Fred. Olsen Adds Four First-Time Ports to 2027 Winter Program

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has presented a 20-cruise Autumn/Winter 2027 program with departures between October and December 2027, adding four first-time ports for the line and extending its winter mix of ex-UK cruises, Mediterranean fly-cruises and festive departures. The new calls are Milazzo, Taranto and Golfo Aranci in Italy, and Alanya in Turkey.

The schedule spans Arctic Norway for Northern Lights viewing, Morocco and the Mediterranean from UK ports, Christmas-market short breaks and a 33-night Caribbean Christmas voyage. The featured departures use all three ships in Fred. Olsen’s current fleet: the 1,338-guest Bolette, the 1,353-guest, adults-only Borealis and the 1,250-guest Balmoral.

Martin Lister, head of product innovation at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said the program ranges from cultural itineraries in Morocco to cruises built around European landmarks. “There’s a shorter-than-usual cruise to Northern Norway going in search of the Northern Lights,” Lister said, alongside “a longer voyage to enjoy the warmth of the Caribbean in winter.”

“Our Mediterranean fly-cruises, driven by strong demand, take guests straight to the destination, with more time ashore,” Lister said. He cited regions including the Greek Islands, Italy, Croatia and the French and Turkish Rivieras, including an itinerary visiting six islands in 10 nights.

Bolette takes the longer ex-UK winter departures

Bolette has four of the named sailings. The 15-night Spain, Morocco and Portugal Discovery cruise departs Newcastle on Oct. 2, 2027, and visits La Coruna, Tangier, Gibraltar and Honfleur, with fares listed from 1,599 per person. The 11-night In Search of the Northern Lights cruise departs Southampton on Nov. 7, crosses the Arctic Circle and includes Norwegian calls and scenic cruising by the Seven Sisters Mountain Range; pricing starts at 1,199 per person.

The ship then operates a 16-night Icons of the Mediterranean cruise from Southampton on Nov. 18, visiting Gibraltar, Barcelona, Ajaccio and Lisbon, from 1,599 per person. On Dec. 4, Bolette is scheduled for the longest itinerary in the launch set, the 33-night Caribbean Christmas Island Hopping cruise from Southampton, calling at Tenerife, Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tortola, St Maarten and Madeira before returning to the UK, from 3,999 per person.

Balmoral and Borealis cover fly-cruise and short-break options

Balmoral’s named 2027 departure is the 12-night Ancient Wonders of Turkey, Greece and Egypt fly-cruise, leaving Piraeus on Nov. 23 with flights from London or Manchester. The itinerary includes Athens, Istanbul and Alexandria, with fares listed from 1,149 per person.

Borealis is listed on a five-night Hamburg Christmas Markets and Honfleur cruise from Southampton on Dec. 17, priced from 499 per person. The wider program also includes a five-night Mystery Cruise, although Fred. Olsen did not provide the departure date or itinerary details.

Booking incentives carry into the launch window

Fred. Olsen has been attaching booking incentives to winter inventory in the current sales cycle as well. For selected 2026-27 departures on Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral, new bookings made by July 30, 2026, qualify for half-price premium drinks packages from 20 pounds per person per night; in May, the line also offered free flights on selected Mediterranean sailings tied to Balmoral’s Grand Voyage, with London Gatwick or Manchester airport options.

For the 2027 program, guests booking a Freedom Fare by July 16, 2026, are covered by Fred. Olsen’s Freedom Fare Price Promise during the initial four-week sales period. If an equivalent cabin is later reduced in price, the line will provide either a cabin upgrade or onboard spending credit, and solo travelers can book solo cabins with no single supplement during the same window.