Fred. Olsen launches inaugural 'Balmoral' cruise season from Edinburgh

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ flagship, Balmoral, will be commencing her inaugural cruise season from Edinburgh (Rosyth) on 16^th May 2018, on a 10-night ‘Swedish Waterways & Cities’ sailing.

1,350-guest Balmoral will be offering a record nine sailings from Edinburgh (Rosyth) during the 2018/19 cruise season, between May and July 2018, which is an increase on the eight departures on board Black Watch from the Port in 2017.

Scottish holidaymakers will be able to choose from a host of exciting cruise destinations with Fred. Olsen in 2018/19, including Norway, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Scandinavia and the Baltic.

Clare Ward, Director of Product and Customer Service at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

“We have been extremely encouraged by the warm reception that our flagship Balmoral has received in Scotland. We have booked more guests onto the ship out ofRosyth than we did for whole of our last cruise season put together.

“We thank Forth Ports for their commitment to enhancing the experience for our guests from Rosyth, and we are confident that our Scottish customers – old and new – will thoroughly enjoy their holiday on board stylish Balmoral, which features many Scottish links and themes throughout.”

Fred. Olsen has also confirmed its commitment to Edinburgh (Rosyth) with a second programme of departures from the convenient Scottish port aboard Balmoral in 2019/20.

During its 2019/20 cruise season, Balmoral will be offering a total of eight cruise holidays from Edinburgh (Rosyth), between June and August 2019, including a seven-night ‘Norwegian Fjords’ departure, a 14-night ‘Baltic Capitals’ discovery, and a nine-night ‘European Rivers & Canals’ experience.

Robert Mason, Capital Cruising’s Head of Cruise at Rosyth, said:

“We are excited that Fred. Olsen will be bringing their flagship Balmoral to Rosyth this season and also into the 2019/20 season, too.

“Rosyth has benefitted from significant investment to become Scotland’s key turnaround hub, with great destinations to sail to. We are thrilled that Balmoral – and also sister ship Black Watch – will be regular callers into Rosyth.

“Across all our Scottish ports, we are looking forward to another busy cruise season in 2018, with an estimated 175,000 passengers expected this year.”

In 2018/19, Fred. Olsen’s cruises from Edinburgh (Rosyth) on Balmoral include:

- Nine-night L1814 ‘German Waterways’ cruise, departing on 31^st May 2018. Prices start from £699 per person.

Ports of call: Edinburgh (Rosyth) – Bremen, Germany (overnight stay) – Cruising Weser River – Kiel Canal Transit – Kiel, Germany – Warnemünde, Germany – Kiel Canal Transit – Cruising River Elbe – Hamburg, Germany – Edinburgh (Rosyth)

For further information: See 'German Waterways'

- Seven-night L1817 ‘Diamonds, Chocolates & Canals’ cruise, departing on 30^th June 2018. Prices start from £599 per person.

Ports of call: Edinburgh (Rosyth) – Antwerp, Belgium (overnight stay) – Ghent, Belgium – Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Edinburgh (Rosyth)

For further information: See 'Diamonds, Chocolates & Canals'

- Nine-night L1819 ‘Greatest Fjords of Norway’ cruise, departing on 12^th July 2018 (adult-only). Prices start from £1,099 per person. *Summer Sale’ savings of up to £200 per person available!*

Ports of call: Edinburgh (Rosyth) – Cruising Lysefjord – Cruising Hardangerfjord – Cruising Maurangerfjord – Flåm, Norway – Cruising Nærøyfjord – Olden, Norway – Cruising Nordfjord – Cruising past Seven Sisters Waterfall – Hellesylt, Norway – Cruising Sunnylvsfjorden – Kristiansund, Norway – Bergen, Norway

– Edinburgh (Rosyth)

For further information: See 'Greatest Fjords of Norway'

All prices shown are based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded Interior Room, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, plus port taxes.

A number of ex-Edinburgh (Rosyth) cruises are included in Fred. Olsen's attractive ‘Summer Sale 2018’ campaign, featuring over 40 ocean and river sailings, departing between from June to September 2018. Guests can save up £400 per person on selected ocean cruises (up to £300 per person on Brabant river cruises), on all new bookings made up to 2^nd July 2018 inclusive.

Fred. Olsen is also offering a fantastic ‘Three Cruises for the Price of Two’ deal on a wide selection of sailings. Just book one selected cruise, departing between October and December 2018, along with anyother two Fred. Olsen cruises in 2018, 2019 or 2020, before 31^st May 2018, and the lowest-priced sailing is compliments of Fred. Olsen!

In 2018/19, the Fred. Olsen fleet will be visiting no fewer than 228 destinations in 73 countries around the globe, covering 91 areas of scenic cruising.

For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, visit the website at www.fredolsencruises.com Book online, call Reservations on 0800 0355 242 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm; Saturday, 9am to 5pm; Sunday, 10am to 4pm), or visit an ABTA travel agent.