The Boudicca will sail from Southampton, England, on January 6, 2009, on a 97-day westbound voyage through the Caribbean, the South Pacific, Australia (where she will visit six ports), Tasmania, South Africa and up the west coast of Africa back to Southampton. Among the features of the cruise are a transit of the Panama Canal and three-day calls at Sydney, Australia and Cape Town, South Africa. Fares with early booking discounts for inside single cabins start at $29,995. single outside cabins start at $25,405, and single balcony cabins start at $42,410. Per person double occupancy fares with early booking discounts start at $21,715 for outside cabins, $27,505 for superior outside cabins and suites from $35,405.

The Black Watch will depart Dover, England on February 15, 2009, on a 104-day eastbound route through the Mediterranean, Middle East, India, Vietnam, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Petropavlosk, Russia, the Aleutian Islands, Alaska (where she will visit three ports), Vancouver, three western U.S. ports, Mexico, the Caribbean and the Azores Islands before returning to Dover. The cruise features transits of both the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal. Fares with early booking discounts for inside single cabins start at $32,120 single outside cabins start at $37,960 and single balcony cabins start at $45,260. Per person double occupancy fares with early booking discounts start at $23,285 for outside cabins $29,945 for superior outside cabins and $37,960 for suites.

All passengers making a deposit on one of the entire cruises by December 31, 2007 will receive a $950 per person onboard credit, private roundtrip car transfers between London airports and the ship, and an airfare allowance of $300 to $500 per person, depending on cabin category.

The two ships are were both originally built for Royal Viking Lines. The 839-passenger Boudicca is the former Royal Viking Sky and features primarily outside cabins. A total of 61 cabins and suites have balconies. The 807-passenger Black Watch is the former Royal Viking Star with 90 percent of the cabins having portholes or windows and 66 suites and cabins having private balconies. Four cabins on each ship are fully accessible for handicapped passengers.

Booking for Fred. Olsen Cruises in the United States and Canada is handled by their GSA, Borton Overseas, at 800.843.0602. ext. 6. The cruise line’s website is www.fredolsencruises.com.