Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines commemorates Sir Bobby Robson’s 80th birthday and helps to raise a million!

To commemorate Sir Bobby Robson’s 80^th birthday on 18^th February 2013, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will make a donation of £80 to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation for every booking made within eight days of this significant date, i.e. between 18^th and 25^th February 2013 inclusive, on its special ‘Sir Bobby Robson Cruise’, W1308, aboard Black Watch.

Furthermore, Fred. Olsen is an Official Supporter of the Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Auction & Ball in 2013, and has donated a ‘2014 World Cruise for Two’ as a star prize, which will be promoted in a two-week global text-to-win auction. It is hoped that this will help the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Breakthrough Breast Cancer to raise £1 million jointly by the Autumn.

Sir Bobby Robson fought cancer an incredible five times during his life. Sadly, 17 years after his first diagnosis, he lost his long and courageous battle, on 31^st July 2009. The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation focusses upon the early detection and treatment of cancer and the clinical trials of new drugs.

Fred. Olsen’s three-night ‘Sir Bobby Robson Cruise’ – the last of its four sailings from Harwich, Essex, the closest cruise port to Sir Bobby Robson’s team, Ipswich Town Football Club – departs on Saturday 15^th June 2013, and visits vibrant Amsterdam, with an all-day and late-night stay. Black Watch then returns to Newcastle, Sir Bobby’s home town, on Tuesday 18^th June 2013.

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

“The idea of the ‘Sir Bobby Robson Cruise’ is to link the supporters and communities of Ipswich and Newcastle and the two statues of Sir Bobby Robson that stand proudly outside the football stadia of each club. By calling at Amsterdam, it provides an opportunity for those from Sir Bobby’s former club, PSV Eindhoven, to join the cruise.

“This is a very special cruise for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines; having our headquarters in Ipswich means that we that feel a very special bond with Sir Bobby Robson, and by offering local cruise departures from Newcastle between June and August 2013, we are the region’s local cruise line. We are delighted to be offering this unique cruise, themed to his life-saving Foundation.”

Fred. Olsen has already made a significant donation to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, and there will be dedicated fundraising activities on board Black Watch in support of this very worthy cause.

Fred. Olsen has secured some leading footballing names as guest speakers to talk about Sir Bobby Robson's life and achievements on board: George Burley – ex-player and former Manager of Ipswich Town Football Club; John Wark – voted in the ‘Top 10 Footballers’ ever to have played under Sir Bobby; Allan Hunter – ’78 FA Cup winner under Sir Bobby; and Bryan Hamilton – ex-player and former Manager of Northern Ireland. The cruise line has also approached other former Newcastle, England and Dutch players who had a long association with Sir Bobby Robson, such as Alan Brazil. Fred. Olsen is also expecting that Lady Elsie Robson will be joining the mini-cruise as ‘Guest of Honour’.

Prices for the ‘Sir Bobby Robson Cruise’ start from £229 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside, twin cabin, and include all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes. There is no extra charge for joining the guest speakers in their talks and recollections of Sir Bobby. Fred. Olsen is also offering complimentary transportation to those living in Newcastle to join the cruise in Harwich, as well as complimentary transportation back from Newcastle for those joining in Harwich.