Cruising from Rosyth

Scottish cruisers have never had it so good. For the first time, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ 1,350-passenger flagship Balmoral will set sail from Rosyth on nine cruises between May and August 2018. The season kicks off with a 10-night ‘Swedish Waterways’ cruise, departing on 16 May. Rosyth’s close proximity to Scandinavia means you’ll only spend one day at sea before your Swedish adventure starts in style with an unforgettable exploration of the west-coast fjords. Charming villages, lush countryside and craggy coastlines will come into view as Balmoral navigates these narrow passages, presenting incredible views to enjoy from the comfort of your ship. There are also calls at Malmö, Visby, Stockholm (overnight stay) and Gothenburg.

This is followed by a ‘Five-Night Fjords’ cruise, departing on 26 May, offering leisurely cruising along Norway’s mighty Lysefjord, Hardangerfjord and Maurangerfjord; plus calls at Bergen and Eidfjord. On 31 May, Balmoral heads east on a nine-night ‘German Waterways’ cruise visiting Bremen, Kiel, Warnemünde and Hamburg – there are also two transits of the Kiel Canal plus a cruise along the Elbe and Weser rivers.

A 14-night ‘Scandinavian Capitals & St Petersburg’ cruise departs on 9 June. A transit of the Kiel Canal precedes Copenhagen and Tallinn; then there’s an overnight stay in St Petersburg. The cruise continues with a stunning passage through the Stockholm Archipelago before arriving in the Swedish capital for another overnight to enjoy the ‘White Nights’. Gothenburg and Oslo round off the Nordic cities before a scenic cruise of the Oslofjord offers a majestic finale. A seven-night ‘Diamonds, Chocolates & Canals’ cruise, departing on 30 June, heads to Antwerp for an overnight stay, then it’s on to the contrasting cities of Ghent and Amsterdam.

Other cruises include a 10-night ‘Swedish Waterways & Cities’ cruise that visits Malmo; Visby; Stockholm (overnight); and Gothenburg. Another 7-night ‘Scenic Fjords of Norway’ cruise visits Bergen, Flam, Olden and Alesund as well as plenty of scenic cruising along serene fjords. A 5-night ‘taster’ cruise heads to Kirkwall; Lerwick; and Bergen. For those wanting an in-depth fjord experience, the 9-night ‘Greatest Fjords of Norway’ cruise is unsurpassed. The Scottish season concludes with a one-night sailing from Rosyth to Newcastle on 21^st July.

Fred. Olsen Cruises are proud of their long-standing links with Scotland – indeed three of their ships are named Black Watch, Braemar and Balmoral. Passengers appreciate the subtle difference of cruising on a British ship where traditions are writ large. But make no mistake, Balmoral is a vessel for the 21^st century and oozes creature comforts. To sign up for a cruise from the Scottish capital speak to our experienced team on 0808 256 6742.