Major Refurbishment For Fred. Olsen's Black Watch

The Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ ship Black Watch will enter dry-dock in early December 2009 for an extensive programme of refurbishment.  The work, to be carried out at the Blohm + Voss GmbH shipyard in Hamburg, is scheduled to start on 2^nd December as Black Watch returns from a Canary Islands cruise. She will resume service on 14^th December, with a five day European Christmas Markets mini cruise, departing from Southampton.

The work will include a major refurbishment of the ship’s public areas, including a new casual dining area, which will be created in the space where the Braemar Lounge and Garden Café are currently situated – midships on Deck 6, Lounge Deck. The transformed area will become the Braemar Garden, a casual dining area with seating for over 120 persons, and replaces the Garden Café which currently seats only 80. One section of this newly created dining area will be screened off, creating a 40-seat room that can be used for private dining. This new area will be completely refitted with new soft furnishings, a new bar, and buffet.

Other areas of the ship will also have new soft furnishings as part of this programme, including the Neptune Lounge, Piper’s Bar, Glentanar Restaurant (one of the main formal dining areas), and the Observatory Lounge. In addition, many bathrooms will also be refitted.

The design of the new areas will be carried out by Space, which has previously worked on all the ships in the Fred. Olsen fleet.

Nigel Lingard, Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: "This is a major refurbishment for the very elegant Black Watch, and will improve and enhance the facilities on board. The new casual dining area will be fresher and more contemporary, and will offer a more spacious option for those choosing this dining option."

On the technical side, Black Watch will also have her last three open lifeboats replaced by two covered boats, which will be supplied by Fassmer Davit International.