Fred Olsen

[vic mcclymont]

Fred Olsen has announced the retirement of the Black Watch and the Boudicca.
The company has announced that the ships will no longer sail with the company, but at this moment but they have not stated that they will be scrapping the ships.
Two new vessels have joined the fleet and when cruising returns the new ships will takeover the schedules of the retired vessels.
The new ships have been purchased from Holland America Lines.
Vic

[Valerie Pratt]

I gather the new ships have not yet left Rotterdam but are due to be handed over to Fred Olsen in Rosyth soon
Unable to find out when the Bolette and Borealis will sail up the Firth of Forth, but would love to see them

[Francis Ralph]

Interesting report on Fred Olsen's 'New Ships' As an old Holland America Radio Officer I find it quite fun to see all my old ships cropping up in strange places, with new funnel markings etc. My first HAL ship was Westerdam back in early 90's . 10 years later was in St Petersburg and there she was as Costa Europa with a yellow funnel. the other day we engaged a builder to redo the front of our house , and in conversation he mentioned he'd been on a TUI cruise, (found it fabulous), sure enough it was the 'Marella Dream' yet another name/cruise line for the old girl.
She had started life as the Homeric for the now defunct Home Lines, and had been lengthened in Germany when HAL took her over. 20 years ago an old friend was asking what Thomson cruises were like, They were going on another old HAL ship , Thomson spirit, which was the HAL ship Nieuw Amsterdam. She and her sister Noordam, were real old pieces of junk when we had them , yet they still keep on going.

Be intersting to know which ships HAL is letting go now.

[Captain Kong]

The ROTTERDAM and AMSTERDAM, have gone to Olsens.
Both ecellent ships , I did a South Pacific cruise on the Rotterdam and three
World Cruises on the Amsterdam last one was last year This years was cancelled.
Always sail on HAL.THEY ARE THE BEST.
Brian

[Roger Millard]

Hello Valerie keep a lookout next Tuesday or Wednesday, better still some of the members on here have including me, vessel tracker we will keep you updated. Regards Roger.

[happy daze john in oz]

Moving ships around, selling them and then leasing back is quite a common practice in the Cruise business.

Some very good ships end up with other companies and do very well, sure with Olsens this will be the case.

[Francis Ralph]

After I retired in 2002, I sailed a few times as passenger with my old company, and I heartily concur with the above statement, HAL is truly the very best. Forget the ice rinks, water slides, rollercoasters et al, for a lovely cruise in peace and quiet, you cant beat 'em.

Francis

[happy daze john in oz]

So right there Francis.
Too many of the cruise lines now have become a bit like 'Butlins', do they still exist, on water.
They can be great for families where the kids are taken care o so the parents cane enjoy themselves.

But for some all they want is the pleasure of the cruise without such trimmings.

We now stick with Princess as they tend to cater for the more mature cruisers though families are always welcome, they also cover more ports of call than any other.

[Clive Wilson]

Ships do come to the end of there day , but having had my first trip to sea with Po Line back in the 1960`s it was very nostalgic sailing on the Black Watch a few years ago I thought she was a lovely ship bought back an abundance of memories .

[Roger Millard]

The eta for Rotterdam is tomorrow 03/09 at 0900 at Rosyth info from vessel finder. Regards (R)