Follow in the footsteps of the BBC’s Simon Reeve and discover the beauty of the ‘Emerald Isle’ in 2016 on a Fred. Olsen cruise

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will be visiting Ireland on a record 15 cruise itineraries in 2016, meaning that guests can get the chance to visit some of the stunning destinations featured in the BBC’s recent series, ‘Ireland with Simon Reeve’, which takes in the history, landscapes, landmarks and people of this fascinating island.

This popular two-part BBC documentary, fronted by travel writer and broadcaster Simon Reeve, shows that there is a lot more to Britain’s closest neighbour than first meets the eye. Fred. Olsen’s fleet of four smaller, more intimate ships – Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch – will be calling at a range of diverse and exciting destinations in northern and southern Ireland in 2016, including Cork, Belfast, Dublin, Rosslare, Killybegs and Ringaskiddy.

Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

“With more cruises to the ‘Emerald Isle’ than ever before, on a variety of durations, there has never been a better time to uncover all that Ireland has to offer, on a stress-free Fred. Olsen cruise; whether you would like to explore historic cathedrals, climb to the top of the world’s oldest working lighthouse, stroll along expansive golden beaches or visit a world-famous whiskey distillery, all of this is possible with Fred.!

“As an added bonus, we are making it even easier for those of our guests who do not have a passport or photo card driving licence to enjoy our in-depth ‘Around UK & Ireland’ cruise experience; they will be able to visit all the UK and Irish towns and cities that our smaller-sized ships can access, with an alternative accredited form of photo identification."

In 2016, Fred. Olsen’s cruises to Ireland will include:

Balmoral’s seven-night L1606 ‘Easter Ireland’ cruise, ex Southampton on 27^th March 2016. Prices start from £699 per person.

Setting sail from Southampton on Easter Sunday, this cruise will arrive first in Belfast, Northern Ireland’s capital. In recent years, this lively and stylish city has blossomed, with many attractions for guests to enjoy – including ‘Titanic Belfast’, the world’s largest Titanic visitor experience – and the City Hall, an iconic building located in the heart of Donegall Square. Alternatively, guests could choose to take a journey to Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and find out about the fascinating story of Finn McCool, the ‘giant’!

Balmoral will then pay a visit to Dublin, for an overnight stay. Renowned for its warm welcome, history and culture, guests can wander through the streets of this vibrant city, taking in the many museums and monuments; take a tour to the Guinness Storehouse, for a taste of the famous ‘Black Stuff’; visit Ireland’s oldest university, Trinity College; or spend the evening being entertained by Irish Dancers at the Abbey Tavern.

Next, Balmoral will call into Cork (from Cobh) –a quaint seaside town and home to a charming waterfront, dotted with pretty, multi-coloured houses. Guests can take a tour to the world-famous Blarney Stone, at Blarney Castle, where there are many legends and myths surrounding the origin of the rock; or, for those looking for a ‘taste of Ireland’, then a tour of The Old Jameson Distillery is the ideal way to spend the day.

Boudicca’s seven-night D1608 ‘Cruising the Emerald Isle’ cruise, ex Liverpool on 30^th May 2016. Prices start from £769 per person.

Guests will arrive first in Belfast – the home of the RMS Titanic. Guests can spend a day discovering the history of this ill-fated liner, from her construction right through to her tragic sinking, on an interesting visit to the ‘Titanic Belfast’ visitor experience.

Next, Boudicca will arrive in Killybegs. Here, guests can relax on the waterfront, watching the fishing boats and net menders, or maybe catch a glimpse of the seals in the harbour. For those wishing to venture further afield, take a shore tour to experience the beauty of rural Donegal.

A day in Cork (from Cobh) follows, where guests can visit the beautiful St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, whose spire dominates the city’s skyline, before continuing to the lively city of Dublin, for an overnight stay.

In Dublin, guests will have plenty of time to visit St Patrick’s Cathedral, the fun-filled ‘Temple Bar’ district, or one of the many art galleries, exhibitions and museums in the city.

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

The two itineraries shown above are included in Fred. Olsen’s great-value ‘Turn of Year’ campaign, where guests can choose between two tempting offers – ‘Three Cruises for the Price of Two’* or ‘Free Tips & Tipples’* (book before 2^nd March 2016).

On a selection of Fred. Olsen’s Ireland cruises, guests can also benefit from up to £100 per person cashback* (book by 31^st January 2016).

Fred. Olsen is delighted to have won the ‘Best for Itineraries’ accolade in the 2015 Cruise Critic ‘UK Editors’ Picks Awards’, in recognition of its commitment to ‘bringing the world closer to you’.

*See the website www.fredolsencruises.com for full Terms and Conditions.

For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, visit the website at www.fredolsencruises.comAgents can book online at the Travel Agent Centre or via AmadeusCruise. Alternatively, call Reservations on 0800 0355 242 (Monday – Friday, 8am – 8pm; Saturday, 9am – 5pm; Sunday, 10am – 4pm).