Press release -

Calling all Cycling Fans - See the 'UCI Road World Championships 2011' with a Fred. Olsen Baltic cruise

One of the delights of cruising is that you often discover an event, or special activity, happening in a port of call that was quite unexpected, but could be a real treat! Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Baltic cruise L1116 aboard Balmoral includes a call into Copenhagen, on 24th September 2011, which coincides with one of the world’s greatest cycle races – the ‘UCI Road World Championships 2011’ – being hosted by the city. This promises to be a thrilling spectacle for visitors to the city; on the day of Balmoral’s arrival, two action-packed ‘Road Races’ are being held, Elite Women, 168km (12 x 14km), and Junior Men, 126 km (9 x 14km).

The first World Championship in road racing was held in 1921, in Copenhagen. The race was only for amateurs, and was 190 km long and 22 riders participated. Swedish rider Gunnar Skold won the race, ahead of the Danish rider Willum Nielsen. Nowadays, they are usually raced on a circuit of between 12 to 17km, with a group start, over a total distance of approximately 260km. The individual time-trial discipline was introduced to the World Championships programme in 1994. It is raced over a distance of 40 to 50km for professionals. Riders start individually, at regular intervals (one to two minutes), and the competitor with the best time is declared the winner. Notably, this is the first time that Copenhagen has hosted the prestigious event since 1956.

This Balmoral cruise is a 14-night cultural exploration of the Baltic and St. Petersburg, departing from Southampton on 13th September 2011. An early highlight is a daylight cruise of the Kiel Canal, then the ship visits two Estonian ports – Saaremaa, and the lovely capital, Tallinn – one of the ‘European Capitals of Culture’ for 2011 – before calling at the cosmopolitan city of Helsinki, Finland’s attractive capital. Next is the major highlight – a two-night stay in St Petersburg, allowing plenty of time to explore this amazing city, with its unparalleled artistic and architectural treasures. A relaxing day at sea then brings Balmoral to Copenhagen, with its many attractions, including the pretty Tivoli Gardens and the statue of Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘Little Mermaid’. Last port of call is Denmark’s Ålborg –twinned with Edinburgh and Lancaster in the UK – before the return to Southampton.

The cruise also offers Flagship Golf – an exclusive package for golfers, that combines golf played ashore with professional tuition on board, and is charged at £375 per player (must be pre-booked). An additional attraction on board this cruise is a theme of ‘Ballroom Dancing’ through Fred. Olsen’s programme of special interests on board – The ArtsClub. This really is a cruise with something for everyone.

Prices for this fascinating cruise start from £1,576 per person, based on two adults

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Fred. Olsen Cruise Line operates in the UK with four intimately sized ships for a more personal cruising experience.

Contacts

Ellis Orchard

Ellis Orchard

Press contact Public Relations Manager Public Relations 07557672265
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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