforest; or to the ‘Lost Gardens of Heligan’, which were granted ‘National Collection Holder’ status in 2008 by Plant Heritage for their historic and unique collection of plants and flowers, featuring more than 70 veteran Camellias and 350 ancient Rhododendrons.

This floral-themed cruisethen calls at Milford Haven, in Pembrokeshire, Wales, where guests can take a stroll along Milford Marina, the only coastal National Park in Britain.

The vibrant city of Liverpool is next, where guests can spend the day exploring the city’s historical buildings, such as the iconic Liver Building, Pier Head, the Victoria Gallery and Museum, or visit one of the many bustling cafés and bars.

Boudicca will then embark on a full day of scenic cruising, taking in the Firth of Lorn, Duart Castle – the ancestral home of the Clan M
aclean – the Sound of Mull, the Point of Sleat and Loch Scavaig on the Isle of Skye.

Guests will then have a chance to explore the quaint town of Kirkwallon the Orkney Islands, home to the 5,000-year-old Neolithic village of Skara Brae.

Next comes Scotland’s Invergordon, where a tour to the impressive and mythical Loch Ness is highly recommended.

Boudicca will then call at Rosyth in Scotland. Guests can take a tour to the fantastic city of Edinburgh to visit the Royal Botanical Gardens, which is rated one of the top attractions in Scotland and the whole of the UK. These stunning gardens were established in 1670 and cover 75 acres.

The final call is the Port of Tyne, in the city of Newcastle, where guests will be able to take a very special tour to The Duchess of Northumberland’s ‘Poison Garden’ at Alnwick Castle – the setting for the hugely popular Harry Potter films. Behind the locked gates of the garden lurk many deadly plants, including Nux vomica, otherwise known as ‘Strychnine’, and Ricinus communis, the Castor Bean plant with its poisonous ‘Ricin’ seeds.

Gardening journalist and BBC Gardeners’ WorldMagazineEditor, Adam Pascoe, will be the special guest speaker on this cruise, giving talks on board on a variety of ‘green-fingered’ themes.

Adam Pasco has been a leading gardening journalist in the UK for over 30 years, successfully launching and editing BBC Gardeners' World Magazine for 22 of these. In addition to writing and blogging for Gardeners’ World, he regularly broadcasts for World Radio Gardening. During his career, he has been Editor of six national gardening magazines, including BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, Garden News, Garden Answers and Easy Gardening. He has been a columnist for The Daily Telegraph, contributed to numerous books, and was a presenter and judge for ‘BBC Gardener of the Year’.

- Balmoral’s nine-night L1505 ‘Superbikes & Scenic Hikes’ cruise, ex Southampton on 31^st May 2015. Prices start from £989 per person.

Guests will arrive first in picturesque St. Peter Port, on the island of Guernsey. Here, they can choose to visit Hautville House, once home to the French writer Victor Hugo, or enjoy a shopping trip to the many boutiques, before relaxing with a coffee along the pretty harbour.

Next stop is colourful Tobermory, a quaint Scottish town on the Isle of Mull. This picture-postcard destination offers guests the chance to spot some fantastic wildlife, such as the rare and unusual Golden and White-tailed Eagles, Otters, Corncrake and an abundance of other birds and mammals.

Balmoral will then set sail onwards to Kirkwall, capital of the Orkney Islands. With an eclectic heritage of Christian, Nordic and Celtic influences – which can be seen in the sculpted churches and local buildings – Kirkwall also has two impressive museums: Tankerness House, a beautifully-preserved 16th Century town house; and the Orkney Wireless Museum, which has unique displays on the history of radio.

After a full day of scenic cruising, guests will then stop in Douglas, on the Isle of Man, fondly referred to as the ‘Rock’ by residents. Here, guests can choose the ‘Douglas Shore Tour’, which includes entry to the famous Isle of Man TT Race, where they can experience the buzz, energy and noise at the Noble Park Fanzone, whilst watching the very best road-racers from across the globe battle it out for the famous TT trophies.

However, as well as being the home of motorcycle road-racing, the Isle of Man has many other interesting attractions, including the 1890s Manx Electric Railway, the Great Laxey Wheel – the largest working water wheel in the world – the Nautical Museum and Peel Castle.

Balmoral will then dock in the vibrant city of Dublin, in the Republic of Ireland, for her final port of call. Famous for its Guinness and lively ‘Temple Bar’ area, guests can wander through the elegant square gardens of Trinity College, take a river cruise along the Liffey, enjoy excellent shopping or experience the city’s renowned Irish hospitality, or 'craic'.

All prices shown are based on two adults sharing a twin, ‘Inside’ cabin, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, and port dues.

Guests can also take advantage of Fred. Olsen’s great-value ‘all-inclusive’ drinks package from just £10.00 per person per night, on selected beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks.

Fred. Olsen was delighted to be named one of the Top 3 UK cruise lines and awarded a prestigious ‘Recommended Provider’ accolade, in Which?’s first-ever dedicated cruise survey in 2014. Readers of Cruise International magazine also voted Fred. Olsen ‘Best for Enrichment’ in 2014, for the third time.

For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, visit the website at www.fredolsencruises.com Book online, call Reservations on 0800 0355 242 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm; Saturday, 9am to 5pm; Sunday, 10am to 4pm), or visit an ABTA travel agent.