Viking Good Ships! A
lmost 40 years ago, two new stars were born. In June 1972, the first to arrive was Royal Viking Star, the lead ship of a trio built for newly-formed luxury cruise
company Royal Viking Line. A month later on the west coast of Norway, Ingar Neerland was born into a trawler-owning family. Today Ingar, now Captain Neerland, is the master of Fred. Olsen’s popular Black Watch, which started life as Royal Viking Star. Black Watch is the antithesis of today’s mega- ships. Her modest 28,613-ton size means she is easy to get around; if you need to fetch something from your cabin, it is a relatively short walk, often with no need to use the lifts. On large ships, it is usually a major hike from the top deck to one’s cabin or a long wait for lifts to arrive. Disembarkation is easy, with few queues at the
gangways. The ship also has more access to smaller ports and cruises often feature a more varied itinerary, like our Western Mediterranean voyage, which visited the Balearic Islands of Majorca, Ibiza and Minorca. Mahon, the former British enclave on Minorca with its restricted and heavily-fortified entrance channel, is usually off limits to the larger ships.
Black Watch was able to berth right alongside the steep steps leading to the charming old town, which, with its narrow streets and beautiful build- ings, is more reminiscent of a British Caribbean town than one in the Mediterranean. Despite Black Watch’s age, the interior décor is kept up to date and in good condition, with many public areas featuring contemporary paintings from the Olsen family private art collection. Part of Fred. Olsen’s charm is the fact it remains a family-run company. With only four ships, there is a great sense of team spirit among the staff and this
32 WORLD OF CRUISING I Winter 2011-12
Peter Newall celebrates the continued service of a distinguished vessel with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Photos by Lisa Royall
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