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Fred Olsen announces plans to revamp ships

Three Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ ships will undergo multi-million pound refits this winter ahead of 2018 cruise season.

Braemar and Balmoral will be refurbished before Christmas with Boudicca due to be upgraded in March.

Extensive improvement work was carried out on Black Watch at the end of last year.

Work includes upgrading public areas, creating new facilities – such as a new restaurants and gelato bar on Balmoral, a new dining room on Boudicca, a new buffet restaurant on Braemar – and cabin enhancements.

The 929-passenger Braemar will leave Southampton for Hamburg on November 23 for a nine-day dry dock at the Blohm+Voss. Its first sailing after the refit will be a 16-night cruise to the Caribbean from Southampton on December 5.

Flagship Balmoral is due to arrive in Hamburg on December 10 for a nine-day dry dock, before the 1,350-passenger ship departs on a 16-night Canaries Christmas sailing from Southampton on December 21.

The 880-passenger Boudicca will undergo a more extensive 13-day refurbishment in spring 2018, entering dry dock on March 16, before leaving from Dover on March 29 on a five-night mystery cruise.

Managing director Mike Rodwell said: “We are very proud of our smaller, classic cruise ships and we recognise the importance of investing in ongoing upgrades to ensure that our guests can continue to enjoy them at their best.

“The refreshed Black Watch has been very well received by both new and existing guests so we are delighted that the rest of the fleet will also benefit.”

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