Fred Olsen spread their wings

Fred Olsen have announced they will be operating two cruises out of Northern Ireland in 2013.  This will be the first time sailing out from Belfast since 2007.

The Boudicca which has 856 passenger capacity will have two cruises in October 2013.  There will be a 2 night mini cruise over to Liverpool and a 12 night Iberia cruise incorporating the Canaries.

Belfast was the birth place of the Titanic, and eventhough it is a popular port of call, no other ships sail from the Northern Irish Capital.

With the Belfast departures and a series of sailings from Harwich also added for 2013, Fred. Olsen claims that it can now offer cruises departing from within a radius of 100 miles from 90% of the U.K.’s population.

This is a very good oportunity for passengers in Northern Ireland to enjoy a cruise without having to fly to the likes of Southampton or Dover.

This news is a blow to the port of Liverpool which was dropped by Fred Olsen cruise lines last year due to the port’s poor facilities and tides which made the ships difficult to dock.