Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has introduced a series of promotional offers tied to more than 300 sailings across its 2026 and 2027 programmes, with particular focus placed on Mediterranean fly-cruise departures aboard the Balmoral.
The deployment centres on a Grand Voyage departing on September 30th, 2026, during which the vessel will operate a sequence of 6 linked itineraries across the Mediterranean and Atlantic Islands. The programme combines calls at major regional ports, including Athens (Piraeus) and Istanbul, with smaller destinations such as Marmaris, Thessaloniki and Syros.
Under the current promotion, guests making new Freedom Fare reservations before May 31st, 2026 are being offered complimentary flights on selected opening and closing sectors of the Grand Voyage, with departures available from London Gatwick and Manchester airports.
The cruise line has also added a further itinerary to its 2026 fly-cruise programme. The new 11-night sailing links the Mediterranean with the Canary Islands, visiting ports across 5 countries in addition to Gibraltar. Scheduled highlights include Athens, scenic arrivals into Valletta’s Grand Harbour and transit through the Strait of Gibraltar.
According to Phil Gardner, Director of Commercial and Product for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the company views fly-cruise operations as a practical means of extending guests’ time ashore while allowing more direct access to Mediterranean embarkation ports. He indicated that the current free-flight promotion was intended to encourage early reservations for the programme.
The Grand Voyage programme forms part of the company’s broader Mediterranean deployment aboard the Balmoral, which will operate extended itineraries through Southern Europe during autumn 2026. Current schedules include scenic cruising segments along the Amalfi Coast, the Strait of Messina and the Bay of Kotor, together with overnight stays and longer calls in selected ports.
Within online cruise communities, the vessel continues to attract interest for its smaller scale and traditional ship design, particularly among travellers seeking destination-focused itineraries and quieter onboard environments. Discussions on cruise forums have frequently highlighted the ship’s promenade decks, observation lounges and emphasis on extended scenic cruising.