Press release -
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines unveils new 2025/26 programme with chance to win £1,000 cruise voucher
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has unveiled its brand new cruise programme for 2025/26, featuring a host of specially-timed sailings where guests can embrace the local way of life, seek out native wildlife and witness spectacular natural wonders.
The programme offers sailings from Southampton, Portsmouth, Dover, Liverpool, Newcastle and Rosyth, and has been carefully curated to ensure guests are visiting at the very best time of year. Chances to experience local events such as the Rio Carnival or Europe’s biggest sea shanty festival are among the highlights.
To celebrate the launch, guests who book a cruise from the new 2025/26 Worldwide programme between 5th and 12th March 2024, have the chance to win up to £1,000 off a cruise of their choice. Five runners up will also win a £200 voucher to use towards a future cruise booking. *
Destinations include the Mediterranean and North Africa, the Baltic, Arctic Norway, Iceland and Greenland, the British Isles and far-flung gems in the Caribbean, South America, Africa and Australia.
Martin Lister, Head of Itinerary Planning and Destination Experiences at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:
“This has been a phenomenal programme for our team of Journey Planners to curate, as it will see our fleet of smaller-sized ships visit all seven continents of the world.
“Guests who join us on board in 2025 and 2026 can expect to see some breathtaking scenery including eye-catching fjord mountains, dramatic coastlines, icebergs, remote islands and beautiful bays.
“They can visit captivating cities, fairytale castles and charming old towns packed with ornate and striking architecture and experience natural phenomena such as the Northern Lights, the Midnight Sun, stunning sunsets and flowers in bloom at the very best time to see them.
“Some of the highlights include chances to visit the beautiful Norwegian Fjords in the spring, when the waterfalls are at their strongest; to see fields of lavender and sunflowers in bloom in the French Riviera and enjoy a world cruise discovering idyllic islands and cities rich in culture.”
Guests can also look forward to a host of specially-curated activities on board, from chances to join an astronomer for stargazing on deck; to spot marine wildlife with conservation charity ORCA, or sample authentic flavours from the destinations they will visit.
Those making a booking can also take advantage of dedicated launch offers, with up to £20 per person per night to spend on board on selected five to 13-night cruises; the choice of up to £20 credit per person per night or free door-to-door transfers within up to 200 mainland miles from the port on sailings of 14 to 28 nights. There are also a series of dedicated offers for solo travellers.
Highlights of the 2025/26 cruise programme include:
Balmoral’s 10-night L2512 ‘Scenic Scottish Isles and the West Country’ cruise, departing from Rosyth on 7th June 2025. Prices start from £1,649 per person.
- Enjoy scenic cruising of Scottish islands such as Fingal’s Cave
- Experience the foot-tapping Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival
- Visit the Gardens of Heligan or Eden Project
Itinerary: Rosyth, Scotland – Cruising by Duncansby Stacks, Scotland – Cruising by The Needle, Scotland – Cruising by Old Man of Hoy, Scotland – Lerwick, Scotland – Cruising by the Small Isles, Scotland – Cruising by Dutchman’s Cap (Bac Mor), Scotland – Cruising by Fingal’s Cave, Scotland – St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly – Falmouth, England – Dartmouth, England – Portsmouth, England – Rosyth, Scotland
For more details: Visit L2512 ‘Scenic Scottish Isles and the West Country’
Balmoral’s 10-night L2513 ‘Norway’s Arctic Islands and Mountainous Vistas’ cruise, departing from Rosyth on 17th June 2025. Prices start from £1,599 per person.
- Explore Arctic Norway in the summertime
- Witness the Midnight Sun and see Torghatten
- Travel along the iconic Atlantic Ocean Road
Itinerary: Rosyth, Scotland – Crossing the Arctic Circle, Norway – Cruising by Reine, Lofoten, Norway – Leknes, Norway – Svolvær, Norway – Cruising Tjeldsundet Strait, Norway – Tromsø, Norway – Sortland, Vesteralen, Norway – Cruising by Seven Sisters Mountain Range, Norway – Cruising by Torghatten, Norway – Kristiansund, Norway – Rosyth, Scotland
For more details: Visit L2513 ‘Norway’s Arctic Islands and Mountainous Vistas’
- Visit Provence when lavenders and sunflowers are in bloom
- Enjoy scenic cruising past Cap de Formentor at sunset
- Experience life in Provence, such as watching locals play pétanque
Itinerary: Liverpool, UK – Gibraltar, Gibraltar – Cruising by Cap de Formentor, Mallorca, Spain – Port-Vendres, France – Marseille, France – Villefranche, France – Toulon, France – Palamos, Spain – Cadiz, Spain – Liverpool, UK
For more details: Visit T2514 ‘Discovering the Colourful French Riviera’
Borealis’ 12-night S2519 ‘Whales, Waterfalls and Geysers of Iceland’ cruise, departing from Dover on 17thJuly 2025. Prices start from £1,899 per person.
