Amazonia Featured on Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

As part of Vistas, its wide-ranging cruise enhancement programme, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is proud to welcome on board the famed explorer Colonel John Blashford-Snell. Lecturing aboard Braemar’s cruise of the Brazilian Amazon, M1203, appropriately he will be talking about ‘Amazonia’ and expeditions to this fascinating region.

There could hardly be a better guest speaker for such an exciting cruise; John Blashford-Snell has led some of the most ambitious expeditions ever undertaken. In 1968, when Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia invited the British Army to send a team to explore the Blue Nile, the then Royal Engineers’ Captain Blashford-Snell was invited to select and lead a team. The success of that venture led to many more, including the first vehicle crossing of the Darien Gap in 1971/2, and in 1974/5 the navigating of 2,700 miles of the Great Zaire River (also known as the Congo).

Colonel John Blashford-Snell has led over 100 expeditions, resulting in many important discoveries and supports numerous charities. His knowledge and experience will no doubt make him a fascinating and well-informed speaker.

The cruise departs on 2nd February 2012, with flights from London-Gatwick and Manchester, to join the ship in Bridgetown, Barbados. Braemar then sails for the mouth of the Amazon, and cruises deep into the heart of this mighty river, visiting Santarem, Parintins and Manaus. The vibrant rainforest, with its colourful flora and fauna, will be brought even more vividly to life by the expert talks courtesy of Col. Blashford-Snell.

On the return journey, Braemar visits Tobago, then returns to Barbados for the flights home.

Prices start from £1,939 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘I’. The price includes return chartered flights and transfers, accommodation and all meals and entertainment on board, in addition to port and airport taxes. Flights are with a fully - escorted exclusive Fred. Olsen charter.

Find out more about this cruise by visiting www.fredolsencruises.com Book online, by calling reservations on 01473 742424, or through any ABTA travel agent. Find our more about the Vistas enhancement programme by visiting www.fredolsencruises-vistas.com

Have a look at the Prow’s Edge Cruise Magazine to find out more about Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and other cruises all over the world

Cruise Ship Wi-Fi Access

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has announced that guests can now benefit from a Wi-Fi service on board its ships. Currently, the service is live and fully operational on three ships in the fleet - Black Watch, Braemar and Balmoral. It will be available on Boudicca from January 2011.

There are Wi-Fi ‘hot spots’ on each ship. They are located as follows:-

Black Watch – Library
Braemar – Library and Braemar Lounge
Balmoral – Library, Card Room and Braemar Lounge

Guests can purchase tokens and bundle packages for Wi-Fi internet minutes from Reception, at competitive rates, and these charges will be applied to their onboard accounts. Each token contains a PIN code, and the user will be prompted for this when their laptop or mobile device connects to the wireless network.

Guests wanting Internet access, without using the Wi-Fi service, will still be able to make use of the Internet Centres, on all four ships, to connect whilst on board.

The new service means that guests can connect using their own laptops or mobile devices, if they wish to, and will have greater choice and more flexibility for staying connected while on board.

For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, visit the website at www.fredolsencruises.co.uk

The "Opera Babes" Join Fred Olsen Mediterranean Cruise

As part of a special programme of top quality musical and comedy entertainment on selected 2010 cruises, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is delighted to announce that the ‘Opera Babes’ will be the headline act on board a Black Watch autumn cruise to the Western Mediterranean.

The cruise, W1018, is of 14 nights, departing from Southampton on 15th October 2010, and visiting Gibraltar, Menorca, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Ibiza and Almeria, before returning to Southampton. The ‘Opera Babes’ will join the ship in Barcelona and entertain guests on board for the remainder of this cruise.

Rebecca Knight, soprano, and Karen England, mezzo soprano, were discovered by a talent scout in 2001, when they were busking in Covent Garden. Their first big break came when they were booked to perform at the FA Cup Final, giving them a worldwide audience of 500 million people, and they have never looked back. Their first album was launched to great critical and popular acclaim and reached Number 1 in the UK Classical Charts, selling over a million copies, and also reaching Number 4 in the US chart.

They have performed for Her Majesty The Queen on several occasions – including the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, and the launch of the Commonwealth Games, and have sung with many of the world’s leading orchestras. A highlight was performing alongside Placido Domingo at the Los Angeles Opera. They have made numerous TV appearances, both in the UK and USA, and made musical history by being the first classical act to perform at the world famous Stardust Casino in Las Vegas.

The duo has released two highly successful albums – ‘Beyond Imagination’ in 2002, and ‘Renaissance’ in 2006 – and Fred. Olsen customers will have an exclusive opportunity to see them on board Black Watch this autumn.

Prices for the cruise start from £999 per person and the price includes all meals and entertainment on board – including, of course, performances by the ‘Opera Babes’ – and port taxes. The price is based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin.

Find out more about all Fred. Olsen’s “Music and Laughter at Sea” cruises by visiting www.fredolsencruises.co.uk Book online, call Reservations on 01473 742424 or see your ABTA travel agent.

Also visit the Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine general overview of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.

From Liverpool to St Petersburg - intriguing new cruise from Fred Olsen

Offering something very different from the usual Caribbean cruise, or the run-of-the-mill European and Mediterranean cruises, Fred. Olsen now has a cruise to the Baltic aboard Boudicca in May with an intriguing itinerary.

Departing from Liverpool on 21st May 2010 for 14 nights, the cruise - D1009 - is one of a new season from this port for the cruise ship. The route taken from Liverpool is up the north west coast of England and all around Scotland, then across the North Sea to Denmark, where the first port of call is Skagen. Next is the Swedish port of Ystad, then, after a day at sea, Boudicca reaches the architectural gem that is St Petersburg, a treasury of fine art and amazing buildings. There is an overnight stay, to allow time to explore this stunning city, before Boudicca moves on to Tallinn, the picturesque Estonian capital.

On the return voyage, she visits Warnemunde for excursions to Berlin, then transits the Kiel Canal, calling at Zeebrugge for visits to the lovely town of Bruges. This is where Boudicca completes her cruise round Britain, as she travels along the south coast, around the tip of Cornwall and travels north through the Irish Sea, past the western coast of Wales, until she docks back in Liverpool.

The cruise offers a unique opportunity to enjoy the marvellous Baltic and European ports and also to see much of the varied and beautiful British coastline en route.

Prices for this cruise start from £1,129 per person, based on two sharing an inside twin cabin. The price includes all meals and entertainment on board and port taxes.

For more information about Fred. Olsen Cruises visit the cruise line profile at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine at http://www.prowsedge.com/cruise-lines-fred-olsen-cruises.html or visit the official Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines web site at www.fredolsencruises.com

Photo: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines