Braemar, Balmoral and Boudicca will have their interiors and cabins upgraded this winter
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Blohm+Voss is to carry out multi-million pound refits on three of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ ships this winter ahead of the 2018-2019 cruise season.
Following an extensive renovation onboard Black Watch at the end of 2016, Braemar, Balmoral and Boudicca will have their interiors and cabins upgraded during dry docks at Blohm+Voss’s yard in Hamburg, Germany.
First into dry dock will be the 929-guest ship Braemar in late November, ahead of her 16-night ‘Voyage to the Caribbean’ cruise from Southampton, UK on 5 December. One highlight of the refurbishment will be a new buffet restaurant.
Fred. Olsen’s 1,350-guest flagship Balmoral will be second to arrive for a nine-day refit on 10 December, where she will be fitted with new restaurants and gelato bar. Her first cruise after the dry dock will be a 16-night ‘Canaries Christmas & Funchal Fireworks’ sailing from Southampton on 21 December.
The 880-guest ship Boudicca will undergo a more extensive 13-day refurbishment starting no 16 Match 2018, where she will be equipped with a new dining room. The ship will resume service with a five-night ‘Mystery Cruise’ from Dover, UK on 29 March.
“We are very proud of our smaller, classic cruise ships and we recognise the importance of investing in ongoing upgrades to ensure that our guests can continue to enjoy them at their best,” said Mike Rodwell, managing director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. “The refreshed Black Watch has been very well received by both new and existing guests, so we are delighted that the rest of the fleet will also benefit.”
Fred. Olsen’s fleet of four ships will visit 228 destinations in 73 countries from the UK departure ports of Southampton, Dover, Liverpool, Newcastle and Edinburgh in 2018-2019.