​Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines celebrates its 20th ‘Viking Masters Trip’ in South Africa!

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines gave its top agents a ‘fam trip’ with a difference from 29^th January to 4^th February 2016, with visits to Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban, in South Africa. The ‘Viking Masters Trip’ – as it is known, involving 12 of the top tier of Fred. Olsen’s travel trade partners – joined Boudicca in Cape Town, on part of her 76-night ‘Around Africa & the Indian Ocean’ cruise, up to Durban, where the ship made a maiden call.       

This is the 20^th Viking Masters Trip that Fred. Olsen has undertaken since 1997. Other destinations that Fred. Olsen has visited with its top-level agents are the Canary Islands, Amsterdam, the Caribbean, Iceland, Norway and the Adriatic.

Senior members of the Fred. Olsen team – including Mr. Fred. Olsen Junior, Chairman, Mike Rodwell, Managing Director, Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director, and Neil Herbert, new Head of Sales – were joined in South Africa by Andrew Gardner of Cruise.co.uk, Rob Stapley of Titan Travel, Jeremy Dickinson of Reader Offers, Steve Williams and Geoff Ridgeon of Fred. Olsen Travel, Irene Darracott of Connoisseur Travel, Maria Brooks of Thornton's Cruise World, Rachel and Amy Wright of Cruise Select, Alice Lawson of Saga Holidays, Bill Munro of Barrhead Travel, Michael Wilson of Bolsover Cruise Club, Andrew Runacres of Vision Cruise and John Hays of Hays Travel.

During the week-long trip, the Viking Masters group enjoyed a tour of Cape Town, ascending the iconic Table Mountain by cable car and taking in the magnificent views from the summit. Fred. Olsen then hosted a lunch cruise on board a private yacht, the Tigger 2, and the group were able to view dolphins and whales, as well as swim near Camps Bay. Oysters and Champagne were enjoyed at Signal Point to witness the sunset, before having dinner at the famous Victoria and Alfred waterfront. One of the most amazing experiences for many was a tour of Cape Town’s coast and winelands on the back of a Harley-Davidson! Agents were also treated to a wine-tasting experience, before cruising on Boudicca to Port Elizabeth for another highlight of the trip – a game drive, where they got to see an incredible array of wildlife, including a rare White Lion!

Whilst on board Boudicca, the Viking Masters enjoyed all-Suite accommodation and dined at Fred. Olsen's new alfresco Grill Restaurant. The Fred. Olsen team updated agents on the cruise line’s latest news and developments, gave them a 'taster' of its exciting 2017/18 cruise programme – due to be launched officially in March 2016 – and listened to agents’ important views and feedback.

For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, visit the website at www.fredolsencruises.com Agents 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).

Photo caption:

Mr. Fred. Olsen Junior (middle row, centre, blue shirt) hosts the Viking Masters travel agents on a game drive in Port Elizabeth, South Africa with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Nathan Philpot (front row, third from left), Jeremy Hatton (front row, centre), Carla Ball (middle row, fourth from left), Angela Flynn (middle row, fifth from left), Mike Evans (middle row, second from right), Mike Rodwell (middle row, fourth from right) and Neil Herbert (back row, third from right).

‎ENDS