Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines launches new ‘Fly-Cruises Worldwide 2014/2015’ brochure

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has launched a new ‘Fly-Cruises Worldwide 2014/2015’ brochure, offering a host of tempting getaways to destinations far and wide, on board Balmoral, Braemar and Black Watch. These varied, exotic and sun-drenched fly-cruises, with prices starting from just £699 per person, can take guests straight to their chosen destination in a shorter time and importantly, for those guests having to book leave from work, using up fewer days’ holiday.

This new 2014/2015 fly-cruise brochure includes; two-week cruises around the Caribbean, departing from Bridgetown, Barbados; nine to 14-night cruises from Santa Cruz, Tenerife around the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and West Africa; and two to three-week escapes to breathtaking destinations, including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, China, Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Chile.

This brochure also incorporates exciting holiday extensions on selected cruises, giving guests the chance to add either a pre- or post-cruise stay and gain an even greater insight into the city in which they start, or end, their cruise. With city breaks in Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore, as well as escorted tours of the Iguazu Falls and Machu Picchu, there is ample opportunity for guests to make the most of their Fred. Olsen fly-cruise experience.

Examples of the stunning itineraries and excellent offers available in the new ‘Fly-Cruises Worldwide 2014/2015’ brochure include:

- Braemar’s 13-night ‘Canaries New Year & The Caribbean’, fly-cruise, M1434, ex Santa Cruz, Tenerife, on 30th December 2014. Prices start from £1,349 per person (cruise only price – £799 per person), based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded, inside cabin.

Arriving in Santa Cruz (Tenerife), guests will have plenty of time to explore before the New Year celebrations are under way. As well as live music and fireworks on New Year’s Eve, guests can also discover the El Teide National Park, the mysterious Pyramids of Guimar, the bright Botanical Gardens or relax on the sandy beach of Playa de las Teresitas.

Braemar will then cruise along the ‘Tropic of Cancer’, before arriving in the Caribbean. First call is in St. John’s (Antigua), where there will be plenty of time for guests to venture across the Island to discover English Harbour and Nelson’s dockyard, full of maritime history and stunning modern yachts.

Next stop is Philipsburg (St. Maarten), home to gourmet food, world-class Duty Free shopping, and a cosmopolitan atmosphere, with a Caribbean twist. After a day in the lush tropics of Roseau (Dominica) guests will arrive in Castries (St. Lucia). This vibrant destination offers guests a chance to relax on the white sand beaches or visit the world’s only ‘drive in’ volcano – ‘Sulphur Springs’. Braemar then continues to Bridgetown (Barbados), from where guests will fly back to the UK.

- Black Watch’s 22-night ‘South American Adventure’ fly-cruise, W150123, ex Buenos Aires, Argentina on 30th January 2015. Prices start from £4,659 per person (cruise only price – £3,459 per person), based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded, outside cabin.

Guests will fly into Buenos Aires (Argentina), where they will spend a day soaking up the culture, before departing for Puerto Madryn (Argentina). Guests can visit the Chalet Pujol, one of the most beautiful houses in the city and the museum of Modern Art in Patagonia.

Black Watch will then stop in Ushuaia (Argentina). Guests can visit the museum of the historical military prison of Ushuaia, where one wing has been converted into an art gallery featuring the work of local artists.

The next day is spent cruising around Cape Horn – a shipping folklore to this day, and to sail around the Cape Horn is a great accolade for many yachtsmen.

Next port of call is Punta Arenas (Chile), home to several interesting museums, including The Museo del Recuerdo, with an impressive collection of antique machinery. A visit to the La Cruz Hill is a great way to get a panoramic view of the city.

The following two days are filled with scenic cruising around the Chilean Fjords, where snow-capped mountains, fascinating wildlife and glistening waters await discovery.

Black Watch then makes a stop at Puerto Chacabuco (Chile), where guests can take tours to Lower Patagonia and the Andes Mountains, before reaching Puerto Montt (Chile). This small city, situated at the southernmost end of Chile's Lake District, is ideal for a lazy day with a lakeside picnic on a Pacific Ocean beach, or for a stroll to the array of craft shops and artisan markets.

Guests will then arrive in Valparaiso (Chile); a busy international port and a vibrant cultural hub. This unique city is built on more than 40 hills, with an abundance of colourful houses. Next stop for Black Watch is Arica (Chile) – known as the ‘City of Eternal Spring’ due to its mild climate and almost year-round sunshine.

General San Martin in Peru is the next port of call. Nearby is the Paracas National Reserve, a sanctuary for seals, penguins, flamingos and dozens of species of seabird. This adventurous cruise comes to an end in Callao (Peru), from where guests will fly back to the UK.

- Balmoral’s 18-night ‘Temples, Dragons & the Islands of Japan’ fly-cruise, L150145, ex Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 14th February 2015. Prices start from £2,899 per person (cruise only price – £1,699 per person), based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded, inside cabin.

With a day to explore Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), on this romantic of days, ‘Valentine’s Day’, guests will then join Balmoral as she cruises to Semarang (Indonesia). No trip to this city would be complete without a visit to the Temple of Borobudur, one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world.

Guests will then make a stop at Komodo Island (Indonesia), home to the world’s largest lizard – the Komodo Dragon. The Komodo National Park offers a chance for guests to see these dinosaur-like creatures in their natural environment. Guests should also keep an eye out for sharks, dolphins, manta rays, sea turtles and whales that all live in the surrounding waters.

Balmoral then calls into Ujung Pandang, also known as Massager (Indonesia), where guests will have plenty of time to shop for unique gifts, including silks, gold, silver filigree, wood-carvings, pearls and beads.

Next stop is the island of Cebu in the Philippines. Offering two huge shopping malls, fortune-telling at the Taoist Temple and Cebu Tops – an observation deck displaying spectacular 180 degree views – there is plenty for cruise guests to uncover.

A stop in Naha on the island of Okinawa (Japan) is next; guests can visit the Makishi Market, where colourful displays of food can be found among hundreds of lively market stalls.

Balmoral then takes a leisurely cruise around the Ryukyu Islands, before arriving in Tokyo (Japan), from where guests will fly back to the UK.

Prices for all these fly-cruises include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, return flights from London Gatwick or Manchester, transfers and airport/port taxes.

Fred. Olsen was also delighted to be voted ‘Best Affordable Cruise Line’ and runner-up ‘Best Cruise Line’ in the ‘Cruise International Awards 2013’, and ‘Best Value for Money’ in the Cruise Critic ‘Editors’ Picks UK Awards 2013’. Fred. Olsen’s Braemar was also recently announced as the top winner in Cruise Critic’s ‘Cruisers' Choice 2014 Awards’ ‘Best Small Ship for Embarkation’ category, and ‘Black Watch as ‘Best Small Ship for Shore Excursions’.