The Arts Society Tours with Fred. Olsen

Cathedral of spilled blood in Russia

Here, at award-winning Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, we feel it is a real privilege to undertake this wonderful joint venture with The Arts Society Tours. A number of your members and Accredited Lecturers have already experienced the Fred. Olsen difference and the benefits of smaller ship cruising on our four more intimate, classically-designed ocean ships: Balmoral, Boudicca, Black Watch and Braemar – and we look forward to welcoming you on board for many more exciting voyages to come!

The Arts Society Accredited Guest Lecturers

We are pleased to have secured an Accredited Lecturer of The Arts Society on all cruises listed below. These guest lecturers who are experts in their fields will provide a series of lectures on board as well as hosting selected shore tours and a private group drinks party. For more information regarding the guest lecturers, please click on the lecturer buttons below.

Exploring Australia and the Far East

5th March 2021 | 24 nights | Black Watch | W2105 | Fly-Cruise

  • Diverse Australian cities combine with contrasting Asian destinations to serve up a diverse mix of highlights, from iconic landmarks and cultural delights to beautifully unspoilt landscapes and beaches.
  • During your time ‘Down Under’, see Sydney’s world-famous attractions; enjoy a rare call at Burnie, Tasmania; explore fascinating Australian history in Albany; and delight in the cityscapes of Melbourne and Perth.
  • Visits to the Indonesian islands of Java and Weh present culture-rich cities, spectacular temples and island interiors ripe for exploration, while an overnight stay in bustling Singapore offers an exciting change of pace.
Twin room from £4,799pp
Ocean-view Twin room from £4,849pp
Single room from £6,399pp
 
Plus, £150pp FREE On Board Spend
Sydney harbor, Australia

Paul Chapman

Paul is an Art Historian and a National Gallery trained guide with many years of experience working in education. As a freelance Paul delivers courses and lectures for a wide range of educational organisations and is a fully accredited Arts Society Lecturer.

Paul has also given talks and tours for art associations/societies and is a guest speaker in local schools giving talks and assisting pupils with their art history projects. Paul has a long standing commitment, in conjunction with the N.G as a tour guide at the Longford Castle art collection and he is also tutor at MCSS.

Andalusia & Lisbon

20th March 2021 | 12 nights | Braemar | M2106 | Sail from Southampton

  • Cultural delights, traditional cuisine, spectacular scenery and striking architecture: Andalusia is bursting is with authentic highlights, and you’ll get closer to the very best of them aboard.
  • You’ll sail the gorgeous, size-restricted Guadalquivir River to the heart of Seville, where a feast of historical and architectural gems such as Alcázar Palace, traditional tapas and sultry flamenco awaits.
  • There’s also visits to Malaga, overflowing with aesthetic and cultural treasures; and Cádiz, for fascinating ancient sites, beautiful coastal scenery, tempting tapas and tours to Jerez – ‘sherry capital of the world’.
Twin room from £1,499pp
Ocean-view Twin room from £1,749pp
Single room from £2,499pp
 
Plus, £75pp FREE On Board Spend
Couple sitting on the wall overlooking Malaga, with Braemar in the background, Spain

Alice Foster

Alice has lectured for the University of Oxford for over 20 years. Her busy freelance career includes tutor-guiding study groups to Europe, lecturing for the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, and writing and running history of art courses for the Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock. She runs independent classes in Oxfordshire and Worcestershire. Alice has been a guest lecturer at New College, Oxford, and at the University of Bristol.

She is President of Banbury Fine Arts Society and recently President of The Arts Society Northleach - a role she was proud to accept. She has been an accredited lecturer with The Arts Society since 2004 and has lectured all over the UK and in Europe. Alice regards her Arts Society work as highly stimulating and has enjoyed meeting people from many walks of life, with a diversity of career expertise.

Fjords & Falls of Fred. Olsen’s Homeland

15th June 2021 | 8 nights | Boudicca | D2115 | Sail from Dover

  • Experience the scenic splendour of size-restricted fjords, discovering natural wonders that larger ships can’t access on smaller, friendlier Boudicca.
  • See the imposing mountains and countryside scenes of Akrafjord and Karmsund; magnificent Langfoss Waterfall; and be spellbound by the eerie peace and spectacular beauty of Nærøyfjord.
  • Ride the iconic Flåmsbana and Rauma railways from Flåm and Andalsnes, to see the fjordland from a different perspective; explore historic Stavanger; and tour to the awe-inspiring Briksdal Glacier and Lovatnet Lake from Olden.
Twin room from £1,199pp
Ocean-view Twin room from £1,399pp
Single room from £1,999pp
 
Plus, £75pp FREE On Board Spend
Stunning Naeroyfjord in Norway
Professor. Anne Anderson

With a first degree in archaeology and a PhD in English, Anne was a senior lecturer in Art and Design History at Southampton Solent University for 14 year. She has curated three national exhibitions: The Truth About Faeries (2011), Under the Greenwood: Picturing the British Tree (2013) and Beyond the Brotherhood: the Pre-Raphaelite Legacy (2019-20).

