Cruise ships get ready to set sail again
Fred.Olsen launch new programme from city and May restart for Viking
CRUISE ship lovers will soon be able to set sail from Portsmouth again thanks to new itineraries from two companies.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines launched a new programme of cruising for 2022/23 on Monday as the line prepares for a return to sailing, with 126 new voyages including 82 destinations.
Viking also announced yesterday that it will restart limited operations in May 2021, with three special sailings along the coast of England, all of which will sail from Portsmouth.
Martin Lister, from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: ‘We are always incredibly proud to unveil our new cruise programmes, but this year it feels particularly exciting as it is the first time we will do so with our new look fleet.’
Gerald Vernon-Jackson, leader of Portsmouth City Council, which own and operate Portsmouth International Port, said: ‘I’m delighted that Fred. Olsen have made a further commitment to the port with the inclusion of Portsmouth in their 2022/23 cruise schedule, with a fantastic range of European destinations available.
‘We’re looking forward to working with Fred. Olsen on the next stage of Portsmouth’s new cruise era, as we continue to invest in the city’s exciting future.’
Fred. Olsen’s first sailings from Portsmouth for 2021 will set sail in October.
The firm is offering a guarantee that gives flexibility to transfer any deposits paid to another cruise at any time before the final payment is made. Fred. Olsen sailings include trips to Balmoral, Zeebrugge, Gothenburg, Cophnhagen, Hamburg, Lisbon, Cádiz, Funchal, Madeira, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, plus more.
Viking was the first cruise line to suspend operations at the beginning of the pandemic. But now the company’s chairman Torstein Hagen said it was eager to get going again.
He said: ‘We are in a position to restart operations quickly and to start sailing again in May because we have kept our ships crewed during warm lay up throughout the past 12 months.’
Mike Sellers, director of Portsmouth International Port said: ‘We can't wait to safely welcome cruise passengers back to the port.’