Cruise guests in the East of England are welcoming the news that Ipswich-based cruise operator Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will be launching its first season of ex-UK cruises aboard Black Watch from Harwich, inEssex, starting in spring/summer 2013.
Black Watch will be offering three cruises fromHarwichInternationalPort in May 2013 – to the Baltic,Norway and Lapland, through theGulf of Bothnia – and a mini-cruise in June 2013. The cruises will range in length from three to 17 nights.
Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:
“HarwichInternationalPorthas 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 fromLondon– whereby guests alight right next to the Cruise Terminal – make this an extremely easy port to access.
“The addition of this new regional departure port means that Fred. Olsen is able to operate a vessel within only 100 miles of over 90% of theUKpopulation, which will enhance further our reputation as theUK’s local cruise line with a global choice of itineraries.”
Paul Davey, Head of Corporate Affairs at Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited, owners ofHarwichInternationalPort, said:
“We are delighted that Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has decided to commence turnaround calls at HarwichInternationalPortafter such successful visits by Black Watch in 2010, and Balmoral in 2011.
“HarwichInternationalPorthas developed over a number of years into one of theUK’s leading cruise ports, and we look forward to working with Fred. Olsen to offer its guests the highest quality facilities and customer service, which we are sure will see the Port rapidly gain popularity with them.”
The inaugural sailing from HarwichInternationalPortwill be a 14-night cruise to the beautiful Baltic, departing form Harwich on 7th May 2013. This cruise, W1305, starts with a transit of the Kiel Canal and visits Warnemünde (Germany) for tours to Berlin, then the Swedish capital Stockholm, Tallinn (Estonia), St. Petersburg (Russia) for an overnight stay – a highlight of the itinerary. Next port is Karlskrona (Sweden), where the ship is at anchor, then Copenhagen, the lovely Danish capital, and a return transit of the Kiel Canal. The last port of call is vibrant Amsterdam, before Black Watch returns to Harwich.
Prices for this cruise start from £1,559 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘I.’
Black Watch’s second departure is an eight-night cruise to the Norwegian fjords, departing from Harwich on 21st May 2013. This cruise, W1306, calls first into the bustling fishingport ofBergen, then the lovely fjord towns of Skjolden and Eidfjord, and finally the pretty, cobbled town ofStavanger, before returning to Harwich.
The fjords are the perfect destination for a cruise, with stunning views from the ship, and prices for this cruise start from just £899 per person, based on an inside, twin cabin Grade ‘I’.
Next in the season of four cruises is a longer voyage of 17 nights to Lapland and Russia, W1307. Black Watchdeparts from Harwich on 29th May 2013, and begins this cruise with a transit of the Kiel Canal. The first port of call is Warnemünde (Germany), then the Swedish port of Nynashamn and two lesser-known ports in Finland, Mariehamn and Kemi. Next is Estonia’s picturesque capital, Tallinn, and the glorious St. Petersburg (Russia) for an overnight stay. On the return voyage, Black Watch visits Rønne (Bornholm,Denmark), andCopenhagen (Denmark) and travels back through theKiel Canal to Harwich.
Prices for this fascinating voyage start from £1,879 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘I.
The last of the four cruises from Harwich, W1308, is rather special; it is a three-night mini-cruise in aid of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. This cruise departs from Harwich, which is the closest port to Sir Bobby Robson’s team, Ipswich Town Football Club, on 15th June 2013 and visits vibrant Amsterdam for an overnight stay, and then returns to Newcastle – Sir Bobby’s home town – on 18th June 2013.
The idea of this ‘Sir Bobby Robson Memorial Cruise’ is to link the two statues of Sir Bobby Robson and the supporters of IpswichTownand Newcastle United during the cruise, and potentially those from Sir Bobby’s former club PSV Eindhoven when Black Watch calls intoAmsterdam.
Fred. Olsen has already made a donation to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, and there will be special fundraising activity on board Black Watch in support of this very worthy cause.
There will be guest speakers on board this very special mini-cruise, talking about Sir Bobby Robson's life and achievements, and Fred. Olsen has approached former players, such as Alan Brazil and Mick Mills, who had a long association with Sir Bobby Robson, along with some of Sir Bobby’s adversaries, such as Terry Neill, former Arsenal Manager and already a Fred. Olsen guest speaker.
Prices start from £319 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘I.
All prices are quoted per person, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes.
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