Liverpool Cruise Terminal is a busy facility year round with a with a raft of major ships and working vessels mooring with us.
Cruise lines including Cunard, Norwegian Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Celebrity, Disney, Princess and Viking Cruises sail into the city year round, Liverpool truly is on the global cruise map.
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‘Amazing’, ‘beautiful’ and ‘wonderful’ were just some of the words used to describe Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ new ship Borealis as she returned into Liverpool today at the end of her Maiden Voyage.
Borealis set sail on her first cruise with Fred. Olsen on Monday, to a backdrop of fireworks put together by Liverpool Cruise Terminal. During the three-day cruise, Borealis offered scenic sailing of northerly British Isles, including Fingal’s Cave, Dutchman’s Cap and the Sound of Mull.
Cruise Conservationists from marine wildlife charity ORCA were also on board, helping guests to spot whales and other marine mammals and conducting their own vital research into wildlife populations. In total the team, with help from guests, spotted more than 200 common and bottlenose dolphins, as well as minke whales, grey seals and harbour porpoises.
Thomas Rennesland, Hotel Operations Director at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, who was on board for the sailing, said:
“The atmosphere on board has been wonderful. We have received some fantastic feedback from our guests saying they loved Borealis as soon as they stepped on board, and they have really enjoyed exploring the ship for the first time.
“Of course the biggest compliments have been for our crew, and being back together you realise it really is all about the people. Even behind face masks, our crew and returning guests have been able to recognise one another and it has been great to see everyone exchanging well wishes.
“It is a real pleasure to be back at sea, doing what we do best – sailing our own course and looking after our guests.”
Guest Rosemary Tyler, who was enjoying her 19th cruise with Fred. Olsen, said:
“It’s a Maiden Voyage, which is something you very rarely get to experience! I wanted to see the lovely new ship. It’s amazing, beautiful. It’s a wonderful ship, and of course the crew are absolutely immaculate. This has been worth the wait.
“The food is always gorgeous and you have got such a choice, from Indian to the Far East, back to home… anything you want.
“We’ve had beautiful weather. The scenery is beautiful, and so varied. We were so lucky, there was a whole pod of dolphins following us, playing with the ship. That’s exactly what we wanted to see.”
Steve Jones, Head of Partnerships at ORCA and who has been leading the Cruise Conservationist Programme on board Borealis, said:
“The guest engagement has been absolutely fantastic. We have had hundreds of guests come to see us. We are enjoying the amazing viewing platform at the front of the ship, which is perfect for spotting marine wildlife and capturing the great scenery.
“British waters are great for wildlife spotting, especially at this time of year. When we were sailing by Fingal’s Cave we had a group of around 30 bottlenose dolphins, with calves, follow the ship for around 45 minutes. It’s so unusual to have an encounter with dolphins that long, it was a real privilege.
“Not only has this been great for guests to witness, but it has played an important role in our own research on whales and dolphins, which is invaluable to us. We can’t wait to see what we spot on the rest of our sailings with Fred. Olsen!”
The Maiden Voyage will be followed by a series of cruises around the British Isles over the coming summer months, including scenic-only sailings and those with ports of call, with Borealis to sail exclusively from Liverpool for the remainder of the year.
Borealis was purchased by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines in the summer of 2020, along with sister ship Bolette, as the line looked to strengthen and evolve for its return to cruising.
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is proud to announce that it has achieved its aim of sending ‘zero to landfill’ in the refurbishment of Borealis.
Fred. Olsen purchased the now 1,360-guest ship Borealis last September, and has conducted a large refurbishment, including upgrades to public areas and guest cabins and the replacement of a number of bathrooms.
Working with the Binn Group, based in Perth, Scotland, Fred. Olsen has been able to recycle tiles into cement and materials for construction sites, carpet into wood blocks to create fuel and timber to create chipboard flooring.
In addition, items such as bath tubs and panels, wood and pillows will also now be used to help create energy.
Thomas Rennesland, Hotel Operations Director at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:
“Our crew have worked tirelessly on the refurbishment of Borealis, to ensure that when guests join us on board on 5th July they are stepping onto a ship with all the Fred. Olsen touches that we are so well known for.
