Welcome to Fred Olsen Cruises - Civilisations
"I say that the sea is in all things the teacher of men"....Hilaire Belloc.
Welcome to the third season of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ successful Civilisations cruises.
Each is designed to appeal to lovers of culture and the arts. Individuals who expect not just to travel in comfort and luxury, but to also learn about and be enriched by the places they visit.
Accompanied by experts in their fields, you'll cruise to some of the most fascinating and beautiful places on earth. Special lectures and exclusive excursions will bring a variety of subjects to life, enabling you to learn more about the artistic, political and social forces that have shaped the places you'll visit.
The aim of Civilisations is to provide you with even greater fulfilment and enjoyment from your cruise; to open your eyes to a range of subjects and cultures. Now in its third season, the programme has been extended to include Balmoral, alongside Boudicca and Black Watch.
The great thing about a Civilisations cruise is that there are no unexpected charges; prices are all-inclusive. For a simple supplement, which varies between cruises, virtually everything is taken care of. And this year we've made the packages even more flexible by offering an excursion-less price, meaning that those unable through health concerns to go on the exclusive excursions can still benefit from the other Civilisations benefits.
EARLY BOOKING GIFT
Also, if you book before December 31, 2008, we'll give you a £25 book voucher for Waterstones as a thank-you, so you can read up on your chosen subject before you join your cruise - or simply some light reading for your journey of discovery, you choose!
If you are interested in cruise BW869, departing on 1st December 2008, and the Civilisations package of Astronomy & Navigation, please e-mail civilisations@fredolsen.co.uk for information.
Cruise Selection
We have a large range of tantalising Civilisations cruises to all corners of the world. Please click on any on the cruise images below and you will see a short description of each cruise.
The Great Plant Collectors
The Ages of Discovery
Ancient Polynesian Culture
The Great Plant Collectors
This cruise takes you around the British Isles, visiting some of its most important botanical sites, including the Lost Gardens of Heligan and Edinburgh's Royal Botanical Gardens.
The Ages of Discovery
Heading south, we visit the birthplace of Columbus; the Casbah in Agadir, North Africa; the mysterious Pyramids of Guimar in the Canaries; as well as the beautiful island of Madeira.
Ancient Polynesian Culture
Crossing the South Pacific, you will see what it was about the capital of French Polynesia, Papeete, that so inspired artist Paul Gauguin to paint with such genius. Later visit Australia's ancient and unique O'Reilly Rainforest.
The Ages of Conflict
Polar Exploration
Baltic Monarchies
The Ages Of Conflict
Ranging wide, this cruise takes in the site of the pivotal Battle of Marathon, Sevastopol in the Crimea where a 19th century allied army of Turks, French and British battled Tsarist Russia, and Yalta scene of the famous Second World War meeting between the Big Three powers of the time.
Polar Exploration
Far inside the Arctic circle, we visit one of the most northerly towns on earth as well as sailing down the dramatic Norwegian coast, with its stunning fijords.
Baltic Monarchies
Taking in many of the Royal castles and palaces of the Batic region, highlights include two days in St Petersburg, home of the 300-year reign of the Romanovs, and a visit to the Swedish Royal Palace in Stockholm -capital of one of the present-day's thriving Scandinavian monarcies.
Ancient Civilisations
Celtic History
Literature of the Baltic
Ancient Civilisations
This extensive cruise takes us from the Moorish palaces of Alahambra to the Pyramids of Egypt and from the site of the original Olympic Games to the old quarter of Lisbon.
Celtic History
Cruising around Britain we discover the history and culture of the inhabitants of 'The Fortunate Isles' before the arrival of Caesar's Roman armies. Pushed to the margins by the expanding super power of its day, Celtic culture continued to flourish in Cornwall, Wales, Scotland and Ireland and we visit some of its most important and evocative sites.
Literature of the Baltic
This cruise of the Baltic examines the lives of some of the region's greatest writers, whose works have entered the imagination of all the whole world - who hasn't heard of Pippi Longstocking, The Ugly Duckling or The Emperor and his New Clothes?
In the Wake of Navigators
The Great Artists
Ancient Mythology
In the Wake of Navigators
The 15th century in particular saw incredible discoveries of new lands by the likes of Christopher Columbus and Prince Henry the Navigator, as well as fantastic feats of seamanship. This is a fascinating voyage of discovery to both inspire and excite, visiting lands first discovered and colonised in that same heroic era.
The Great Artists
Visiting, amongst others, the birthplace of Picasso, and the cities of Venice and Dubrovnik we see first hand how locations have inspired and shaped the work of great artists such as Titian and Tintoretto and the architect Joze Plecnik.
Ancient Mythology
Travelling in the steps of the ancients, we visit the legendary site of Homer's Odyssey; the Valley of the Kings, Luxor and Alexandria in Egypt; as well as Oman and Malaga.