Anne has held several prestigious American fellowships including Fellow of the Huntington Library, CA. A tutor for the V&A Learning Academy, Anne specialises in Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts movement.  Her career as an international speaker has taken her all over the world. Her recent books include Edward Burne-Jones The Perseus Series (2018) and Beyond the Brotherhood: the Pre-Raphaelite Legacy (2019).

Loughs, Isles & Iconic Sites of Ireland

3rd August 2021 | 9 nights | Braemar | M2119 | Sail from Southampton

  • Circumnavigating the ‘Emerald Isle’, taking in scenic and city highlights along the way, makes for an immersion into Ireland’s incredible beauty and rich culture.
  • Scenic cruising on small ship Braemar will be unforgettable; you’ll navigate the spectacular Killary Fjord and Lough Swilly, see the mighty Cliffs of Moher and much more.
  • Ashore, Cobh and Belfast display seafaring heritage and links to Titanic; Galway offers seafood and medieval history; and there are iconic highlights aplenty to uncover in Dublin.
Twin room from £1,349pp
Ocean-view Twin room from £1,599pp
Single room from £2,399pp
 
Plus, £60pp FREE On Board Spend
The Cliffs of Moher located at the southwestern edge of the Burren region, Ireland

Prof. Michelle P. Brown FSA

Michelle is a Professor Emeritus at the School of Advanced Study, University of London, and Visiting Professor at University College London. She was formerly the Curator of Illuminated Manuscripts at the British Library, a Visiting Professor at Leeds and Baylor Universities and a Senior Research Fellow of Oslo University.

One of her specialist areas of study is the early cultural history of Britain and Ireland and she is considered a world expert on manuscripts such as the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Book of Kells. A specialist in History, Art History and Archaeology, she brings these skills to bear upon the art, buildings and artefacts of an age to give insight into the lives of those who made and used them.

She has lectured, published and broadcast widely (including Time Team, In our Time, The Beauty of Books, Heavenly Gardens, Chrisitianity: a History). Her books include: How Christianity Came to Britain and Ireland, The Lindisfarne Gospels and the Early Medieval World and Art of the Islands: Celtic, Pictish, Anglo-Saxon and Viking Visual Culture c.450-1050.

Rivers and Cities of France & Seville

2nd September 2021 | 14 nights | Braemar | M2123 | Sail from Southampton

  • Experience what makes cruising with Fred. Olsen so special, with unforgettable scenic cruising and cultural city discovery, made possible by Braemar’s smaller size.
  • Sailing the Seine and Loire rivers presents views of the beautiful French countryside and charming communes, while plenty of highlights await ashore at Rouen and Nantes, gateway to the Loire Valley vineyards.
  • The Guadalquivir River is your picture-perfect route into the heart of Seville, where fine architecture, abundant cultural delights and sultry flamenco dancing awaits.
Twin room from £1,999pp
Ocean-view Twin room from £2,349pp
Single room from £3,399pp
 
Plus, £100pp FREE On Board Spend
Plaza de España in Seville

Ray Warburton OBE

Ray has been an accredited lecturer with The Arts Society since 2016. He lectures on a range topics including painters such as John Constable, JMW Turner, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso; and sculptors including Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore and Germaine Richier. Ray’s more contemporary lectures look at Pop Art and Conceptual Art.

He gained a MA in the History of Art in 2017 from the University of Buckingham. (His first degrees in the early 1970s were in economics!) He was been a guide at Tate Britain and Tate Modern since 2011. For most of Ray’s working life, he worked in health and social care as a policy maker, planner and researcher. But now his sole focus is the celebration, and communication, of art in all its many forms.

Swedish Waterways & Delights of Denmark

11th September 2021 | 10 nights | Boudicca | D2122 | Sail from Dover

  • This Swedish showcase makes for a very special holiday, mixing the highlights of the culture-rich capital with the beauty of exquisite waterways.
  • Experience the sheer wonder of the idyllic west coast fjords and incredible Stockholm Archipelago; and enjoy an in-depth exploration of Stockholm, with its fantastic museums, monuments and palaces.
  • Copenhagen – home to some of Denmark’s most iconic sights – adds Danish delights into the mix, while there are rare-visits to lesser known Skagen and Trelleborg too.
Twin room from £1,399pp
Ocean-view Twin room from £1,599pp
Single room from £2,349pp
 
Plus, £75pp FREE On Board Spend
Boudicca cruising the Stockholm Archipelago

Karin Fernald

Karin Fernald is an AS accredited speaker and performer who researches, and aims to create a vivid picture of,  a historical character and period. All her subjects are connected with the fine arts; some - including Hans Christian Andersen -   are artists themselves. . Karin's entertaining lectures and shows are illustrated with a wide variety of pictures, portraits and caricatures of the day. She has taken them to  most AS Societies in Europe, New Zealand and Australia, and on several occasions to Japan.

