Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the destinational British cruise operator, said that it has cut short its 18-night D1502 ‘Cape Verde & the Canaries’ cruise on board 880-guest Boudicca in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, following damage to the Engine Room on Sunday 25th January 2015.
Boudicca arrived in Tenerife on the afternoon of Tuesday 27th January 2015, where guests were greeted by Mike Rodwell, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, and a team from the Head Office in Ipswich, Suffolk.
A team of engineers and technicians also joined Boudicca in Tenerife, and have been investigating the extent to which the two main engines and electrical cables have been affected. Their expert assessment is that Boudicca should stay longer in Tenerife, in order for the ship to undertake all the work required.
As a definitive timeline is not able to be provided for the repairs, Fred. Olsen made the difficult decision to fly guests back to Southampton and Bournemouth, at its own expense, and they arrived back in the UK on the evening of Thursday 29th January 2015, supported by teams of Fred. Olsen staff at the airports. Alternative arrangements are being made for those who are unable to fly home.
Fred. Olsen expects that the next cruise will operate as planned, departing from Southampton on Saturday 7th February 2015.
Fred. Olsen appreciates the inconvenience and disruption that this has caused, and will also offer guests who booked with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines the following:
100% refund for the entirety of the cruise (not just the portion from today onwards)
a 50% discount voucher on any new booking for a future cruise within Fred. Olsen’s current 2015/16 programme (This voucher will be the equivalent to 50% of the value of the curtailed cruise and the future booking must be made by 28th February 2015)
The well-being of all guests is Fred. Olsen’s utmost priority, and Mike Rodwell, Captain Jensen and their teams would like to thank all those guests on board Boudicca for their support and assistance with these repatriation arrangements in very challenging circumstances. Boudicca departed from Southampton on Tuesday 20th January 2015, and called at Cadiz, Spain on Saturday 24th January 2015, before diverting to Tenerife.
