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Fred Olsen Cruise Lines halts 2021 river programme

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines will not run any river cruise sailings next year as it focuses its recovery from Covid on ocean cruising.

It has terminated its charter with river cruise vessel Brabant, which is no longer scheduled to sail in 2021.

A spokesperson for Fred Olsen Cruise Lines confirmed the decision and said: “We have enjoyed two years of European river cruising with Brabant, but feel that our priority must be on our ocean fleet when we resume sailing next year.

“This decision is with immediate effect, which means that our planned 2021 sailings aboard Brabant will not go ahead.”

Guests booked onto the affected sailings have been contacted and offered to transfer to any other cruise on sale with an extra 10% to spend when rebooking – or choose a “no-quibble” refund.

“We can’t wait to welcome our guests back on board our ocean fleet next year,” the spokesperson added.

Before Covid, Fred. Olsen had considered chartering a second river cruise vessel as sales for Brabant were strong in March 2019.

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