Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Black Watch to commence inaugural cruise season from Liverpool in Spring 2015

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ 804-guest ship Black Watch is due to commence her first-ever cruise programme from Liverpool’s Pier Head Cruise Terminal on 31^st March 2015, with a 13-night ‘Canary Islands Easter’ cruise – for what will be the company’s third season from the popular North Western port. In all, Fred. Olsen is offering 15 cruises from Liverpool in 2015/16, which is an increase on the 11 cruises that it undertook from the city last year.

Fred. Olsen is offering a variety of exciting worldwide itineraries from Liverpool in 2015/16, including a 16-night ‘Rugged & Rural Canada’ journey, an 18-night ‘Canaries Christmas & Funchal Fireworks’ sailing and a two-night ‘Dublin Mini-Cruise’ over the Summer, to sample the famous Irish 'craic'.

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

"This year, the City of Liverpool will welcome our most iconic ship, Black Watch, to its shores, and we look forward to receiving the same warm reception from the people of Merseyside as her sister ship, Boudicca, has experienced over the past two years. With its stunning vistas and proud maritime heritage, there is something very special about cruising from Liverpool, and it is a tremendous benefit to be able to offer our guests the chance to set sail from the world-famous Pier Head."

Black Watch’s sailings from Liverpool in 2015/16 include:

- 25-night W1504 ‘The Adriatic with Venice’ cruise, departing on 13^th April 2015. Prices start from £1,999 per person, based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded ‘Inside’ cabin, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, plus port taxes.

The first stop on this Adriatic adventure is Gibraltar, offering the ‘Best of British’, but with better weather! Black Watch will then glide onwards to Cartagena (Spain), where guests can take in the ambiance of the ancient amphitheatre or visit the medieval Castillo de la Concepcion.

The next port of call is Catania, in Sicily, home to fragrant vineyards, ornate architecture and Renaissance beauty. The cruise will then move on to Kerkira, in Corfu, Greece, before arriving in breathtaking Kotor, set in the rolling hills of Montenegro.

Black Watch will then sail onwards to Hvar, in Croatia, before docking in alluring Venice, for two blissful days. From the bell tower in St. Marks Square to the winding canals and cobbled squares, this floating city of history and romance will capture your heart.

Discover Croatia with the following two ports of call; Black Watch arrives in the mesmerizing city of Split, with its vast lakes and stunning waterfront, before visiting Dubrovnik, a thriving cityscape of terracotta roofs and historical churches, encased within a large fortress.

The next port of call is Valletta, Malta’s bustling capital, which boasts a rich culture influenced by many settlers over the ages: Romans, Phoenicians, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Crusaders and, of course, the British.

Black Watch will sail onwards to colourful Algiers(Algeria), before calling at her last stop, Cádiz (Spain). Here, guests can relax against the serene backdrop of palm trees and colonial buildings, or take a tour to Seville and walk along the mosaic streets to the ‘must see’ Plaza de Espana.

- 28-night W1507 ‘Cities & Landscapes of Canada’ cruise, departing on 22^nd May 2015. Prices start from £1,999 per person, based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded ‘Inside’ cabin, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, plus port taxes.

This cruise starts in Ponta Delgada, capital of the Azores, and continues to Sydney, Nova Scotia, home to Gaelic-speaking descendents of Scottish settlers. Historic Charlottetown, on Prince Edward Island, comes next. Dubbed ‘The Birthplace of Canada’, this is where 11 National Historic Sites, including Province House and the Confederation Centre of the Arts, await discovery.

Black Watch then visits Gaspé, in Quebec, a nature-lover’s paradise, while the next port of call – Trois-Rivières – offers guests their first taste of modern Canadian city life, with its lively downtown district and picturesque harbour.

Montreal follows – with its diverse mix of cultures, languages, tall skyscrapers and traditional, historic buildings – before Black Watch visits Quebec, where guests will spend two days, surrounded by some of the world’s most-photographed structures, such as the UNESCO-listed Château Frontenac.

The next call, Saguenay, is popular with the ‘Quebecois’, who visit to enjoy hikes, kayaking trips and whale-watching in the Fjord National Park.

Havre St. Pierre comes next, the perfect place to be at one with Canada’s outstanding natural beauty, thanks to its dense forests, beautiful lakes and rivers. In Newfoundland’s Corner Brook, guests will have the chance to explore rugged coastlines, which were first discovered by Captain Cook. A call at St. John’s – Newfoundland’s charming capital – will bring this incredible Canadian cruise to a close.

For those who wish to enjoy Canada’s beauty and character, but on a shorter break, Fred. Olsen is also offering two fly-cruise sectors:

- 14-night W150712 ‘Merseyside to Montreal’ fly-cruise, departing from Liverpool on 22^nd May 2015, returning to London Gatwick and Manchester airports. Prices start from £1,899 per person for the fly-cruise / £1,499 per person cruise-only, based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded ‘Inside’ cabin* and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, plus port/airport taxes and transfers (*with limited availability).

Calling at: Liverpool (UK) – Ponta Delgada (Azores) – Sydney (Nova Scotia) – Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island) – Gaspé (Quebec) – Trois-Rivières – Montreal

- 14-night W150721 ‘Canada’s Untouched Eastern Seaboard’ fly-cruise, departing from Montreal on 5^th June 2015, returning to Liverpool. Prices start from £1,899 per person for the fly-cruise / £1,499 per person cruise-only, based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded ‘Inside’ cabin*, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, plus port/airport taxes and transfers (*with limited availability).

Calling at: Montreal – Quebec (overnight stay) – Saguenay – Havre St. Pierre – Corner Brook (Newfoundland) – St. John’s (Newfoundland) – Liverpool (UK)

- Seven-night W1508 ‘France & Spain’ cruise, departing on 19^th June 2015. Prices start from £699 per person, based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded ‘Inside’ cabin, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, plus port taxes.

Black Watch calls first at La Coruña, where guests can visit UNESCO-listed Santiago de Compestela, with its much-revered Cathedral. Next comes Spain’s Bilbao (from Getxo), home to the Guggenheim Museum, one of the most-recognised and ‘quirkiest’ buildings on the planet. The cruise then visits La Rochelle (from La Pallice, France), for trips to taste the region’s exquisite brandy, Cognac, and learn more about its production.

Fred. Olsen is pleased to have been awarded the ‘Gold Trusted Merchant’ status by independent review site Feefo in 2015, for the second year in a row. This accreditation is based on genuine customer feedback and, to date, Fred. Olsen has received over 10,500 reviews, with 95% of these being in the ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’ categories.

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.