Improve your Bridge Skills with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
23 Mar 2011
Regular cruisers will know that a game of bridge is a popular activity on many cruises; Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ ships all have dedicated card rooms, and guests regularly get together to enjoy a rubber, whether they are regular players, or just enjoying a friendly game of cards while at sea. On all Fred. Olsen cruises, except the very short mini cruises, there are seasoned bridge players on board to offer advice and tuition for those who wish to learn more.
A real treat for bridge-lovers will be Balmoral cruise L1107, a 14-night cruise to the North Cape, departing from Southampton on 10th June 2011. On this cruise, there will be an English Bridge Union, (EBU), Licensed Bridge Tournament, in association with Gill’s Cruise Centre, hosted by Paul Hackett, whose credentials are second to none. Bridge correspondent for the Daily Express, Paul is a current Senior World Champion, having won the last two world championships in Philadelphia, USA and Sao Paulo, Brazil. He is also the chairman and President of the Commonwealth Bridge Championships. Paul is head of a formidable bridge-playing family; his twin sons, Justin and Jason, and daughter-in-law, Barbara, have all won World Championships.
Balmoral’s ‘North Cape Navigator’ cruise marks Paul’s return to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines for 2011, following a very successful bridge cruise last year. Running alongside the usual entertainment and activities on board, the bridge package will include Paul’s daily commentary, along with fascinating talks covering bridge-related topics and entry into the Tournament (with EBU Masterpoints awarded). Paul says: “Bridge is a great way of getting to make new friends. For those who wish to learn, they will discover that wherever you travel in the world there is always a bridge fraternity.”
He explains his love of the game:- "Bridge is the only game in which you can sit down with players of any age, either sex and any religion and form a harmonious pleasure. It has created friendships for me throughout the world in every continent and most countries."
The cruise featuring this special bridge opportunity has a very exciting itinerary of its own. A summer cruise to the most northerly point in Europe – the North Cape – it is a voyage to the ‘Land of the Midnight Sun.’ Departing from Southampton, the first port of call is Ålesund, famous for its colourful Art Nouveau architecture, then Balmoral cruises far north, to distant Tromsǿ, and right up to Honningsvǻg, for excursions to the North Cape itself. On the return journey, the ports visited are Alta, home of the Sami people for thousands of years, then Narvik, where the famous Ofoten Railway runs 42km through stunning scenery, all the way to the Swedish border. Next port is Olden, set on the majestic Nordfjord and, finally, the bustling fishing port of Bergen, with its charming wooden houses and cobbled streets, before returning to Southampton.
Prices for this exceptional cruise start from £1,370 per person, (inclusive of 5.5% Fuel Cost Supplement), based on two adults sharing an inside, twin cabin, Grade ‘I’ – as featured in the new Fred. Olsen ‘Summer Selection’ brochure. The price includes all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes.
To join the Bridge Tournament on this cruise, bookings are exclusively through Gill’s Cruise Centre – call 0845 460 7002 for latest prices. Find out more at www.gillscruise.com/cruise-deals/bridge-cruises
Find out more about all Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ departures, by visiting the website at www.fredolsencruises.com You can book online, by calling Reservations on 01473 742424, or through any ABTA travel agent.
