Make the most of your epic Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Balmoral ‘World Cruise’ with a holiday extension

A ‘World Cruise’ is, for many people, the holiday of a lifetime, visiting some of the most exciting destinations on the planet; to enable guests to make the very best of their time in these amazing locations, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is offering optional ‘holiday extensions’ on each sector of its epic 112-night ‘World Cruise’ L1301 aboard Balmoral, which departs from Southampton on 5^th January 2013.

The first leg of the cruise – the longest ever undertaken by Fred. Olsen – visits the Caribbean and Central America, and guests leaving or joining the ship in Mexico can opt for a three-night beach stay in scintillating Acapulco. The package includes three nights’ half-board accommodation at the Acapulco Fairmont Princess Hotel, and guests will have time to explore or just relax, revelling in the gorgeous beaches and watching the legendary cliff divers. There is more to Acapulco than just beaches; explore the 17^th Century Fort of San Diego and the stunning Botanic Gardens. This holiday extension – the perfect end to a winter cruise – is priced at £439 per person, based on two adults sharing twin accommodation, and includes transfers to and from the port and airport. This Acapulco holiday extension can also be taken as a pre-cruise holiday for guests on the second sector of the ‘World Cruise’, from Mexico to Sydney.

Visitors to Sydney would be well-advised to take advantage of a post-cruise break in this glorious city, and there is a choice of a two or three-night stayover here. It includes accommodation at the Sofitel Wentworth Hotel, within easy walking distance of the city centre, and allows time to explore at leisure, taking in all the sights. There is so much to see – the Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach, Botany Bay and some of the world’s finest restaurants. Prices are £279 per person for a two-night stay, or £399 for three nights, based on two adults sharing twin accommodation,

Another ‘must see’ port on Balmoral’s ‘World Cruise’ is vibrant Bangkok. There is a pre- or post-cruise stay in this exotic city, departing on 20^th March 2013 for three nights, with time to explore at leisure. This package includes a three-night stay at the Centara Grand at Central World, and offers a wealth of wonderful history and culture to explore; don’t miss the Grand Palace, the king’s official residence, or Thailand’s most sacred temple, Wat Phra Kaew. This unforgettable break is priced at £279 per person, based on two adults sharing twin accommodation.

For those with more time to explore this fascinating Far Eastern capital, there is the five-night ‘Bangkok & Siem Reap Post-Cruise Grand Tour’, from 20^th March 2013. Included in this holiday extension are either a two-night stay at the Centara Grand at Central World (including bed and breakfast) or a three-night stay at the Raffles D'Angkor Hotel (including  bed and breakfast, with lunch and dinner included at local restaurants).

This once-in-a-lifetime holiday extension visits the unmissable temples of Ta Phrom, Angkor Thom, Preah Khan, Banteay Srei, Banteay Samre and Phnon Bakheng, with a very special visit to the world-famous Angkor Wat temple. Guests can also take in one of the few reservoirs at Angkor Wat still holding water – Srah Srang – and wonder at the technicolor beauty of the sunset at Phnom Bakheng. The price for this post-cruise stay is £1,399 per person, based on two adults sharing twin accommodation, and includes all transfers from the port/hotel and hotel/airport, the flight from Siem Reap to Bangkok, and the services of a expert escort throughout

Guests on the final ‘Middle East’ sector of the ‘World Cruise’ can opt for a holiday extension in Dubai, departing on 1^st April 2013 for three nights. Accommodation is at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, and the package includes a half-day Dubai city tour, a day to explore at leisure, evening dinner and entertainment at the Rustar Dhow (one of the world’s largest floating restaurants), an afternoon desert safari with barbeque dinner, plus all transfers. This fully-escorted tour is priced at £899 per person, based on two adults sharing twin accommodation.