Fred. Olsen Launches Worldwide Cruises Brochure for 2009/10 Season

With a fifth ship - Balmoral - joining the fleet in February 2008, and Braemar undergoing a major refit and lengthening in spring 2008 to increase capacity, the cruise line goes from strength to strength.

Highlights of the new brochure include:-

• Three round-the-world cruises - two on Balmoral and one on Black Watch -plus long voyages to Canada and the USA (Balmoral) and Around South America (Black Watch). Long cruises can also be booked in sectors with a number of options for pre- and post-cruise holidays ashore.

• Two ships - Braemar and Boudicca - offering winter Caribbean fly/cruise programmes with a choice of homeports - Miami or Barbados.

• More long voyages - Canada and the USA (40 nights), Around South America (73 nights).

• Ex-UK cruises from Portsmouth for the first time aboard Boudicca - this port joins the list of regional ports used by Fred. Olsen around the UK:- Dover, Southampton, Newcastle, Liverpool, Leith and Greenock.

• Fly/cruises from a total of 19 regional airports - Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted, Newcastle, Doncaster Sheffield, Norwich, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Bristol, Dublin, East Midlands, Birmingham, Belfast, Glasgow, Newquay, Durham Tees Valley, Humberside, and - for the very first time - Aberdeen.

A new selection of Civilisations cruises is also featured. These special add-on packages are aimed at discerning travellers, who are interested in culture, history and the arts and want to get under the skin of the places they visit. Dedicated hosts and expert guides and lecturers ensure a very special experience, with exclusive shore tours and in-depth onboard sessions.

A more informal, but none the less popular extra on many cruises is Fred. Olsen’s ArtsClub programme of special interests. This eclectic programme features a whole range of varied topics - painting, comedy, wildlife, wine, gardening, antiques and even story telling and creative writing come under its broad umbrella. At no extra cost (with the exception of wine and watercolour painting), participants in ArtsClub can enhance their experience and perhaps start a new hobby, or refresh their interest in an old one.

The now well-established Flagship Golf programme continues to attract golfers all over the world. For a small extra fee, golfers can enjoy games ashore as well as on-board practice sessions, tuition from a PGA professional and golf-related social activities.

The choice of cruises is unsurpassed - from a two-night mini cruise, to 106 nights round the world. Destinations include the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Scandinavia. Iberia, the Canaries, Baltic, Black Sea, Caribbean and South America.

Cruise prices start from £141 per person, for a Black Prince two-night mini cruise “Irish Jig” departing from Greenock on 21st June 2009 and visiting Dublin and Liverpool.

More details of all Fred. Olsen cruises can be found at www.fredolsencruises.co.uk To book, call Reservations on 01473 742424, book online or see your local ABTA travel agent.

Agents can book online via F-OCAL or AmadeusCruise or call Reservations on 01473 742424