Fred Olsen Cruise Lines welcomed the first of a couple of new ships joining its fleet in September.
Borealis (fka MS Rotterdam) made her debut at Babcock’s Rosyth (Leith-Edinburgh) facilities in Scotland, after sailing beneath the popular Forth and Queensferry bridges. Borealis is set to be joined by the new Bolette ship, expected to make her debut in mid-September before she takes to the water again in March-April 2021.
The 1997-launched (as MS Rotterdam) cruise ship MS Borealis is the latest addition to Fred Olsen's fleet - together with MS Bolette (fka MS Amsterdam). MS Rotterdam was the 1st R-class ship of Holland America Line, with sisterships MS Amsterdam (now Bolette), and also ms Zaandam and ms Volendam.
Due to the pandemic, Fred Olsen, like many other cruise companies, has been forced to cancel a number of voyages and suspend other sailings.
As a result, the cruise company recently announced it would be retiring its Boudicca and Black Watch ships when it resumed sailings. Instead, new ships Bolette and Borealis will be taking on the itineraries that will go on sale later in September with Bolette itineraries from September 7, and Borealis from September 15.
Fred Olsen's Balmoral ship cruises have been canceled until December 9, while Braemar will not commence operations until at least March 20, 2021.