​The BBC's 'The Cruise: A Life At Sea' takes to the airwaves, featuring Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' 'Balmoral'

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has welcomed the viewing figures of 1.9 million for the first broadcast of the BBC's 'The Cruise: A Life At Sea' on BBC2 at 8.30pm on 9th July 2013.

The six-part series, set on Fred. Olsen's flagship 'Balmoral', is about the life of Chaplain Reverend Colin Still as he undertakes a 'World Cruise' of 112 nights - the cruise line's longest ever - and was the channel’s highest-rated programme upon its launch.

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

"It is important that the trade and consumers understand that the focus of the series is the chaplain and his ‘ocean parish’, and not the ship. We saw our web traffic increase five-fold while the first episode was aired last Tuesday, and we are delighted to have made more than £1 million of sales for round-the-world and extended voyages in the three days following the series' launch.

“'World Cruises', such as the one shown in the BBC series, are generally for the older generation because not many younger people can take 100 or so days off work, but of course we have a wide range of different itineraries and durations to suit all tastes and budgets.

"Many people loved the show and it has given them an insight into how relaxed cruises can be."

The series - which up until very recently was called 'Parish at Sea' - was commissioned by the BBC’s Religion and Ethics Department, who approached Fred. Olsen with the idea of taking its hugely popular BBC2 ‘Island Parish’ series to sea; 'The Cruise: A Life At Sea' is therefore a gentle, warm-hearted view of life on board Balmoral’s ‘World Cruise’ with Reverend Colin Still, who he meets on board and the activities that he undertakes on his travels to 33 destinations in 20 countries, crossing three oceans.

Fred. Olsen is very proud to have been chosen as the cruise line for this BBC observational documentary series, and as the series continues, viewers will get to see more of the warm and welcoming atmosphere that Fred. Olsen offers on its ships, get to meet more of the guests and entertainers on board, and come to understand more of the very special experience of taking a 'World Cruise' with Fred. Olsen.

Fred. Olsen will be offering two 'Grand Voyages' in January 2014: 'Balmoral' will embark on a 104-night ‘Around the World Cruise with Burma, Japan, Hawaii and Latin America’; and 'Black Watch' will depart on a ‘South America & Australasia World Voyage’ of a record 114 nights.

Find out more about Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines at www.fredolsencruises.com

Catch 'The Cruise: A Life At Sea' every Tuesday evening at 8.30pm on BBC2 until 13th August 2013