Fred. Olsen adds two new regional departure ports for 2014/15 – Avonmouth and Tilbury

Fred. Olsen has become known as the cruise line that offers the greatest choice of regional UK departure ports to its guests.  Now, for the 2014/15 cruise season, Fred. Olsen is pleased to offer two brand new departure ports: Tilbury and Avonmouth.

Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

“In 2014/15, we are delighted to be extending the choice of convenient, regional departure ports that we can offer our guests. We know that travel to and from the port is a key decision-maker when choosing a cruise, and we can now offer our guests a choice of ten different ports all around the UK for the forthcoming cruise season.”

Tilbury, on the north bank of the River Thames, in Essex, is ideally situated for guests from the Greater London and Essex areas. Positioned 25 miles below London Bridge, it is part of the wider Port of London. From winter 2014, Fred. Olsen will offer cruises from this port aboard Black Watch.

Captain Richard Exley, Cruise Manager at The Port of Tilbury, said:

"Some thirty years ago, Fred. Olsen Lines operated passenger vessels from Tilbury to the Canary Isles and now, in 2014, we look forward to welcoming Fred. Olsen Cruise vessels back to the historic Landing Stage and the London Cruise Terminal.

“The London Cruise Terminal, located on the River Thames, has direct access to the national road, rail and international air links into the Capital, and is the perfect, convenient location for cruise guests to embark on their cruise holidays."

The first departure from Tilbury comes with an added frisson of excitement, being a ‘Mystery Cruise’! The 14-night cruise departs on 15^th November 2014 and the itinerary is revealed as the cruise progresses. This is perfect for the seasoned cruise-taker who is looking for something special, and who knows where Fred. Olsen will take you!

There are two further departures with very different itineraries. W1418 is a 14-night cruise to the Canary Islands and Morocco, departing from Tilbury on 29^th November 2014, and calling  at evocative Casablanca in Morocco, then the islands of Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma and Madeira. Black Watch makes finally call at Leixoes (Portugal), for tours to Oporto, before returning to Tilbury. This is an appealing winter sun cruise, offering some welcome warmth at a cold and drab time of year.

The final departure from Tilbury will be Black Watch’s ‘Norwegian Christmas’ cruise, offering a ‘Winter Wonderland’ itinerary that will appeal to lovers of the ‘real’ Christmas, complete with plenty of snow and fir trees. This 14-night cruise departs on 20^th December 2014, visiting Ålesund, Molde, Tromsø, Alta, Trondheim, Bergen and Stavanger (all Norway), before returning to Tilbury. There are overnight stays in Tromsø and Alta, allowing more opportunities for time ashore to enjoy the crisp, snowy vistas of the Norwegian winter.

The second new port for Fred. Olsen in 2014/15 is Avonmouth, for Bristol, situated on the Severn Estuary, at the mouth of the River Avon. This is the perfect departure port for guests from the South West, and well-served by good road and rail connections.

There are four cruises scheduled to depart from this new port in spring and early summer 2014, aboard cruise ship Boudicca, travelling to the ‘Canary Islands’, ‘France & Spain’, ‘The Adriatic & Athens’ and ‘Iceland & Norway’.

The longest of these cruises is the 28-night ‘Adriatic & Athens’ itinerary (D1408), which departs from Avonmouth on 17^th May 2014. This long cruise combines a host of fascinating ports, many steeped in history, including beautiful Dubrovnik, the jewel of Croatia, with its magnificent architecture and stunning coastline. Another Croatian port is a maiden call for the cruise line; Hvar is an idyllic island, just off the Dalmatian coast, full of fragrant pine forests, olive groves and fields of lavender, and blessed with a wonderfully warm and sunny climate. The cruise also visits pretty Koper in Slovenia, and two of the finest historic ports in Europe – romantic Venice and historic Athens, with an overnight stay in each to allow plenty of time for visits ashore.