The Arts Society with Fred. Olsen
Here, at award-winning Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, we feel it is a real privilege to undertake this wonderful joint venture with The Arts Society. A number of your members and Accredited Lecturers have already experienced the Fred. Olsen difference and the benefits of smaller ship cruising on our three more intimate, classically-designed ocean ships: Balmoral, Bolette and Borealis – and we look forward to welcoming you on board for many more exciting voyages to come!
At Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, we are proud of our smaller-sized ships, which allow us to offer exceptional, hand-crafted itineraries, rich in culture and with real experiences in the destinations we visit, making them the perfect pairing with The Arts Society.
Our elegant fleet of smaller ships can dock at smaller ports in more interesting places and enjoy scenic cruising along size-restricted waterways in the heart of fascinating cities. Our passion for cruising has led to us having more returning guests than any other cruise line
With Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, you can sail from the convenience of regional UK ports to hundreds of destinations around the world, with sailings available from Southampton, Portsmouth, Newcastle, Liverpool, Dover and Rosyth (Edinburgh).
What’s more, Arts Society member can also benefit from up to 10% membership discount off all 2024/2025/2026 cruises. (terms & conditions apply below).
2024/2025 cruises with Arts Society Accredited guest lecturers
Cruise T2424 | Departs from Liverpool | Bolette | 20th October 2024 | 7 nights
Visit three Spanish cities on this week-long getaway
Sample pintxos in Bilbao and Asturian cider in Gijón
Explore Santiago de Compostela from La Coruña
Arantxa Sardina was born in Santander, Spain, who lives in London & has been a volunteer art guide at the Tate since 2011, she completed her MA in Art History in 2019 focused on fellow Spaniard painter Joaquin Sorolla.
She is an accredited art lecturer of the Arts Society and enjoys learning about art history and artists.
Cruise T2429 | Departs from Liverpool | Bolette | 21st December 2024 | 14 nights
Celebrate Christmas Day on board en route to Gran Canaria
Discover volcanic landscapes in Tenerife, La Palma and Lanzarote
Celebrate the arrival of 2025 with New Year's Eve fireworks
Ian Swankie is an inspirational and charismatic speaker, who is an established Arts Society lecturer and an official guide at Tate Modern and Tate Britain. He has a contagious enthusiasm for art and architecture and has delivered hundreds of talks around the world.
Ian is also a professional tour guide in London and a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Art Scholars, one of the City Livery Companies.
Cruise L2437 | Departs from Southampton | Balmoral | 22nd December 2024 | 14 nights
Have the chance to see the Northern Lights during the festive season
Celebrate Christmas Day on board Balmoral
Experience the Norwegian concept of friluftsliv in winter
Siobhan Clarke BA Hons, has worked for Historic Royal Palaces for 20 years. She has also lectured for the British Museum, National Trust, National Archives, and the Smithsonian. Siobhan is an accredited lecturer for the Arts Society and has featured on BBC Radio ‘Women's Hour’ and PBS Television's ‘Secrets of Henry VIII's Palace’. She is the author of four history books, including ‘A Tudor Christmas.’
Cruise T2502 | Departs from Southampton| Bolette | 6th January 2025 | 106 nights
Explore the untouched landscapes of Robinson Crusoe Island
See the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge
Go in search of the Big Five in Africa
Prof Maria Chester studied Fine Arts and Art History in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She also was a resident student in Rome, Florence and Ravenna (Italy). She travelled the world and later specialized in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican (Olmec, Maya, Aztec, Toltec) and South American Civilisations (Pre-Inca, Inca), which left behind a heritage that allows us to appreciate their aesthetics and customs.
She also developed an interest in Archaeology, which gave her a frame for her constant research. Since 2011, she is the National Subject Adviser in American Archaeology, since 2018 she became an accredited lecturer of The Arts Society in London.
Cruise L2505 | Departs from Southampton| Balmoral | 10th April 2025 | 14 nights
Discover the legend of Sete Cidades crater lakes on Sao Miguel Island
Embrace Portuguese traditions, like thermal bathing in Furnas Valley
Spot a variety of marine life from Balmoral with wildlife charity ORCA
Bill retired early from accountancy and embarked on a completely different career path as a Tour Manager, escorting groups of travellers to worldwide destinations.
