The long wait is over. After all the pandemic delays, Borealis finally set sail on her maiden voyage for Fred Olsen from Liverpool yesterday (5 July) to spearhead the launch of the line’s “Welcome Back” programme of UK summer sailings.
Borealis, bought from Holland America in summer 2020, brings a number of new venues and facilities to the fleet.
These include 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 also have the chance to savour Borealis’s new specialty dining restaurants. Vasco, named after the famous explorer Vasco Da Gama, 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 initially sail at half capacity, Borealis will always carry less than 1,400 guests, offering the same small ship experience and attention to detail for which Fred. Olsen is well known.
Peter Deer, Olsen’s managing director, said: “Today is a truly momentous day for us. This voyage 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 said: “Being captain on a new ship is a great honour in its own right, but today represents so much more than that. We set sail on a new era, with many cruising adventures ahead.”
To mark the launch, savings of up to £300 are available on selected ex-UK 2021 sailings and up to £200 per person to spend on board, plus up to £200 per person on board spending on some 2022 ex-UK cruises.
Borealis will sail exclusively from Liverpool for 2021, and debuts with scenic-only sailings around the UK before introducing ports of call later into July and August.