Jazz It Up With Fred. Olsen

As part of the new programme of music themed cruises from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines – Music at Sea – one of the great names of jazz will be entertaining passengers this autumn.  Braemar’s “Autumnal Sunshine” cruise to the Western Mediterranean (BM0921) stars Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen.  Kenny is celebrating 50 years in show business this year, and is one of the top British jazz artists of all time and a big favourite with Fred. Olsen guests.

The 14-night cruise departs from Dover on 4th October 2009 and visits some great Western European cities - Malaga, Barcelona, Marseille, Mahon (Menorca), Gibraltar and Lisbon – before returning to Dover.  Prices start  from £1,058 per person, based on two sharing an inside twin cabin and include all meals and entertainment on board – including, of course, the performances by Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen – as well as port taxes.

Boudicca’s Autumn in the Iberian Sun cruise will feature the Leo Green Experience, with guest star Lulu.  Leo is a well known name in jazz and currently hosts a weekly programme on Jazz FM.  The cruise is a 10 night holiday starting from Portsmouth on 8th November and calling at some fascinating ports on the Iberian peninsula such as Bilbao, Leixoes (for Oporto) and Lisbon before returning to Portsmouth.  Prices currently start from £795 per person, based on two sharing an inside cabin.

Another cruise that will appeal to jazz fans is Balmoral’s “Wonders of the Ancient World”, a 24-night Mediterranean cruise, departing Dover on 5th November 2009.  This cruise visits the cradles of Western civilisation – evocative places like Rome, Athens, Limassol and Alexandria.  A highlight of the entertainment on board will be performances by the Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band, whose repertoire includes pieces by jazz greats such as Duke Ellington, Hoagy Carmichael, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong and Scot Joplin.

Prices for this long and fascinating cruise start from £1,982 per person based on two sharing an inside twin cabin and, as before, the price includes all meals on board, port taxes and the full programme of entertainment including the wonderful jazz.

What better way to start the New Year than by taking a swinging Canaries cruise with Jazz and Swing stars Colin Bryant and the Hot Rhythm Orchestra?  Playing hits from the 1920s to the 1950s,  this distinguished team of six superb instrumentalists, led by virtuoso clarinettist, Colin Bryant, (who also plays a mean saxophone) will have everyone up and dancing as Boudicca sails to the warm waters of the Canaries!  The cruise (D1001) departs from Southampton on 5th January 2010, and visits the islands of Madeira, La Palma, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, with a final call into Lisbon en route home.  Prices for this 13-night cruise start from £999 per person.

If you can’t make this cruise, you can see Colin Bryant perform on Boudicca’s Caribbean cruise of 28 nights (D1002) departing from Southampton on 18th January.  This long cruise will really whisk you away from the winter blues to the sounds of jazz and swing – and an added bonus is a performance of a very different kind from Tenorissimo, a trio of tenors performing operatic favourites.  This cruise of musical variety travels via the island of Madeira to the balmy Caribbean and visits a variety of islands including Barbados and St Lucia before returning via the Azores with music all the way.  Prices start from £2,199 per person.

Prices are per person, based on two sharing an inside twin cabin, and include all meals and entertainment on board and port taxes – also included are all the performances from the star artists on board, representing unbeatable value for money. Always check the website for latest prices.  Many of these Music at Sea cruises also feature other themes, such as Fred. Olsen’s Flagship Golf, Civilisations, and The ArtsClub. 

For more information on these and other music themed cruises from Fred. Olsen, visithttp://www.fredolsencruises.co.uk/  To book, call Reservations on 01473 742424 or see your local ABTA travel agent. You can also book online.