Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Black Watch to sail from Newcastle again in 2014

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is offering guests some very attractive cruise deals from Newcastle in 2014, from just £67 per person, per night*, as 804-guest Black Watch commences her cruise season from the Port of Tyne on 28th June 2014. Fred. Olsen is embarking on a series of seven cruises from this convenient North East departure port from June to October 2014, on a variety of worldwide itineraries – from a seven-night ‘Norwegian Fjords’ cruise to a 15-night ‘Canary Islands’ sailing.

Guests taking advantage of these 2014 cruise deals from Newcastle can choose to upgrade to the popular ‘all-inclusive’ drinks package, for a special price of just £10 per person per night, which includes selected wines, spirits beers and soft drinks. When you upgrade, premium branded drinks are also available at half price.

Fred. Olsen will also be offering guests its exclusive ‘Enjoyment Promise’, the biggest initiative of its kind ever to take place in the UK to encourage people to try cruising. Under the promise, people who have never cruised with Fred. Olsen before will be able to try a Fred. Olsen cruise, and if they do not enjoy it, Fred. Olsen will fly them home and refund their cruise fare*. The promise is valid for bookings made at least 14 weeks in advance, and does not apply to cruises of six nights or less, or with a duration greater than 35 nights.

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

“We are proud to be offering our loyal Newcastle guests the chance to take an even wider selection of cruises from ‘right on their doorstep’ this year, with a choice of different holiday durations and destinations.

“We have made a considerable investment in adding our unique Fred. Olsen branding to the Port of Tyne’s International Passenger Terminal, and we are committed to our cruise programme in the North East. We will be offering an even greater number of cruise departures from Newcastle in 2015, with eight in total, and we are happy to be making our own contribution to the estimated £54 million that the cruise industry generates for the economy in the North East each year.”

Steven Harrison, Port of Tyne's Chief Operating Officer, said:

"The team at our award-winning International Passenger Terminal have been working hard to prepare for another busy cruise season and are ready to give Black Watch a welcome return.

“As the region's only passenger shipping gateway, the well-connected Passenger Terminal at North Shields provides a comfortable and hassle-free start to a holiday or, for those visiting the Port, a memorable day's excursion."

Cruise guests in the Newcastle area can choose from a variety of exciting sailings on Black Watch in 2014, including:

- W1406 15-night ‘Voyage Towards the North Pole’, ex Newcastle on 28th June 2014. Prices start from £885 per person

This cruise calls first at Kristiansund (Norway); located over three islands and with connecting bridges, this is a fascinating place to explore. Grip, on Fisherman’s Island, is well worth visiting, as is the famous ‘Atlantic Road’, described by many as ‘the world’s best road trip’.

After scenic cruising in Rørvik, Torghatten, the ‘Seven Sisters’ mountain range, Black Watch crosses the Arctic Circle and reaches the world’s most northerly village, Honningsvåg (Norway). Now a beautiful fishing port, after being destroyed in the Second World War, this is the gateway to the ‘North Cape’.

Black Watch cruises the North Cape and ‘Bear Island’, before continuing to Ny-Ålesund, jutting out into the Arctic Ocean, from the northwest coast of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard archipelago. Longyearbyen (Svalbard) is the next port of call, situated deep in the Norwegian Arctic on Spitsbergen, and set at the end of the Advent Fjord.

This intrepid cruise then takes in the attractive town of Tromsø (Norway), boasting breath-taking coastal views from ‘Mount Storsteinen’, reached by cable car. Leknes follows, looking out over the stunning Lofoten Islands, which are rich in Viking history and Arctic nature.

The final visit is to Ålesund (Norway), renowned for its Art Nouveau style architecture, surrounding fjords and towering peaks of the Sunnmøre Alps, before returning to Newcastle.

- W1413 14-night ‘Stockholm & St. Petersburg’ cruise, ex Newcastle on 14th September 2014. Prices start from £999 per person

First stop on this cruise holiday is Oslo (Norway), where Vigeland Park is worth a visit, home to the bronze and granite sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. Take a stroll from your cruise ship up to the Royal Palace, official residence of the current Norwegian monarch.

From here, Black Watch continues onto Stockholm (Sweden), for an overnight stay. Set on 14 islands, with bridges crossing over the water, this unique city is a pleasure to explore. The Royal Palace and the Drottningholm Palace here are well worth seeing, as is the ‘Gamle Stan’, or ‘Old Town’.

After a stop at pretty Tallinn (Estonia), with its cobbled streets and traditional craft shops, it is onto St. Petersburg (Russia), for another overnight stay. This city has many iconic sights, so take time to visit the opulent Hermitage, stunning gardens and fountains of the Peterhof and Catherine Palace.

Black Watch’s final port of call on this ‘Baltic Capitals’ cruise is to Travemünde, for tours to Lübeck, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with an historic old town, surrounded by water and gothic architecture to explore. Black Watch returns to Newcastle.

- W1416 15-night ‘Canary Islands’ cruise’, ex Newcastle on 19th October 2014. Prices start from £1,099 per person

This cruise calls first at lively Lisbon (Portugal); spread over seven hills, it is a delightful mix of palaces, churches and splendid bridges. The ‘Ponte 25 de Abril’ – similar to the ‘Golden Gate Bridge’ in San Francisco – is a ‘must-see’, and the many museums in the city are a cultural highlight.

After a stop at Arrecife, the capital of the volcanic island of Lanzarote, Black Watch continues onto Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, a bustling port with an historic old quarter, Vegueta. Here, guests can visit the Santa Ana Cathedral, construction of which commenced in 1500, but was not completed until some four centuries later.

Santa Cruz (Tenerife) is Black Watch’s next port of call, where a visit to the El Teide National Park is worth doing for its volcanic scenery. Also not to be missed are the ‘Pyramids of Guimar’ and ‘Secret Garden’.

Pretty Funchal (Madeira) is next; from here, guests can enjoy a visit to the charming village of Santana, with its unusual triangular thatched houses, or sample afternoon tea at the iconic Reid’s Hotel.

Charming La Coruna (Spain) is the final destination on this cruise holiday, whose streets and squares house many medieval churches, museums and restaurants, before returning to Newcastle.

All prices are based on two adults sharing an inside, twin-bedded cabin, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, and port dues.

Fred. Olsen will be showing an even greater commitment to cruising from the North East in 2015, with a total of eight sailings from the Port of Tyne, from July to November, this time on board Fred. Olsen’s 880-guest ship, Boudicca. These include a seven-night D1517 ‘Glaciers, Fjords & Waterfalls of Norway’ cruise in July 2015 to a 27-night D1518 ‘Exploring the Arctic Circle’ adventure in August 2015.