Fred Olsen Black Watch Cruise
An 11-day September voyage aboard Fred Olsen’s Black Watch, sailing from Rosyth with around 800 fellow passengers to Guernsey and the Atlantic coasts of France and Spain, proved a relaxed and welcoming way to see Europe by sea.
One of the real attractions of cruising with Fred Olsen is convenience. The Black Watch sails from a range of home ports including Greenock, Rosyth, Newcastle and Liverpool, so for many travellers there is no need to fly at all – you simply step aboard close to home and let the ship do the travelling.
The cabins are comfortable and well equipped, with televisions, telephones, private facilities, hairdryers and air conditioning as standard. Sixty-six cabins come with their own private balcony, and four are fully wheelchair-accessible. Throughout the ship the standard of care for passengers with limited mobility is excellent, looked after by a friendly, largely Filipino crew.
Dining is generous and varied. There are two indoor restaurants, an informal buffet and outdoor dining beside the pools. Tea, coffee and water are included; only speciality coffees and a formal afternoon tea (under £7) carry a small charge. An optional all-inclusive drinks package at around £10 a day covers unlimited house wine, beer and soft drinks – though do note that alcohol bought ashore cannot be carried back on board, and is held until the end of the cruise.
There is plenty to keep you occupied between ports. The ship offers several bars and lounges, a library, a show lounge, golf nets, a gym, a beauty salon, two outdoor pools, two exercise pools and a whirlpool jacuzzi. Three formal nights call for gala dress, adding a touch of old-fashioned glamour to the voyage. Smoking is confined to designated areas on the outside decks.
If you fancy following in our wake, a seven-night “Medieval Towns & Museums” cruise departing Liverpool on 19 June 2015 – calling at La Coruna, Bilbao and La Rochelle – was priced from £759 per person based on an inside twin-bedded cabin.
