‘Go West’ with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines on a longer voyage in 2015/16

Whilst most of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ voyages are around a week or fortnight in length, the cruise line also offers selected longer departures, for guests with the time and curiosity to explore a bit further afield and discover even more new and exciting ports around the world. Amongst the new 2015 voyages are two brand new cruise itineraries to spectacular Canada and the mighty USA.

- Balmoral’s 35-night ‘Voyage to the American Deep South’ cruise L1517, ex Southampton on 14th September 2015. Prices start from £3,499 per person.

Balmoral makes her first call in Ponta Delgada, in the Azores (Portugal), before reaching St. George in Bermuda. Here, guests can visit King's Square, the undisputed centre of St. George, where locals frequently congregate for celebrations, or take a trip to the St. George's Historical Society Museum, a typical Bermudian building revealing what life was like in the early 1700s.

Balmoral will then make a relaxing stop in Nassau in the Bahamas; the skyline is dominated by Atlantis, the luxury hotel resort. Take a visit to Pompey Museum, with a large collection of Bahamian artefacts, or simply relax on one of the many paradise-like beaches, occasionally interspersed with some lazy snorkelling or swimming.

The lively city of Miami, in Florida (USA), is next. Take a stroll around the Art Deco buildings on South Beach to catch its golden era of architecture, or visit Lincoln Road Mall, known as the 'Fifth Avenue of the South'.

Guests will then stop in Port Canaveral in Florida, where a leisurely walk along the fishing piers or a visit to the Kennedy Space Centre is a fantastic way to spend the day.

Balmoral then makes two maiden calls: first into Savannah in Georgia, where guests can enjoy the city's architecture and historic buildings, and experience the Southern charm and hospitality for which the people of the city are internationally renowned; and Charleston, South Carolina (USA), often voted America’s friendliest city. Charleston is famous for its unique culture, which blends traditional Southern U.S., English, French, and West African elements. The downtown peninsula is well known for its art, music, local cuisine, and fashion and, with an overnight stay here, guests can spend the day and evening getting to know this eclectic city.

Balmoral then arrives in New York for an overnight stay – the best way to enter this iconic city is undoubtedly by cruise ship! This dazzling metropolis, with its statement skyscrapers, set around glorious Central Park, is known as the ‘city that never sleeps’, and it also never disappoints! Visitors can lose themselves in the sheer vibrancy of the street life, culture, food and shopping, which are second to none anywhere in the world.

Guests will then be able to enjoy a visit to Oak Bluffs in Martha’s Vineyard (USA), before arriving in Boston, for another overnight stay. This city, one of the most largest on the USA eastern seaboard, is one of the most interesting American cities historically, and is compact enough to investigate on foot; the famous Freedom Trail is the best way to see the city and discover its historic significance. There is also a wealth of excellent restaurants, superb shopping and, of course, the most famous bar in the world - ‘Cheers’, ‘Where everybody knows your name!’

Guests are then invited to enjoy a taste of Canada, with two stops: the first is in Halifax, Nova Scotia, a port which played such an important part in the tragic story of the R.M.S. Titanic, and where many who lost their lives aboard this ill-fated vessel were laid to rest. Interestingly, the Fred. Olsen Group owns the shipyard of Harland & Wolff, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where the infamous R.M.S. Titanic was built. Balmoral then calls at St. John’s, Newfoundland (Canada), before setting sail for Southampton.

- Black Watch’s 28-night ‘Cites and Landscapes of Canada’ cruise W1507, ex Liverpool on 22nd May 2015. Prices start from £2,999 per person.

Black Watch also offers a long voyage in 2015, with the chance to explore the enormously varied landscapes of Canada. To break up her Atlantic crossing, Black Watch stops first at Ponta Delgada in the Azores. This cosmopolitan town offers a mix of contemporary life and historic flavours, with its cobbled streets, monuments, modern marinas and fabulous shopping.

Guests will then arrive in rugged Canada. Black Watch’s first port of call is Sydney, Nova Scotia , where guests can whale-watch or take a stroll through one of the 150 leafy parks in the area.

A stop in Charlottetown on the Prince Edward Island is next, with authentic lobster tours, a world-class theatre, many charming galleries, local markets, and beautiful buildings; there is plenty in this provincial capital to uncover.

After a stop in Gaspé, Quebec, Black Watch arrives in Trois-Rivières (Canada). Here, guests can amble along the Promenade de la Poésie and discover the city’s cafés, bars and museums.

Black Watch arrives in the fine city of Montreal. This city, the second largest in Canada, is as romantically traditional as it is cutting-edge, and as cosmopolitan as it is a small town. Guests can visit the ‘Montreal Biodome’, an indoor recreation of four different ecosystems of the Americas – the Laurentian forest, the tropical forest, the St. Lawrence Marine ecosystem, and the polar worlds of both the Arctic and Antarctic – complete with both flora and fauna. Guests can also take a trip to the Montreal Botanical Garden, a hot spot for the city's birdwatchers.

Black Watch then reaches Quebec City, where she stays overnight, allowing more time to enjoy shore excursions. Quebec is the only walled city on the continent North of Mexico, and the special blend of French and North American cultures makes this an intriguing and unique place to visit. The Old Town is compact and ideal for walking, with a wealth of museums and historic buildings; perhaps most interesting of these is the ‘Museum of Civilisation’ on the waterfront.

The next stop, Saguenay, is situated at the head of the great fjord of Saguenay; this forested region is a major centre for outdoor activities, such as hiking and kayaking. Black Watch then stops at Havre St. Pierre, a chain of outstanding islands and islets.

Black Watch then calls into Corner Brook, Newfoundland and then St. John’s, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador. This is North America’s oldest city, and is sometimes compared with San Francisco, because of its hilly geography. Black Watch then sets sail to return to Southampton.

Prices for these two cruises are based on two adults sharing a twin, ‘Inside’ cabin, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, and port dues.