The UK-based passenger shipping company Fred Olsen Cruise Lines announced it will be extending its pause in operations through July 2021 "in light of the current restrictions in England as a result of the pandemic".
The company was originally due to resume voyages on May 22, with the maiden cruise of MS Borealis. Customers with canceled bookings are being contacted and offered no quibble monetary refunds or rebooking with FCC (future cruise credit). Fred Olsen's extension affects 14 sailings.
Peter Deer (company's Managing Director) said they were constantly reviewing their back-in-service dates "in line with the latest Government guidance, and working closely with CLIA and other industry bodies towards a return to sailing."
"This extra time allows us the opportunity to fully understand how the roll-out in the vaccine affects the procedures we operate on board and ashore. We know that our guests are missing cruising, as indeed are we, and we can’t wait to welcome them all back on board when the time is right.”
Fred Olsen's ocean-ship cruises are currently planned to resume in 2021 on July 1 (Balmoral, from Rosyth-Edinburgh), July 2 (Bolette, from Dover), July 2 (Borealis, from Liverpool). The ship Braemar remains in cold lay-up and restarts voyages in 2022 (on May 26, from Rosyth).