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Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines celebrates year of award-winning Virtual Cruising as it looks ahead to a return to sailing this summer

Press release -

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines celebrates year of award-winning Virtual Cruising as it looks ahead to a return to sailing this summer

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is today celebrating one year since it set sail on its first Virtual Cruise, as it looks ahead to a return to sailing with a new-look fleet this summer.

Fred. Olsen set sail on its first virtual cruise on 9th April 2020 on a Norwegian fjords voyage that celebrated the line’s heritage. Since then, it has set sail on 51 further virtual cruises, with destinations including the UK, Iceland, Caribbean, Canary Islands and a World Cruise, to name a few.

Each virtual sailing has celebrated all that guests know and love about cruising, both aboard and ashore. In the past 12 months, the cruise line’s social media team have curated 745 posts as well as 248 videos, which have been viewed 1.9 million times.


The content has included videos from evening entertainment acts, weekly live quizzes hosted by some of the Fred. Olsen team and tutorials from onboard hosts and guest speakers, including ukulele and art lessons. There have also been virtual formal nights, with guests encouraged to dress in their finery and share pictures ahead of ‘Saturday Night Showtime’ performances.

The programme has secured a number of industry awards for Fred. Olsen, including the ‘Customers at the Heart of Everything - Gold Award’ at the CXAwards 2020, ‘Best Use of Social Media’ at the inaugural CovidComms Awards and ‘Best Use of Social Media’ at the Travolution Awards 2020.

Ben Williams, Head of Digital at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

“When we launched our Virtual Cruising programme last April, we did so with one thing in mind – our guests.

“Not only has it allowed us to communicate important information about our business and upcoming cruises, it has enabled us to connect with our guests at a time when social interaction is limited, and bring the joys of cruising direct into their homes.

“It has been a real pleasure to see our guests sharing their photographs and memories and connecting with like-minded travellers on our Facebook page, and to meet some new future guests, too!

“Thank you to each and every one of you who has joined us for any or all of our Virtual Cruises so far. We look forward to welcoming you aboard our new look fleet for real as we return to sailing again this summer.”

The Virtual Cruise programme continues next week with a sneak peek inside its two new ships, Boletteand Borealis.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has unveiled an 11-strong programme of ‘Welcome Back’ British Isles sailings aboard Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral, the first of which will set sail on 5th July 2021.

For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ virtual cruising programme, visit fredolsencruises.com/the-bridge or search Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines on Facebook. For more information on Fred. Olsen’s ‘Welcome Back’ sailings, visit fredolsencruises.com/welcomeback

Topics

Regions


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

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

At the heart of the Fred. Olsen experience is our exceptional crew, whose warm and attentive service is a hallmark of our cruises. Each team member goes above and beyond to offer personalised attention, forging genuine connections with guests to create truly memorable journeys.

Our smaller ships contribute to this friendly atmosphere, with their intimate size allowing for a relaxed yet engaging experience on board. You can enjoy a variety of curated activities, from regional cooking demonstrations to stargazing sessions, each designed to enhance your enjoyment and deepen your understanding of the destinations we visit.

And when it comes to our itineraries, our team of Journey Planners meticulously crafts each cruise, ensuring that we sail the most imaginative routes and visit the world’s most incredible destinations at the best possible times to experience them. Whether witnessing the Northern Lights or exploring hidden fjords, our expertly designed itineraries promise unforgettable adventures.

Join us on a Fred. Olsen cruise, where you’ll discover the warmth of a family at sea and the legacy of 175 years of sailing heritage.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Fred. Olsen House, White House Road
IP1 5LL Ipswich, Suffolk
United Kingdom