Fred Set To Take The UK by Storm

Looks like Fred Olsen are to branch out into a hopefully successful venture to offer cruises departing from most UK ports. With the cost of connections and land-based travel always increasing, it makes sense to try and board a European cruise from as close to home as possible. Fred Olsen's planned itinerary will allow this to happen for a lot more holiday makers.

Fred.Olsen has announced it will be offering sailings direct from Harwich as of May 2013, in a bid to attract more guests. This cunning new move will see Fred.Olsen dominate most of the UK sailing ports, as they currently already sail from the majority of British ports.

Director of cruises.com James Cole said: “I think this cruise line is certainly on the right tracks to attracting plenty more guests to their ships. Since their recent move of allowing sailings from Liverpool have been so successful for the company, it seems only logical that they would offer sailings from as many ports as they can, to make life easier and hassle-free for customers.”

“I wish them well and hope to see other cruise lines take note. Sailing from the UK has become so popular in recent years; it won’t be long before other cruise lines jump on board.”

The Black Watch will be the ship to be based out of Harwich in Essex and will offer sailings to the Baltic, Norway and Lapland.

Sales and marketing director Nathan Philpot said: "Harwich International Port has long been on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines" radar as a turnaround port following a series of successful transit calls in recent years.

"Its direct rail connections from London - whereby guests alight right next to the Cruise Terminal - make this an extremely easy port to access."

In addition, this British-based cruise line will be offering a Sir Bobby Robson Memorial mini-cruise and fits perfectly with the move to Harwich as it is the port closest to Sir Bobby’s team of Ipswich.

This memorial cruise which will visit Amsterdam and Newcastle, looks set to raise significant amounts of cash for the Sir Bobby Robson foundation as guest speakers and fundraising activities will be present on board.