“Borealis is a beautiful ship, and while we wanted to make her our own, we also wanted to ensure that we were not wasteful. It makes us very proud to have achieved ‘zero to landfill’ for this project, and I would like to thank the Binn Group who have worked with us to help us achieve our goal.”
Brian Harkins, Managing Director for the Binn Group, said:
“Working together we have not only provided the best solution for our customer but also the best solution for the planet.
“Carbon impact and sustainability is at the heart of what we do and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines have been a pleasure to work with given that their values on sustainability and carbon align so well with our own.”
Borealis set sail on her three-night Maiden Voyage on Monday, 5th July, kick-starting Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ ‘Welcome Back’ programme of UK sailing from Liverpool this summer.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is resuming sailing today, with new ship Borealis to depart on her Maiden Voyage from Liverpool this evening (Monday, 5th July).
It is the first time that the 1,360-guest Borealis, which will cruise exclusively from Liverpool in 2021, will sail with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, and marks the launch of the line’s ‘Welcome Back’ programme of UK summer sailings.
Borealis brings a number of new venues and facilities to the fleet, including a grand, two-tier theatre and main restaurant, an all-weather pool with retractable roof, a large spa and thermal suite and new venue The Auditorium offering culinary demonstrations and more.
Guests will also have the chance to savour new flavours in Borealis’ new specialty dining restaurants. Vasco, named after the famous explorer Vasco Da Gama, who was the first European to reach India by sea, offers a fresh and modern take on Indian food. Meanwhile Colours & Tastes offers modern Asian Fusion dishes. The décor is colourful, the mood cheerful and the food offers a stimulating set of new taste experiences.
While the ship will sail at 50% capacity initially, Borealis will always carry less than 1,400 guests, allowing her and her crew to offer the same small ship experience and attention to detail for which Fred. Olsen is renowned.
Peter Deer, Managing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:
“Today is a truly momentous day for us, as not only are we setting sail again after 16 months, but we are doing so with the first of two wonderful new ships.
“We love sailing from Liverpool, having offered cruises from there for many, many years, and our ships always receive such a warm welcome, and we are so pleased to have Borealis based from the city for the remainder of the year.
“Our crew on board have been working incredibly hard to get Borealis ready to sail, and our guests can enjoy many brand new venues including The Crow’s Nest and the Piano Bar, and those familiar Fred. Olsen touches, such as the Morning Light Pub, and our famous ‘doodle’ carpet, designed to be bright and cheerful.
“I must extend my personal thanks to each and every member of our wonderful crew, our shoreside team and our trade partners for their hard work, dedication, passion and commitment, and to our guests, both new and returning, for the support, patience and loyalty they showed as we prepared for our return.
“This voyage setting sail today is the beginning of a bright new future for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines with two remarkable new ships among the fleet. Here’s to many, many years of happy sailing ahead.”
Captain Rommel Pineda, who will be at the helm for Borealis’ Maiden Voyage, said:
“Being Captain on a new ship is a great honour in its own right, but today represents so much more than that.
“My team on board have put their all into adding our own ‘Fred. Olsen touches’ and to see the pride on their faces as they prepare to welcome our first guests on board is testament to just how much we have all missed being at sea.
“Today we set sail on a new era, with many cruising adventures ahead.”
To mark the launch, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is offering savings of up to £300 on selected ex-UK 2021 sailings and up to £200 per person to spend on board, plus up to £200 per person to spend on board on a selection of 2022 ex-UK cruises.
Borealis was purchased by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines in the summer of 2020, along with sister ship Bolette, as the line looked to strengthen and evolve for its return to cruising.
For further information on Borealis, visit fredolsencruises.com/our-ships/borealis. Book online, call our Reservations team on 0800 0355 242 (Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm), or contact your ABTA travel agent.
Liverpool is set to make waves this summer, as cruise ships return to the city for the first time in 14 months.
Cruise ships will once again be preparing to raise their anchors and welcome back UK passengers for short trips to Liverpool.
MSC Cruises revealed today further details of the recently announced short breaks and week-long summer sailings around the British Isles departing from the port of Southampton.
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