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Press release -

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines launches 'Music and Laughter' entertainment programme for 2011/12

Along with food, and of course the company of fellow guests, a key aspect in the success of any cruise is the quality of its entertainment.  Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’  ‘Music & Laughter’ programme has proved to be an enormously popular highlight on selected cruises. Provided at no extra cost, the programme offers a star-studded line-up of quality acts from the worlds of comedy, music and entertainment. A diverse range of musical styles is represented, including pop, soul, jazz, classical and opera.

Among the leading names signed for the 2011/12 season are: Seventies’ soul legend, George McCrae, best known for his smash hit ‘Rock Your Baby’ – a Number One hit in over 82 countries; Sixties’ legends ‘The Tornados’, whose hit ‘45’, ‘Telstar’, was the first single by a UK group ever to reach Number One in the USA; and the dynamic ‘Sounds of Boney M’, featuring original band member, Sheyla Bonnick. As well as the Fred. Olsen premiere of these stars, some of the most popular acts from previous years are making a welcome return. Among them, the glamorous and hugely talented ‘Operababes’, the super-cool Swing band ‘Dominic Halpin & the Honey B’s’; and trad-jazz giants ‘Colin Bryant & His Hot Rhythm Orchestra’. 

From the world of comedy, the enormously popular Don Reid will be cruising again, and is joined in the ‘Music & Laughter’ season by other talented comedians, including Rikki Jay – who made his debut on LWT’s ‘The Big, Big Talent Show’ – and Berni Flint – winner of ‘Opportunity Knocks’ a record 12 times!

Here are a few of the cruises featured in the programme:-

Braemar’sM1123 11-night cruise to Iberia, departing from Dover on 28th October 2011, stars ‘The Operababes’ and renowned West End opera singer, Anthony Stuart Lloyd. The cruise visits Motril, Ibiza and Cartagena in Spain and the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, before returning to Dover. Prices start from £729 per person*. Through Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ enhancement programme, Vistas, the cruise also has a theme of ‘Choirs at Sea’ – so any guests inspired by the opera performances can try to develop their own singing talents, too. (*Cabin grade given at time of booking, cabin number allocated on embarkation).

Comedy and Swing make a great combination on Balmoral’sseven-nightL1120 ‘Northern Europe’ cruise, which departs from Southampton on 10th November 2011. Visiting Hamburg and Bremerhaven (Germany), Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Antwerp (Belgium), the cruise stars ‘Dominic Halpin & the Honey B’s’ and comedian Berni Flint.  Prices start from £549 per person. 

For lovers of Soul, Balmoral’sL1121 cruise to the Canary Islands will be a treat, as it starsGeorge McCrae. This 13-night cruise sails from Southampton on 17th November 2011, and visits the islands of Madeira, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, and Gran Canaria, before calling at Portugal’s elegant capital, Lisbon,  and then returning to Southampton.  This cruise also features a Vistas theme of ‘Ballroom Dancing’, for those whose love of music brings them up onto their twinkle-toes! Prices start from £849 per person.

Boudicca’s cruise to the Canaries,D1125, plays host to Sixties’ pop legends ‘The Tornados’. Founder member and drummer, Clem Cattini, reformed the award-winning band, whose hit‘Telstar’ sold an amazing nine million copies. Departing from Portsmouth on 26th November 2011 for 14 nights, the cruise visits Leixoes (for Oporto), Portugal, then the islands of Lanzarote, Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma and Madeira, as well as the Spanish port of Vigo, before returning to Portsmouth. Prices start from £899 per person. 

All prices are quoted per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin. The price includes all meals and entertainment on board, including the ‘Music & Laughter’ programme, and port taxes.

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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
Lauren Gardner

Lauren Gardner

Press contact Public Relations Manager Public Relations 07546807099

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

At Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines we are very proud of our smaller ships – Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral - and the imaginative and unusual itineraries they allow us to offer. Every cruise is hand-crafted from scratch by our team of in-house Journey Planners to make sure you are not only visiting the best destinations, but at the best time to experience them.

For us, it’s not just about where we go but how we take you there. We put as much time into planning scenic cruising as we do in choosing the destinations themselves. On board, our Signature Experiences showcase the history, culture, nature and flavours of the destinations you’ll visit – from Treats of the Region, where you can enjoy local delicacies, to our Sky at Sea star-gazing sessions where you can relax with a hot toddy out on deck while our astronomer talks you through the night sky.

Plus, with each ship carrying 1,300 guests or less, our ships are small enough for us to offer a warm, friendly and personal service where nothing is ever too much trouble, as we visit a host of exciting ports in every corner of the globe.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

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