Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Black Watch welcomes VIPs in Rosyth
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines was delighted to welcome a VIP delegation of travel agents, media partners, local dignitaries, tourism organisations and Member of Parliament for Dunfermline and West Fife, Douglas Chapman, on board its 804-guest ship, Black Watch, at the Port of Rosyth on Wednesday 4th October 2017.
The VIPs were received by Captain Åge Danielsen, Master of Black Watch, in the ship’s elegant Neptune Show Lounge, along with Cruise Director, Michelle Jeffries. Following welcome drinks, Mathew Foxcroft, Field Sales Manager for Fred. Olsen, gave a comprehensive presentation on the history and heritage of the family-run cruise line, introduced Fred. Olsen’s key selling points, and gave the group a flavour of the 200-plus destinations that Fred. Olsen visits each year.
The group were then treated to a guided tour of Black Watch, highlighting the ship’s stylish décor, refurbished cabins and spacious public areas, which benefitted from an extensive multi-million-Pound upgrade late last year.
Mike Evans, Head of Sales for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:
“We were very pleased to welcome Douglas Chapman MP and prestigious guests from the travel trade, media and tourism organisations on board Black Watch, the most classic and intimate ship in the Fred. Olsen fleet, on our final cruise from the Port of Rosyth this year.
“Our guests thoroughly enjoy sailing to the most spectacular destinations around the world from the convenience of ‘right on their doorstep’, here in Rosyth, and the feedback from guests this year has been very positive.
“We would like to thank all those who have helped to make this year’s Rosyth cruise departures such a success for us – including the Port’s dedicated Cruise Volunteers – and we look forward to bringing our flagship, Balmoral, to Rosyth on her maiden cruise season next year…the first time that the ship has ever been based in Scotland.”
Importantly, in 2018, Fred. Olsen will be reinforcing its commitment to Rosyth – where it has been calling since 2006 – by introducing its 1,350-guest flagship, Balmoral, on a total of nine itineraries, from May to July. Cruise holidays on offer include a five-night ‘Norwegian Fjords’ departure, a 14-night ‘Scandinavia & St. Petersburg’ Baltic discovery, and a nine-night ‘German Waterways’ experience.
Robert Mason, Head of Cruise at Capital Cruising, which unites cruise interests in the ports of London Tilbury and Edinburgh Rosyth, said:
“In the busiest year yet for Capital Cruising, it’s great to have an event like this with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, which showcases the amazing and unique destinations that the line can offer passengers from Port of Rosyth.
“We’re already looking forward to the 2018 season, with nearly 50 cruises already scheduled from Rosyth alone, and are set to surpass the 153,000 passengers that will have used our ports across the UK in 2017.”
From Rosyth, Black Watch continued on a 10-night ‘French Rivers’ cruise, returning to the Port on 14th October 2017, from where the ship will reposition to London Tilbury. In total, Fred. Olsen has offered eight cruises from Rosyth this year – an increase of one turnaround call since 2016.