His eclectic list of talks largely reflect his experiences during his ten years as a Tour Manager, mixing personal highlights with amusing anecdotes about his journeys around the world. His love of Art, History and Music feature strongly in his extensive list of lectures. Bill is a rock and roll historian and also an accredited Arts Society lecturer.
Cruise L2530 | Departs from Southampton| Balmoral | 13th November 2025 | 14 nights
Enjoy scenic cruising past the Seven Sisters mountains
Discover the Arctic way of life with local Sámi people
Discover the extraordinary science behind the Northern Lights
Bill retired early from accountancy and embarked on a completely different career path as a Tour Manager, escorting groups of travellers to worldwide destinations.
His eclectic list of talks largely reflect his experiences during his ten years as a Tour Manager, mixing personal highlights with amusing anecdotes about his journeys around the world. His love of Art, History and Music feature strongly in his extensive list of lectures. Bill is a rock and roll historian and also an accredited Arts Society lecturer.
Signature Experiences
On board each and every cruise, alongside all the lovely food, drink, entertainment and activities you'd expect, we always have five Signature Experiences included:
1. Join fascinating talks as part of our Itinerary Insights. From lively lectures to smaller entertaining talks you can learn about the culture, history, architecture and hidden gems of the places you will visit.
2. Our Sky At Sea sessions will invite you out on deck to enjoy sunrise and sunset events. You can also go along to the Stargazing sessions where you can sit back on the open deck and listen as our on board teams bring the night sky to life.
3. During our Treats of the Region cookery demonstrations, our chefs will show you how to prepare local dishes, and offer you the chance to taste local delicacies which are on the menu for lunch and dinner.
4. Our cruises are planned with Scenic Discovery routes in mind, designed to take in all the islands, ports, waterways, lochs and lakes, fjords and interesting seascapes that are out there. You can also join our teams for interesting talks or out on deck where they will point out the geology and wildlife you are passing along the way.
5. As a family-run business with almost 200 years of maritime history, Fred. Olsen are perfectly placed to show you what it takes to run a cruise ship. We have a programme called The Ship and The Sea where you can join our friendly officers to learn more about chart reading, or join in with our “Audience With” interviews with the Captain and Officers on board.
Offers end 31st December 2024. E&O
How to book
Arts Society members can also benefit from up to 10% discount off all 2024/2025/2026 cruises.
Terms & Conditions apply.
For more information regarding our current cruises, please visit our website www.fredolsencruises.com or call our friendly reservations team on 0800 0355 116 to order our latest cruise brochures. Or to book quote Arts Society code AFN0001. (Reservations phone Lines are open Mon to Fri 9am – 6pm, Sat 9am – 5pm & Sun 10am – 4pm).
GROUP TRAVEL
A Fred. Olsen cruise is an ideal group holiday for your Society, for tailor-made group quotations, please contact the award winning group sales team on 01473 746169 (Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm) or email ellie.fulcher@fredolsen.co.uk For more information regarding group travel, please click on the below link here: https://www.fredolsencruises.com/group-travel
Terms & Conditions
All prices quoted under the Arts Society Members discount offer are exclusive to qualifying members & their travelling companions only,
Members must quote their discount code at time of booking. Membership discounts cannot be applied retrospectively. Bookings must be made via the booking hotline number 0800 0355 116.
The Arts Society discount cannot be extended to any unrelated third parties, including any travel agents or tour operators. All offers are subject to availability and may be withdrawn or amended at any time without prior notice.
From time to time FOCL may run special offers which cannot be combined with this discount, including selected group travel deals & affinity discounts. Fred. Olsen Ocean’s members are entitled to a 5% Arts Society discount. Subject to the same terms & conditions, to be applied after the standard 5% Oceans discount, where applicable. In this instance, Oceans terms & conditions apply.
New to Fred. Olsen guests can also save 5% through their Arts Society membership, subject to the same terms & conditions. Flights are excluded from any discounts. NB: The Arts Society membership discount is not applicable to book on-line & can only be offered for bookings made by telephone. Offer ends 31st December 2024. E&O
GUEST SPEAKER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE WITH FRED. OLSEN CRUISE LINES
At Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, we pride ourselves on putting our all into our guests cruise experience. If you're interested in being part of our knowledgeable team of Guest Speakers, please visit the following page to learn more: https://www.fredolsencruises.com/speaker-outreach