Fred Olsen Offers Themes, New Ports of Call for 2011-2012

Fred Olsen Offers Themes, New Ports of Call for 2011-2012

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is offering cruises focusing on 60 topics or themes throughout the upcoming season. The “Titanic Mini Cruise” was designed to sail prior to the Titanic Memorial Cruise in April 2012, organized by Miles Morgan Travel. The mini cruise departs Southampton on April 3, 2012, visiting Liverpool, England, and Belfast, Ireland, before returning on April 8.

Cruise highlights include a visit to the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, where the Titanic was built between 1909 and 1911, and an optional shore excursion to visit the home of Thomas Andrew, the Titanic’s designer. The mini cruise is on sale with prices starting at $741 per person, based on double occupancy for an inside cabin; passengers also receive $75 onboard spending per cabin.

The “History of the British Royal Family” will be discussed by historians during a Canary Islands cruise roundtrip from Southampton, Dec. 8 to 21, 2011. Prices start at $1,550 per person, double occupancy, with a $200 onboard spending credit per cabin.

A 28-day Red Sea cruise from Southampton by the Black Watch has been a success with only four categories of cabins left. The cruise departs Oct. 4, 2011, and highlights include visiting the Egyptian pyramids on an excursion from Alexandria, snorkeling or scuba diving in the Red Sea, and touring the stone city of Petra, Jordan.

The 14-day “Norway Winter” cruise is the first-ever Olsen winter sailing to Norway, which is one of the best times to see the Northern Lights. The cruise departs Southampton Feb. 23 on the Boudicca.

Maiden calls for Fred Olsen include New Orleans; Galveston; Alborg, Denmark; and Santos, Brazil. The Balmoral will visit these ports during an 89-night cruise around South America, departing Jan. 5, 2012. Black Watch will make a maiden call to Ullapool, Scotland, during the nine-night U.K. cruise that departs Dover on Sept. 25, 2011.