Fred Olsen reveals shorter cruises to Middle East within 2023 World Cruise

Fred Olsen Cruise Line will be sending its new shop Borealis to the Middle East as part of it’s Around the World in 80 Days world cruise, but with shorter itineraries on offer.

Borealis will set sail from Southampton on the World Cruise, which is 79 nights in length and follows as closely as possible the route undertaken by fictional explorer Phileas Fogg in the Jules Verne novel Around the World in Eighty Days.

However, in addition to the full 79-night itinerary, select guests can also now book shorter cruises, such as the 26-night Southampton to Singapore leg that cruises through the Mediterranean, transits the Suez Canal and features several port calls in Egypt.

This is one of two shorter cruises available within the longer World Cruise, the other being a 53-night voyage from Singapore to Southampton via Japan, Hong Kong and Hawaii.

“A 26-night journey from Southampton to Singapore will see Borealis cruise the Suez Canal, with guests able to explore the temples of Luxor and Karnak in the Egyptian port of Safaga, visit the secret bazaars, hidden temples and the lesser known Elephanta Caves in Mumbai or, in Singapore, witness the indigenous wildlife and the UNESCO-listed World Heritage Botanic Gardens,” Fred Olsen said in a press release.

The full itinerary for the Southampton to Singapore itinerary features port calls in Lisbon, Portugal and Brindisi, Italy before Borealis calls in Port Said, Egypt ahead of her Suez transit.

The ship will then dock in Safaga, Egypt before spending a full week at sea cruising the Red Sea and Indian Ocean for Mumbai, Goa, and Kochi, in India.

From Singapore, Borealis will depart on a 53-night cruise, giving guests the opportunity to enjoy a call into Japan in time to witness the cherry blossom in bloom and delve into the Samurai heritage at Fukuoka and Osaka Castle.

In Hong Kong, they’ll experience the temples, street food and architecture of the former British colony, and enjoy Hawaii, with its Aloha Tower, farmers’ markets, and traditional Hawaiian dance shows at seaside lūʻau.

The ship will then transit the Panama Canal and visit several ports in the Caribbean before crossing the Atlantic for the UK.

The two new sectors are available exclusively to members of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Oceans loyalty scheme.

“Our Around the World in 80 Days cruise has already proven popular, and there are some exceptional opportunities to be had as we follow as closely as possible in the footsteps of fictional explorer Phileas Fogg,” said Claire Ward, Director of Product and Customer Services at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

“These shorter sailings will enable even more of our guests to share these experiences, with every port offering a fascinating insight into history, culture, art, architecture or the chance for spectacular encounters with wildlife,” he added.