Fred. Olsen to break into the European river cruise market

UK-based operator Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is to break into the European river cruise market with newly acquired vessel, the 156-guest Brabant, in early 2018.

Built in 2006, the 110-metre-long Brabant has four decks – Haydn Deck 1, Strauss Deck 2, Mozart Deck 3 and Sun Deck 4 – and is smaller and more intimate than many river boats. It will be staffed by 40 crew members and offer fewer than 80 rooms and suites – many of which will have Juliette balconies. British tastes will be reflected in the cuisine, customer service and shore tours, while all transactions will be conducted in pound sterling.

Brabant will sail 30 cruises between 5 April and 3 November 2018, offering itineraries on the Danube, Rhine, Main and Moselle. Ranging from 5 to 25 nights, the itineraries will start and/or end in cities such as Düsseldorf and Nuremberg; Germany; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Budapest, Hungary; Hirsova in Bucharest, Romania; and Basel, Switzerland.

Each voyage will incorporate varied shore excursions and scenic cruising in daylight hours.

“At Fred. Olsen, we specialise in creating a home-from-home atmosphere on our ocean cruises, and we are proud to be bringing our many decades of expertise and rich sailing heritage to the river cruise market for the very first time,” said Justin Stanton, sales and marketing director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. “In fact, the name Brabant harks back to Fred. Olsen’s historic passenger ship of the same name from the 1920s. Guests can rest assured that the new Fred. Olsen river cruises will be underpinned by the usual high standards, award-winning customer service and understated elegance that they have come to expect of our ocean-going offer.”