- Witness the splendour of Iceland's volcanic landscapes
- See puffins before they head south for the winter
- Discover how Iceland turns its natural power into energy
Itinerary: Dover, UK – Cruising by Norðfjarðarhorn and Gerpir, Iceland – Cruising by Borgarfjörður Eystri, Iceland – Akureyri, Iceland – Cruising Eyjafjörður, Iceland – Ísafjörður, Iceland – Reykjavík, Iceland – Heimaey, Iceland – Cruising by Elliðaey Island, Iceland – Cruising by Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Iceland – Tórshavn, Faroe Islands – Cruising by the Old Man of Hoy, Scotland – Cruising by the Needle, Scotland – Cruising Pentland Firth, Scotland – Cruising by Duncansby sea stacks, Scotland – Dover, UK
For more details: Visit S2519 ‘Whales, Waterfalls and Geysers of Iceland’
Balmoral’s 57-night L2523 ‘Mediterranean Grand Voyage’ cruise, departing from Southampton on 17thSeptember 2025. Prices start from £6,999 per person.
- Explore iconic Mediterranean sights in Barcelona, Seville and Istanbul
- Immerse yourself in traditional Dalmatian customs
- Sample delicious olives, moussaka, paella, tapas and pasta
Itinerary: Southampton, UK – La Coruña, Spain – Cádiz, Spain – Ibiza, Spain – Cruising by Cape Bernat, Ibiza, Spain – Barcelona, Spain – Valencia, Spain (two-night stay) – Cruising by Cape Bernat, Ibiza, Spain – Mahon, Menorca, Spain – Propriano, Corsica, France – La Spezia (for Cinque Terre), Italy – Salerno, Italy – Cruising the Amalfi Coast, Italy – Naples, Italy – Sorrento, Italy – Civitavecchia (for Rome), Italy (two-night stay) – Cruising by Stromboli, Italy – Cruising the Strait of Messina, Italy – Cruising Bay of Kotor, Montenegro – Kotor, Montenegro – Koper, Slovenia – Cruising St Anthony Channel, Croatia – Šibenik, Croatia – Split, Croatia – Cruising by Mount Biokovo, Makarska Riviera, Croatia – Dubrovnik, Croatia (overnight stay) – Argostoli, Kefalonia, Greece – Cruising Zakynthos Coastline, Greece – Kalamata, Greece – Piraeus (for Athens), Greece – Thira, Santorini, Greece – Rhodes, Greece (two-night stay) – Bodrum, Turkey – Kusadasi, Turkey – Istanbul, Turkey – Valletta, Malta – Malaga, Spain (two-night stay) – Gibraltar, Gibraltar – Cruising by Belem Tower, Portugal – Cruising by Monument to the Discoveries, Portugal – Cruising by Christ the King statue, Portugal – Cruising under Abril 25 Bridge, Portugal – Lisbon, Portugal (overnight stay) – Southampton, UK
For more details: Visit L2523 ‘Mediterranean Grand Voyage’
Borealis’ 14-night S2532 ‘Fairytale Castles and Old Towns of the Baltic’ cruise, departing from Portsmouth on 8th December 2025. Prices start from £1,699 per person.
- Discover the magic of the Baltic’s extraordinary landmarks
- Browse around enchanting Baltic Christmas Markets
- Experience local festive food and drink
Itinerary: Portsmouth, UK – Warnemünde, Germany – Tallinn, Estonia (overnight stay) – Helsinki, Finland – Turku, Finland – Riga, Latvia – Copenhagen, Denmark – Portsmouth, UK
For more details: Visit S2532 ‘Fairytale Castles and Old Towns of the Baltic’
Balmoral’s seven-night L2610 ‘Mountains and Fjords of Norway’ cruise, departing from Newcastle on 16thApril 2026. Prices start from £1,199 per person.
- Enjoy a ride on the Loen Skylift or Rauma Railway for outstanding views
- Experience a special diversion along Eresfjord aboard Balmoral
- Immerse yourself in friluftsliv and embrace outdoor activities
Itinerary: Newcastle, UK – Skjolden, Norway – Cruising Lustrafjord, Norway – Cruising Sognefjord, Norway – Olden, Norway – Cruising Nordfjord and Innvikfjord, Norway – Åndalsnes, Norway – Cruising Romsdalsfjord, Norway – Cruising Langfjord and Eresfjord, Norway – Ålesund, Norway – Newcastle, UK
For more details: Visit L2610 ‘Mountains and Fjords of Norway’
For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ 2025/26 sailings, visit www.fredolsencruises.com/new-cruise-programme
Book online or call Reservations on 0800 0355 242 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm), or contact your ABTA travel agent.
*Terms and Conditions
Competition applicable to new bookings made on any cruise from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ new 2025/26 Worldwide programme between 5th and 12th March 2024. The prizes will be drawn on 19th March 2024, and the prize winners will be notified via email.
One winner will win £1,000 off their next cruise booking, and five runner-up winners will win £200 off their next cruise booking – all prizes will be in the form of a future cruise voucher, which is valid from 12 months from the date of issue.
The future cruise voucher is to be used against a new booking in the same lead name as issued. No cash alternative will be given. The future cruise voucher is non-transferrable.