Jilly Goolden to return to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines for an autumn 2013 ‘Wines of France and Spain’ Vistas cruise

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is delighted to welcome back wine expert Jilly Goolden on aBraemar ‘Wine Regions of Bordeaux and Rioja’ cruise in 2013, featuring a ‘Wine’ theme as part of its award-winning Vistas onboard enrichment programme. The 10-night cruise, M1325, departs from Dover on 4^th October 2013, and visits Nantes (France), La Pallice (for tours to La Rochelle, France), Bordeaux (France), Getxo (for tours to Bilboa, Spain), Aviles (Spain) and La Coruna (Spain), before returning to Dover. 

Jilly Goolden – who proved a great hit on Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral cruise to Iberia in October 2012 – will host wine tastings and give talks during the cruise about wines from the regions visited during this epicurean delight of a cruise. Best known for presenting top-rated TV series, ‘Food and Drink’, for almost 20 years, Jilly appeared alongside the late Michael Barry OBE, Chris Kelly and fellow ‘oenophile’, Oz Clarke. She became nationally famous as the most widely-known wine expert in Britain, and is now a regular on ‘Britain’s Best Dish’.

Jilly has also presented ‘The Great Antiques Hunt’ and ‘Going, Going, Gone’, for the BBC, as well as BBC1’s ‘Holiday’ and ‘Holiday: You Call the Shots’ programmes. Her versatility was apparent when she spent time in the jungle for ITV’s ratings-blockbuster ‘I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!’

Prices for this France and Spain cruise, featuring Jilly Goolden, start from £979 per person, based on two adults, sharing an inside, twin cabin, Grade ‘I’. The price includes all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes. There is no charge for attending Jilly’s talks, as part of the Vistas programme, but there may be a small charge for wines used in tastings.

Fred. Olsen was delighted to be crowned ‘Best for Learning’, for the second year running, at the 2012 ‘Cruise International Awards’, in recognition of its popular Vistas onboard enrichment programme. Fred. Olsen also won the ‘Best Affordable Cruise Line’ accolade, and was runner-up in the ‘Best Shore Excursion’ and ‘Best Cruise Line’ categories, having been voted ‘Cruise Line of the Year’ in the inaugural ‘Cruise International Awards’ in 2011. 

Fred. Olsen’s award-winning Vistas programme allows guests on a Fred. Olsen cruise to participate in talks and hands-on experiences by a number of renowned experts, at no extra cost and entirely when it suits them. In addition to Jilly Goolden, for its 2013/14 Vistas programme, Fred. Olsen will be welcoming some exciting experts and celebrity speakers on board its four traditional cruise ships – Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch – including Round-the-World Yachtswoman Tracy Edwards MBE and Antiques Roadshow favourite Lars Tharp.