VIPS GET A TASTE OF THE HIGH LIFE ABOARD

FRED. OLSEN’S BLACK WATCH

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, working with the Haven Gateway Partnership, will welcome a delegation of local VIPs on a visit to Black Watch, when she calls at Harwich International Port on 24th August 2010, as part of an ‘Around UK’ cruise.

The visit will give guests a feel for the relaxed, ‘home-from-home’ atmosphere of Fred. Olsen’s fleet of four smaller, more intimate ships, and will help to promote cruise opportunities within the Haven Gateway area.

The local dignitaries visiting Black Watch will include the Mayor of Harwich and local authority representatives, as well as regional tourism bodies, such as East of England Tourism and Visit Essex.

A special guest on board will be Colchester student Harry Cotterill, an aspiring naval architect with a passion for cruise ships and ocean liners. Harry, who has been welcomed on board a number of major cruise ships, contacted Fred. Olsen to request permission to visit Black Watch in Harwich and present his drawing of the ship to the Captain, Torbjørn Lund.

Matt Grimes, Operations Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

“We are delighted to welcome such prestigious visitors on board Black Watch, one of the most traditional and well-loved ships in our fleet.”

One of the key features of a Fred. Olsen cruise is that we are able to offer departures from various regional ports around the UK, and we are especially proud of our connection with Harwich, being an international cruise line with our headquarters just over the water, in nearby Ipswich.”

Whilst on board Black Watch, the local dignitaries will be treated to a champagne reception, and will get a taste of the high life with traditional afternoon tea, served in the comfort and luxury of the popular Observatory Lounge, with panoramic views of the stunning Stour and Orwell Estuaries.

A guided tour of the ship will follow. Black Watch is a firm favourite with Fred. Olsen’s passengers and, at 28,613 tonnes and carrying 804 passengers, fits well into the ‘smaller’ style of the existing fleet.

George Kieffer, Chairman of the Haven Gateway Partnership, said:

“We are extremely grateful to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines for giving us the opportunity to visit Black Watch when she calls in Harwich.

The Haven Gateway Partnership is dedicated to raising the awareness of the importance of cruise to the sub-region, and this port-of-call visit of Black Watch to Harwich helps us to showcase Fred. Olsen’s close links to the area, as a locally-based organisation.”

Fred. Olsen has been working with Harwich International Port for a number of years, with Black Watch’s sister ship, Black Prince, calling at the Essex port in August 2008. The 1,350-passenger Balmoral – the newest vessel in the Fred. Olsen fleet – is set to call at Harwich in August 2011.

Whilst in Harwich, Black Watch’s passengers will get the chance to explore the historical delights of the town, before continuing on the rest of the ‘Around UK’ W1014 cruise, taking in Kirkwall in the Orkney Isles, Stornoway (Lewis), Dublin (Ireland), and Fowey in Cornwall, before sailing back to Southampton.

ENDS

For media enquiries, or to cover the visit, please contact:-

Jill Channing/Amy Harker	Rachael Jackson – Public Relations Manager

Bugsgang & Associates	Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Tel: 01795 518200	Tel: 01473 292233

E: jill.channing@bugsgang.co.uk	E: rachael.jackson@fredolsen.co.uk

16th August 2010