The Plot Thickens on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines 'Queen of Crime' cruise

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Easter cruise to Iberia and Morocco, aboard Balmoral, will be something very special. To celebrate the 120th anniversary of the birth of Agatha Christie, the cruise is themed, in conjunction with Agatha Christie Limited.

A highlight of this Vistas theme – Fred. Olsen’s programme of special interests on board – will be talks and lectures on Agatha Christie and her work from exclusive guests, including her grandson, Mathew Prichard, who will be enthralling the audience with personal memories of his grandmother. 

Julius Green, producer at the Agatha Christie Theatre Company, will also be on hand to discuss the great crime writer with guests. 

During the cruise, Julius and Mathew will be giving two talks, interview style, with a Q and A session afterwards

In addition, there will be live performances of some of Agatha Christie’s rarely-heard 30-minute radio plays. Now, details of two of these plays can be revealed. Here is a short synopsis of each:-

Personal Call – BBC Radio, 31st May 1954

When James Brent receives a phone call from his former wife, Fay, he is mystified; Fay has been dead for over a year. When the calls persist, he agrees to meet her…with fatal consequences.

Butter in a Lordly Dish – BBC Radio, 13th January 1948

Sir Luke Enderby K.C. is a dedicated philanderer and, after another successful prosecution, he arranges to meet his latest conquest for an illicit weekend at his country cottage. There a surprise awaits him…and the listeners.

Neither Personal Call nor Butter in a Lordly Dish is a typical Christie ‘whodunit’. Both plays feature themes of revenge, with a more gruesome level of retribution than is usual in her  better-known works, making them real museum-pieces, of great fascination to fans of the ‘Queen of Crime.’  Miscarriages of justice were a recurring strand in many of her plays – including Murder on the Orient Express, Ordeal by Innocence, And Then There Were None and Five Little Pigs.

Agatha Christie fans are in for a real treat on this cruise, having the opportunity to enjoy performances of such rare plays – and to sample Jane Asher’s specially created anniversary cake, in honour of the master crime-writer – ‘Delicious Death’!

Prices for this cruise start from £980 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin-bedded cabin, Grade ‘G’. The price includes all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes. There is no extra charge for participating in the Agatha Christie themed activities.

Find out more about this, and other Fred. Olsen cruises, by visiting the website www.fredolsencruises.com You can book online, by calling Reservations on 01473 742424, or through any ABTA travel agent.