Fred Olsen Cruises disposals

[Jim McQuarrie]

Have to agree with Clive-Done 2 Black Watch-1 Boudicca ♫time to say goodbye♫

[Angelgreat]

Today, the Black Watch and Boudicca have been officially retired from the Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines fleet in favor of the Bolette and Borealis. They are also for sale online.

Black Watch: https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1972/cruise-ship-799-passenger-3709079/

Boudicca: https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1973/cruise-ship--853-924-passengers-3709080/

[Angelgreat]

The Borealis (ex. Rotterdam) has arrived at Rosyth, Scotland to be handed over to Fred Olsen.

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/23464-borealis-joins-fred-olsen-fleet-in-rosyth.html

[Krispen Atkinson]

Just so there is no confusion, she arrived as ROTTERDAM. The renaming (to Borealis) will be undertaken once she is handed over, during her stay at Rosyth.

[Bob Scott]

Over the past eight years I have spent the equivalent of about six months aboard BLACK WATCH and BOUDICCA and have come to love them both. However, I have not failed to notice the maintenance that these two old ladies need, particularly the sometimes quite intensive measures needed to combat corrosion around the vessels’ outer skins. However, after the current Coronavirus stuff is over and done with, I hope to sample the delights of one, other or both of Fred’s two newbies. They’ll have to be pretty good, though, to beat the beautiful old Royal Viking Line sister ships.

[Tony Martin]

Bob, no need to be concerned, I have sailed on both Rotterdam and Amsterdam in recent times. Believe me they are fantastic ships. Not sure why HAL let them go as I think future cruise passengers will favor smaller ships.   

[Angelgreat]

Bob, no need to be concerned, I have sailed on both Rotterdam and Amsterdam in recent times. Believe me they are fantastic ships. Not sure why HAL let them go as I think future cruise passengers will favor smaller ships.   

Carnival Corporation needed money to sustain themselves during the pandemic, so they sold 15 of their ships.

[DoverT]

25/09/2020:
"Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has found a buyer for the classic Black Watch and Boudicca ships as the company modernizes its fleet with the addition of the former Rotterdam and Amsterdam from Holland America Line.

The Black Watch and Boudicca will leave the Fred. Olsen fleet with immediate effect, and will not be scrapped, but instead serve as hotel ships.

The ships are believed to be heading to Miray International, according to sources speaking to Cruise Industry News on the condition of anonymity.

The Turkey-based company specializes in ship management and also providing accommodation vessels for large-scale projects. Miray did not return a request for more information.".

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/23554-black-watch-and-boudicca-sold-will-serve-as-hotel-ships.html?fbclid=IwAR1FmTKYeg1YJ-CAi5eR_gOGPDR85YNxC7r4KDHjIxy6Ny5oknIlA87ASdA

[Angelgreat]

25/09/2020:
"Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has found a buyer for the classic Black Watch and Boudicca ships as the company modernizes its fleet with the addition of the former Rotterdam and Amsterdam from Holland America Line.

The Black Watch and Boudicca will leave the Fred. Olsen fleet with immediate effect, and will not be scrapped, but instead serve as hotel ships.

The ships are believed to be heading to Miray International, according to sources speaking to Cruise Industry News on the condition of anonymity.

The Turkey-based company specializes in ship management and also providing accommodation vessels for large-scale projects. Miray did not return a request for more information.".

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/23554-black-watch-and-boudicca-sold-will-serve-as-hotel-ships.html?fbclid=IwAR1FmTKYeg1YJ-CAi5eR_gOGPDR85YNxC7r4KDHjIxy6Ny5oknIlA87ASdA

It's nice that there's a buyer for Black Watch and Boudicca that will save them as floating hotels, after all they're still classical vessels. It's sad that the Sovereign class and the Fantasy class didn't get to be preserved the same way that the Fred Olsen vessels will be preserved, they ended up on the beaches of Aliaga where they were turned to metal scrap.

[Richard Paton]

I'd take the news on the Boudicca & Black Watch being accomodation vessels with a massive pinch of salt - it looks to me like a smokescreen until they hit the beach but time will tell.

[Angelgreat]

I'd take the news on the Boudicca & Black Watch being accomodation vessels with a massive pinch of salt - it looks to me like a smokescreen until they hit the beach but time will tell.

We just have to wait and see.

[Clive Harvey]

I'd take the news on the Boudicca & Black Watch being accomodation vessels with a massive pinch of salt - it looks to me like a smokescreen until they hit the beach but time will tell.

We just have to wait and see.

As it was reported that they were both being stripped of all useful items, including teak decking, the idea of them being used as accommodation vessels does seem unlikely.

[rene2805]

Boudicca today left the port of Rosyth in Scotland.
Her AIS says she is on her way to Tuzla Turkey.
Reported ETA is october 9

[DoverT]

Third of the trio now gone

Albatros (ex Royal Viking Sea) Has also been sold. Allegedly "to Egyptian Pick Albatros Group and will use it in the future as a hotel and event ship in the Red Sea."

[Angelgreat]

Any discussion on Phoenix Reisen's Albatros is to be done in the topic I have linked instead. http://forum.shipspotting.com/index.php/topic,17027.0.html