Categories: SA Cruise News

Fred Olsen Cruise Line returns to Cape Town with 2019 departure aboard Boudicca

After cruising from Durban for the first time ever last year, Fred Olsen Cruise Line will return to South Africa with Boudicca in 2019.

The classic cruise ship will cruise from Cape Town to Phuket in Thailand on October 31st, 2019. The 28-night cruise can also be booked as a shorter 14-night cruise ending in Mahe, Seychelles.

The 14-night cruise from Cape Town to Mahe, although still an eye-watering R58,000 for an inside cabin, is likely to be the most interesting for South African cruise passengers.

Boudicca is a mid-size classic cruise ship built in 1973.

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The cruise itinerary calls at Port Elizabeth and Richard’s Bay (with two days at sea between both), before heading out into the Indian Ocean for four days before reaching Mayotte, Comoros and that old favourite of MSC’s back in the 90s, Nosy Be, Madagascar.

Boudicca will spend another three days at sea en-route to Mahe, Seychelles, where she will arrive on November 13th, 2019.

The 14-night cruise ends in the impossibly pretty Seychelles (image courtesy Beautiful World.com).

“There will be chances to encounter a diverse array of fascinating wildlife, from going in search of the ‘Big Five’ on unforgettable safari adventures to exploring coral reefs teeming with colourful fauna and flora,” says Fred Olsen Cruise Line.

“That’s not all, discovering iconic landmarks and natural wonders, authentic cultural delights and picture-perfect paradise beaches will make for enthralling experiences too,” it adds.

Boudicca’s 14-night cruise from Cape Town to the Seychelles in 2019, for more info see the Fred Olsen website.

While the scenery at Cape Point, the penguins at Boulders Beach and cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain and visit to UNESCO-listed Robben Island in Cape Town will be familiar to South African cruise passengers, the true adventure will start when Boudicca leaves South African waters.

Visits to three idyllic islands off the east coast of Africa will give passengers a view of astonishing landscapes and wonderful wildlife.

During a day-long stop at the French island of Mayotte, you can take a glass bottom boat tour of the Indian Ocean’s largest lagoon and look out for colourful fish, vibrant coral reefs and dolphins.

Sri Lanka is a signature destination on the longer 28-night itinerary to Phuket.

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There’s also the opportunity to go snorkelling in the crystal-clear waters to see the wonders of this natural aquarium up-close.

In Nosy Be’s tropical 740-hectare Lokobe National Park, guests can encounter lemurs, chameleons, geckos, boa constrictors and much more, while Mahé, the largest of the Seychelles’ spectacular islands, is a gateway to neighbouring attractions.

Guests can take a catamaran cruise to the uninhabited island of Moyenne, a breeding ground for giant land tortoises or relax on the Seychelles famous white beaches.

Boudicca’s 28-night cruise from Cape Town to Phuket in 2019, for more info see the Fred Olsen website.

If you choose to remain aboard for the full 28-night cruise to Phuket, the wonders of South Asia and Southeast Asia await.

Boudicca will call at Praslin Island in the Seychelles, Male in the Maldives, and Sri Lanka and the Andaman Islands before arriving in Phuket, Thailand.

Boudicca, at just 205m and carrying only 880 passengers, is small by modern standards. When she was built in 1973, the ship would have been a mid-sized liner and today remains a high-quality vintage cruise experience.

Fred Olsen are a laid-back cruise line that value British traditions and a more low-key approach to cruising.

Shaun Ebelthite

Founder and editor of Cruise Arabia & Africa. I try to create the best news and information specifically for cruise passengers taking cruises to and from Dubai (where I live) and South Africa (where I was born). You can contact me at shaun(at)cruisearabiaonline.com.

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