The Interview


Peter Deer, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines


The UK-based cruise operator has unveiled plans to resume operations next spring. Lucy Huxley talks to its managing director


F 12


red Olsen Cruise Lines has had a busy fortnight, first confirming the retirement


of long-standing favourites Boudicca and Black Watch, and then outlining plans to resume sailings following the Covid-enforced shutdown. Last week, the line confirmed


new ships Bolette and Borealis should be in operation in March or April 2021 following their acquisition from Holland America Line, with Braemar


expected to return at a similar time. Balmoral is expected to be the first ship in the fleet to return to service, with the line planning to confirm a resumption date in the near future. When the fleet is back in service, capacity will have increased by 30% thanks to the introduction of the two 1,400-passenger vessels. Despite the shutdown of recent months and the focus on the cruise


3 SEPTEMBER 2020


sector and its ability to return, managing director Peter Deer is bullish about future prospects on a range of topics.


Return of cruise The absolute priority for the cruise sector is to demonstrate its ability to return safely and reiterate its commitment to the safety of passengers and crew above all else, Deer says. He describes the government’s


decision to single out cruising as higher-risk than other forms of travel as “unfair and disappointing”, adding: “What’s the science to say that cruising is really high-risk compared to flying in an airplane where you’re sitting next to someone for a number of hours?” Deer says he believes the


government recognises the cruise industry’s arguments, but says there is still work to be done to persuade regulators that sufficient measures


are in place to allow a resumption, and argues that will take time and “baby steps”. The theme of “baby steps” also


returns when Deer discusses plans for his own line’s resumption. “Our initial steps back into


cruising, when we believe it is safe to do so, will be baby steps closer to home, closer to the UK, then a little bit further,” he says. “There will be less exotic cruising,


certainly to start with, and once we feel that’s worked really well and we have confidence with everything


we’re doing and the guests have confidence and the governments have confidence, then we can be more extensive.” Deer says he hopes the largely


blanket advice against non-essential travel imposed by the FCO will be lifted in the next few months so that lines “can actually start operating our businesses”. Then the focus will be on establishing consistent protocols across operators and countries. “It’s about building a ‘sea bridge’ between different destinations and different countries,” he adds.


I think most people are thinking that 2020 is a bit of a write-off really from a


travel perspective. But for next year, they’re saying ‘we definitely want to go cruising’


travelweekly.co.uk


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