Time travel Fred’s 175 years of sailing
Family-owned favourite Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has been making waves at sea for 175 years.
With a fleet of three small to mid-sized ships – Balmoral, Bolette and Borealis – they embark from six UK ports for cruise destinations including Canada and the US, the Norwegian Fjords and Europe.
Operations began in 1848 when Fredrik Christian Olsen acquired two small ships operating from Hvitsten, Norway.
His brothers then became ship-owners – Petter in 1852, then Andreas in 1860.
When Fredrik Christian passed away in 1875, Petter continued the operation with son Thomas Fredrik Olsen (Fred) taking command of one of his father’s vessels.
In 1892, Fred Olsen purchased his largest sailing ship, the four-masted full rigger Morning Light, which lends its name to the Morning Light Pubs on board now.
The purchase of Bayard in 1896, their first steamship, started a family custom for Olsen ships to bear names with a “B”.
In 1938 Black Prince and Black Watch were added, followed by Blenheim and Braemar in the 1950s.
In 1966, a new Black Watch sailed to the Canary Islands from the Fred Olsen terminal in West India Docks, London.
Fast-forward to 1987 and a “reborn” Black Prince began her career as a “sunshine cruiser”, sailing to Cádiz, Casablanca, the Canary Islands, Madeira and Gibraltar from Southampton.
Another new vessel was purchased in 2005 – Boudicca. Two years later, a ship arrived in Hamburg for a refit involving a new 30-metre extension. A year later, the stretched ship, Balmoral, entered service.
In 2019 Braemar became the largest ship to ever transit the Corinth Canal.
During Covid, Black Watch and Boudicca were sold. Bolette and Borealis were introduced with Borealis becoming the first ship back in the water in July ‘21.
The line has now launched a new ad for its anniversary. Peter Deer, MD, said: “It celebrates everything that makes sailing with us unique – our smaller ships, our itineraries, an experience designed to enhance each journey and our people.”
fredolsencruises.com
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