Uncover captivating landscapes, cultures and carnivals on a Fred. Olsen ‘Latin America’ cruise in 2016/17

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has launched a new ‘Latin America’ brochure, showcasing seven of the very best cruise holiday experiences in this exciting region in 2016 and 2017. Highlights include: partying at the Rio Carnival on Balmoral’s 46-night L1602 ‘Rio Carnival & River Plate’ voyage, departing from Southampton on 19^th January 2016; sailing along the mighty Amazon on Braemar’s 14-night M1603 ‘Amazon River Adventure’ fly-cruise, departing from Bridgetown, Barbados on 4^th February 2016; and join in the fun at the annual Mardi Gras carnival in New Orleans on Balmoral’s 46-night L1703 ‘Central America & the Mardi Gras’ cruise, leaving from Southampton on 4^th February 2017.

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

“Our selection of Latin American cruises is vibrant, colourful and packed full of unique experiences. We have worked closely with our destination partners to offer our guests a host of unforgettable ‘holidays of a lifetime’ and world-famous events to discover, such as the Rio Carnival and the Mardi Gras.

“To enhance our guests’ enjoyment of these spectacular cruise holidays, we have also created a range of outstanding, tailor-made shore tours to complement them, including the chance to ‘play David Attenborough for a day’ on the Galápagos Islands, or go in search of Caimans in the Amazon.”

Fred. Olsen’s new ‘Latin America’ brochure also includes two new fly-cruises – Boudicca’s 49-night D170212 ‘Brazil, Argentina & the Chilean Fjords’ sailing,which departs from Southampton on 8^th January 2017 and ends in Callao, Peru, and Boudicca’s 28-night D170221 ‘Central American Discovery’, sailing from Callao, Peru on 26^th February 2017, and ending in Southampton.

Cruises featured in Fred. Olsen’s new ‘Latin America’ brochure include:

- Braemar’s 14-night M1602 ‘Mayan Temples & the Panama Canal’ fly-cruise, ex London Gatwick / Manchester via Montego Bay, Jamaica on 21^st January 2016 (ends Bridgetown, Barbados). Prices start from £1,099 per person (cruise only) / from £1,899 per person (fly-cruise).

Setting sail from Montego Bay, Jamaica – where guests will have an overnight stay to explore – Braemar arrived first in Cozumel, Mexico. This island boasts over 40 shrines to Ixchel, the Mayan Goddess of the moon, the sea and fertility.

Next is a call to Belize City, Belize, a tightly-packed jumble of narrow streets and canals. Originally settled by the Mayan people, the area was a famous pirate base in the 1600s, before the British arrived and built it up as a centre for the logging industry.

After a call into Colón, Panama – where guests will transit the impressive Panama Canal – the cruise calls at Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. Seeped in Spanish heritage, guests can take in the beauty of the Santo Domingo Square, or relax in one of the city’s many open-air cafes, perfect for watching the parade of fashionable locals and horse-drawn carriages.

After calls to Santa Marta, in Colombia, and Oranjestad, in Aruba, guests will arrive in Kralendijk, Bonaire’s capital. The houses, which line the many beaches, are painted in shades of pastel pink, green and blue. Guests can explore the Washington Slagbaai National Park, home to flamingos, iguanas and giant cacti, or visit the nearby uninhabited island of Klein Bonaire.

Braemar then arrives in Bridgetown, Barbados, for an overnight stay, before guests fly back to the UK.

- Boudicca's 77-night D1702 'South American Discovery' cruise, ex Southampton on 8^th January 2017. Prices start from £7,499 per person.

Boudicca will make her first call in Funchal, on the ‘Garden Island’ of Madeira, before visiting Santa Cruz, in Tenerife.

Mindelo (Cape Verde Islands) follows, before the ship continues to Brazil, to visit the stunning destinations of Fortaleza, Fernando de Noronha and Salvador.

Boudicca will then spend two days in Brazil’s lively Rio de Janeiro, the 2016 Olympics host city, where guests can choose to relax on Copacabana Beach, or head to the peak of the Corcovado Mountain to see the iconic ‘Christ the Redeemer’ statue up close.

Ilha Grande is the final call in Brazil, from where Boudicca continues to Uruguay’s Punta del Este and Montevideo.

Argentina’s Buenos Aires follows – home to the sultry ‘Tango’ – and Puerto Madryn, before the ship cruises the Magellan Strait.

Next call is to Chile’s Punta Arenas, before Boudicca undertakes a breath-taking voyage along the Chilean Fjords. Chile’s Laguna San Rafael, Puerto Chacabuco, Valparaiso, Coquimbo and Arica come next, after which Boudicca sails onto Peru’s General San Martin and Callao – for an overnight stay.

A call at Manta,Ecuador, precedes an amazing cruise of the Panama Canal – now over 100 years old and an engineering feat to behold! Boudicca then visits Puerto Limón (Costa Rica), and Isla de San Andrés, in Colombia, followed by Belize City (Belize), and Mexico’s popular Cozumel.

Boudicca then arrives at one of the highlights of this South American odyssey – Havana, Cuba’s bustling capital – where guests can ‘step back in time’ during an overnight stay, and pay a visit to the delights of the renowned ‘Tropicana Club’.

Boudicca then enjoys a sunshine visit to Freeport, in the Bahamas, and Hamilton, Bermuda, before heading to the Azores, for a call at the capital, Ponta Delgada, for an overnight stay. This cruise finishes in Southampton on 26^th March 2017.

All prices are based upon two adults sharing a twin-bedded, Inside cabin, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes (plus flights / transfers and airport taxes, where applicable).

Fred. Olsen is pleased to have been awarded the ‘Gold Trusted Merchant’ status by independent review site Feefo in 2015, for the second year in a row. This accreditation is based on genuine customer feedback and, to date, Fred. Olsen has received over 12,000 reviews, with 95% of these being in the ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’ categories.

For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, visit the website at www.fredolsencruises.com. Book online, call Reservations on 0800 0355 242 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm; Saturday, 9am to 5pm; Sunday, 10am to 4pm), or visit an ABTA travel agent.