A Christmas makeover for Fred Olsen's Black Watch

I’ve talked a lot on this blog about spa facilities on board ship where you can go to be refreshed and blow the cobwebs away, and it’s nice to see that Fred Olsen Cruise Lines are just as keen to give their ships a nice makeover as well. Their elegant ship Black Watch is now in dry dock for a little pampering and an enhancement of facilities on board.

The Garden Café will be replaced by the Braemar Garden Café, which will be a larger and more contemporary restaurant, with plenty of space for relaxed dining in chic and modern surroundings. After a meal passengers will be able to stroll over to the nearby Braemar Lounge which will be fitted with a fine new bar..

There will be new soft furnishings for the Piper's Bar, the Glentanar Restaurant and the Observatory Lounge. There will also be mechanical and technical improvements to the ship.

After the sprucing up, Black Watch will return to the seas on 14th December, starting with a five-day mini-cruise to the fabulous European Christmas Markets departing from Southampton.

So if you want to see what the newly refurbished Black Watch is like, and also do a little Christmas shopping, sipping mulled wine while you listen to local choirs, then this looks like the ideal pre-Christmas cruise.

Fred Olsen ArtsClub - fulfilling your passions

If for you a holiday is about indulging your favourite passion then Fred Olsen Cruise Lines do just the holiday for you with their ArtsClub cruises. ArtsClub? Yes, these are special interest voyages where you can pursue your fave interest at sea.

But actually, it’s not just about pursuing a favourite passion, it can be about discovering a new one as well. Part of the problem about trying to follow an interest at home is that there is always something to distract you – ringing phones, doorbells, the daily routine of life, always something going on. And then there is your own procrastination. So making a start at something new as a part of a holiday is an ideal way to commit yourself and to get started, free from distraction, and in the best possible atmosphere where you can dedicate your time to your interest.

When I looked through the Fred Olsen ArtsClub brochure, I was impressed with the range of themes on offer, so here are some of them:

How about studying ancient civilisations while you actually visit the places mentioned as part of your cruise itinerary? You will see those ancient Greek and Roman sites in a whole new light when you know something of the background of those great civilisations. There are also themes devoted to the classical mythology so loved by the ancient peoples of the Mediterranean.
If more recent history is more your thing, then there is a history theme that looks at Maritime, Naval, Family, Arts, Celtic and Natural History with detailed discussions and lectures.

Another possibility is to learn about antiques, or if you are mad about collecting, you can even learn about collectibles.

There are themed art and painting cruises with expert speakers, and there are cruises where you can improve your watercolour painting, or learn about pottery or card-making. There are also photography themes, and a cruise will provide you with the perfect opportunity to take some fantastic photos.

There is even a Choirs at Sea theme for those that like to sing, and there are cruises devoted to comedy which look at comedy from the days of the Music Hall through silent comedy, to popular comedians of more recent years.

The dance themes cover Ballroom, Latin American, sequence dancing, Spanish Flamenco, and other styles, usually with some relevance to the places being visited. But if you prefer to listen to music rather than dance to it, then there is a music theme that looks at classical, swing, jazz and even song-writing.

There is a genealogy themed cruise which makes a great start for researching your family tree.

And there’s tons more that I haven’t got the space to tell you about, such as Nordic Mythology, Story Telling, Flora and Fauna, Wildlife, and even Wine! (Sign me up for that last one).

But the real piece de resistance has to be The Archers cruise, yes, a cruise devoted to that everyday story of country folk. You can join members of the cast and enjoy a special episode written exclusively for the cruise.

So a themed cruise could be the perfect antidote to always being too busy to pursue your dream.

Fred Olsen expand their portfolio of destinations

The Norwegian-owned Fred Olsen Cruise Lines brochure for 2010/11 sees the addition of some fabulous new destinations to the itineraries of this ever-popular cruise line, including Honolulu, Samoa, Vanuatu, Borneo, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Malaysia, Phuket, Ecuador, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Costa Rica. The brochure lists an amazing total of 119 cruises covering a total of 260 different exciting ports of call, and over 121 different countries or islands.

The cruises on offer include a choice of two world cruises, 26 cruises that cover the Caribbean and the Americas, no less than 17 cruises to that old favourite The Mediterranean, and 20 cruises to the shores of West Africa and the Canary Islands. There are 12 cruises visiting Spain, Portugal, the UK and Ireland, and 35 cruises to Northern Europe and Scandinavia. There are even seven mini-cruises which provide a great introduction to life on board ship and the fun of cruising for those who would like to try it out, with a view to a longer trip later.

Fred Olsen offers very much the quintessential cruise experience, with classic entertainment, a genteel and sedate atmosphere, and delightful formal dinners with excellent food.

The line has five fine ships, with beautifully themed public rooms, comfortable accommodation and top-class facilities that provide the perfect environment for spending your time while you travel from one interesting port to another.

Fred Olsen provide the perfect opportunity to see the world in style, and it is good to see that the number of places to see and visit has just got better.