CRUISE INDIAN OCEAN DESTINATIONS Pure
Laura French sets sail on a Fred Olsen cruise to see the Indian Ocean in a different light
@laurafrench121 I
’m being hypnotised. Not by a swinging pendulum, but
by a glorious sunset – ethereal shades of pink, violet, red and orange casting translucent rays onto the rippling sea below, colouring it a bright, violet- amber as the ship drifts gently back and forth. It’s so peaceful I almost forget
where I am, taken away by the swishing sounds of the sea and the buzzing hum of the engine towards the distant horizon. But forget I can’t, for I’m in one
of the most beautiful regions on earth: the Indian Ocean, sampling Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ 880-passenger Boudicca on a fam trip designed to showcase its range of fly-cruise itineraries. That ocean might be more
associated with honeymooners in resorts than 60-somethings on cruises, but that’s exactly why I’m here: to put preconceptions to bed and find out what this part of the world has to offer cruisers who want something a little different.
w MAURITIUS Our cruise began in Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius. Home to a vibrant mix of cultures, this city is worth some time in itself, with a handful of sights to browse nearby including the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden, featuring an array of exotic displays including a pond of giant lily pads. Then there’s Ile des Deux
Cocos, a private island surrounded by water so clear, calm and sheer cerulean it looks
like a Pixar creation. Fred Olsen offers excursions to both, as well as tours of the north and south of the island. But most memorable for me
was the Tea Trail, a full-day excursion that took us from a grand French colonial house to a working tea factory where we saw the entire process of making tea from scratch. Think grassy smells of tea leaves blended with the piercing, nigh-on-deafening screech of grinding machines. It was followed by lunch
shores 8 March 2018
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