VIPs join ‘Cruise Line of the Year’ Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines on board Boudicca to celebrate Port of Tyne links

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will welcome a delegation of VIPs on a visit to its 880-guest cruise ship, Boudicca, when she makes a turnaround call at the Port of Tyne, Newcastle on 4th October 2011, before departing on her 12-night Baltic cruise. 

The visit will be hosted jointly by Fred. Olsen and the Port of Tyne, and dignitaries expected on the day will include Alan Campbell, Member of Parliament for Tynemouth, and Mary Glindon, Member of Parliament for North Tyneside, as well as the Leaders of Newcastle City Council and South Tyneside Council, and the Deputy Mayor of North Tyneside Council. They will be joined by representatives from regional tourism bodies, such as the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative and North Tyneside Tourism & Information, and a number of key journalists. The visit will give VIPs a feel for the relaxed, ‘home-from-home’ atmosphere of Fred. Olsen’s fleet of four smaller, more intimate ships, and will help to promote cruise opportunities within the North Eastern region.

Matt Grimes, Director, Planning, Ports & Logistics for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:  
“We are delighted to welcome such prestigious visitors on board Boudicca, one of the most traditional and intimate ships within our fleet.

“Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is committed to serving regional ports around the UK, and has been working with the Port of Tyne for a number of years. We enjoy a very loyal following in the North East, and we are pleased to be offering four calls from this convenient regional port during the Autumn 2011 season, increasing to five in Summer and Autumn next year.”

Whilst on board Boudicca, the dignitaries will be treated to a champagne reception in the Observatory Lounge, with its stunning, panoramic views. This will be followed by a guided tour of the ship, showcasing the elegant décor and spacious public areas, along with examples of the Olsen family art collection which is on display throughout the ship. 

The VIPs will also enjoy a specially-prepared three-course lunch in Boudicca’s exclusive Heligan Restaurant, giving them the chance to sample the fine fare that is such an important feature of any cruise. 

Steven Harrison, Chief Operating Officer, Port of Tyne. said:

“Fred. Olsen have a long history of operating passenger services from the Port of Tyne that stretches back over 100 years, and still operate ever popular cruise holidays from the Tyne today.

"I am delighted to recognise this tradition and welcome guests to the Port of Tyne.”

From Newcastle, Boudicca will continue on Baltic cruise D1122, a 12-night itinerary calling at Oslo, Norway’s lovely capital, then Halmstad in Sweden, and the little-known port of Turku in Finland, before the main highlight of the cruise – an overnight stay in St. Petersburg, with its breathtaking architecture and amazing art collections. A final call into Copenhagen, Denmark’s vibrant capital, breaks the return cruise to Newcastle. 

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines was recently voted ‘Cruise Line of the Year’ in the first-ever ‘Cruise International Awards’, which attracted some 180,000 votes from readers of Cruise International magazine and keen cruise customers. Fred. Olsen was also voted ‘Best Educational Cruise’ for its Vistas onboard enrichment programme – which has featured the likes of The Archers and an Agatha Christie-themed cruise – and ‘Best Live Performance’ for classical duo, The OperaBabes, as part of Fred. Olsen’s popular ‘Music & Laughter’ programme.

For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, visit the website athttp://www.fredolsencruises.com/ Find out more about the Port of Tyne at www.portoftyne.co.uk/home/