Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

Floro establishes network and has first overnight calls

Submitted by CE-Press on 29 January 2013 - 6:22pm

Floro established a cruise network, Cruiseport Floro, in 2012 that consists of municipalities, destinations, transport and travel-related companies. 

“We are working on developing and improving our products, as well as marketing Floro cruise port,” said Wenny Hansen, managing director FjordKysten.

Floro will have overnight calls for the first time this year. Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has booked overnight calls this summer for Boudicca and Black Watch. The latter ship is calling for the first time in 2013. 

Bergen bookings for 2015 holding firm from AIDA

Submitted by CE-Press on 22 January 2013 - 5:26pm

Despite the 0.1% sulphur limit kicking in in 2015, Bergen already has 54 calls booked from AIDA Cruises that year which is good news for the Norwegian port situated as it is within the ECA. 

For 2014 169 calls are booked already and for this year 332 are expected which is 10 up on 2012. “I think we will stay at about 330 calls because we have most of the ships sailing in Northern Europe,” said Helen Hovland, marketing manager Port of Bergen. 

Kalundborg takes advantage of its geographical position while going green

Submitted by CE-Press on 9 January 2013 - 10:42am

Calling Kalundborg will save cruiseships 214nm when going into the Baltic. Ships with a draught of over 7.7m cannot go through the Drogden south of Copenhagen and have to take the northern route  -  which is an advantage Kalundborg is keen to cash in on. 

A Christmas-themed itinerary for Brits included Tallinn for the first time this winter

Submitted by CE-Press on 2 January 2013 - 12:56pm

Fred Olsen Cruises’ Black Watch called Tallinn with about 655 British passengers at the end of November. The Christmas-themed tour introduced the visitors to Estonian holiday season customs as well as giving them the opportunity to shop in the Tallinn Christmas markets.  

“The visit of Black Watch is an achievement for us, as the British have not organised cruises that far to the east in the Baltic Sea at such a time of year,” said Sirle Arro, head of marketing and communication department Port of Tallinn.  

Christmas calls come to Oslo

Submitted by CE-Press on 17 December 2012 - 6:16pm

Today Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ Balmoral called Oslo on a Christmas cruise with P&O Cruises’ Oriana docking the week before (see photo). 

Margrethe Austad, marketing manager cruise Port of Oslo, commented that the latter found the cruise easy to sell. While snow cannot be guaranteed, last year the port together with Oslo Cruise Network arranged for Santa Claus to be at the pier along with musicians.

This year there were 166 calls in total, 10 having been rerouted elsewhere due to the pilots’ strike earlier in the year. 

December represents an all-time high for Lisbon

Submitted by CE-Press on 6 December 2012 - 8:27am

The port of Lisbon states that December 2012 will be the “best ever”.  The largest number of calls and cruise passengers to date will arrive during this winter month at 24 and 40,000 respectively.

Harwich calls are increasing by almost 40% in 2013

Submitted by CE-Press on 9 October 2012 - 6:15pm

Calls to Harwich this year numbered 36 (11 of which were transit) with at least 50 already booked for 2013, a rise of 40%. Next year will be the first time Fred Olsen Cruise Lines turns around. Black Watch will call four times during May and June.Thomson Cruises' Thomson Spirit made its last call to the port this season on September 26. The brand returned to the port on the east coast of England this year for the first time since 2009, making seven calls with six booked for 2013.

Bergen calls increased by almost 22% this year despite pilots strike

Submitted by CE-Press on 2 October 2012 - 6:03pm

As AIDAcara called Bergen on October 1, the penultimate call of the season, the port recorded 321 calls this year, an increase of 21.9% on 2011. Passengers numbered 446,406 which is 27.5% up on last year. All in all it is a record year for the picturesque Norwegian port.

The numbers could have been even better if it had not been for the pilot strike in June which caused the loss of five calls, explained Helen Hovland, marketing manager Port of Bergen. 

Olden hits the magic 100,000 passengers in one season

Submitted by CE-Press on 4 September 2012 - 3:38pm

When Iberocruceros’ Grand Mistral visited Olden-Nordfjord Cruise Port on August 22, the Norwegian port reached 100,000 passengers - a new passenger record in one season and a historic milestone for the Norwegian port. It was the cruiseship’s seventh visit this year bringing a total of 8,500 guests to the port. 

In total 107,000 passengers will visit this year on 81 calls. On September 10 the season ends with a call from Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ Boudicca. In 2011 85,000 passengers visited and next year about 150,000 are expected.

Rouen witnesses Tour de France

Submitted by CE-Press on 10 July 2012 - 5:44pm

Rouen was delighted to welcome the Tour de France on July 4. Although there were no cruiseships in to witness the historic event, there could be other opportunities in the years to come.

Although the race changes its route every year, it always ends in Paris which is 135km from the French port. The journey takes about an hour and a half by train or car/bus.