Karin’s lecture subjects include Florence Nightingale, Queen Victoria, Dr Samuel Johnson, Hans Christian Andersen, Virginia Woolf and Jane Austen. She was supposed to be touring Australian Arts Societies this May, but the virus  put a stop to that.  So instead  she has much enjoyed putting some finishing touches to her  two latest AS lectures; English Women in the French Revolution and Not a dog in London but knows him (the Victorian animal painter Edwin Landseer).

Back in the 1980’s Karin visited Sweden many times and at different times of year; teaching and performing in Stockholm schools, travelling on the spectacular Tunnelbana (the Underground)  and seeing much of the  country from north to south, including the  beautiful Stockholm  Archipelago. Since then she returns regularly to visit friends.  Her strong interest in Hans Christian Andersen has also led her to visit Denmark,  most recently last September. 

Karin began in the theatre, where she played roles ranging from Sally Bowles in CABARET to the Dormouse in Alice in Wonderland. On TV she played Anne Forsyte in The Forsyte Saga. On radio she compiled a programme on the celebrated potter Bernard Leach for BBC Radio 3, shortlisted for a Prix Italia.

Spain's Undiscovered Gems

21st September 2021 | 14 nights | Boudicca | D2123 | Sail from Dover

  • Away from well-trodden tourist routes, a trio of lesser-known, undiscovered gems will offer a rarely experienced taste of Spanish history and culture.
  • Castellón de la Plana, Motril and Vilagarcia de Arousa seamlessly mix old and new, with their centuries-old highlights, trendy cafés, shops, bars and vibrant, bustling squares.
  • You’re in for easy, enriching explorations of Cádiz, Mahon – the Menorcan capital – and Cartagena too; Boudicca docks closer to the heart and historic highlights of these beautiful, fascinating cities.
Twin room from £1,899pp
Ocean-view Twin room from £2,249pp
Single room from £3,429pp
 
Plus, £100pp FREE On Board Spend
Cádiz Cathedral, Southern Spain on a sunny day

Justin Reay FSA FRHistS

Justin is an Accredited Lecturer for the Arts Society and a member of The Arts Society Cheltenham.  An advisor to museums, media companies and private collectors, he is a published historian, currently researching maritime art in the National Trust collections.

As a frequent lecturer to graduate students and enrichment speaker on art history for cruise lines, he engages audiences with a rich variety of material from his original research and interpretation.

Uncrowded Baltic

30th September 2021 | 12 nights | Balmoral | L2130 | Sail from Newcastle

  • With fewer sightseers around, you can experience an immersive and more relaxing exploration of captivating Baltic cities outside of peak season.
  • Smaller crowds and queues in St Petersburg allow more time and space to see the city’s spectacular sights, and experience the magic of Russian ballet, during an overnight stay.
  • Explore Tallinn’s enchanting Old Town and meet local bell ringers at one of its historic churches; wander charming Riga; and taste authentic Scandinavian culture in Copenhagen and Gothenburg.
Twin room from £1,699pp
Ocean-view Twin room from £1,999pp
Single room from £2,899pp
 
Plus, £100pp FREE On Board Spend
Fabulous Peterhof fountains in St. Petersburg
Professor. Anne Anderson

With a first degree in archaeology and a PhD in English, Anne was a senior lecturer in Art and Design History at Southampton Solent University for 14 year. She has curated three national exhibitions: The Truth About Faeries (2011), Under the Greenwood: Picturing the British Tree (2013) and Beyond the Brotherhood: the Pre-Raphaelite Legacy (2019-20).

Anne has held several prestigious American fellowships including Fellow of the Huntington Library, CA. A tutor for the V&A Learning Academy, Anne specialises in Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts movement.  Her career as an international speaker has taken her all over the world. Her recent books include Edward Burne-Jones The Perseus Series (2018) and Beyond the Brotherhood: the Pre-Raphaelite Legacy (2019).

Cultural Caribbean Discovery

20th January 2022 | 14 nights | Braemar | M2202 | Fly-Cruise

  • Join Braemar in the Dominican Republic for an epic journey taking in the cultural and historical highlights of stunning destinations in the Caribbean and the Americas.
  • Port Royal is your gateway to Kingston, for a taste of quintessential Jamaican culture; and there’s time for an in-depth discovery of the fabled Cuban city of Havana.
  • There are incredible Mayan ruins to uncover in Mexico and Belize; and a remarkable, ancient walled city is yours to explore at Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.
Twin room from £2,499pp
Ocean-view Twin room from £2,749pp
Single room from £3,599
 
Plus, £100pp FREE On Board Spend
Blue classic car in Havana, Cuba

Dr. Diane Davies

Dr Diane Davies is a Maya archaeologist and honorary research associate of the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. She completed her PhD in Anthropology, specialising in Central America, in particular, the Maya, at Tulane University, New Orleans.  Diane also has a Masters in Archaeology from the Institute of Archaeology, UCL and a BA Joint Honours in History and Philosophy from Leeds University.

Little is known about the Maya in the UK and so aside from carrying out research in Guatemala since 2003 and teaching, Diane is an educational consultant for schools giving workshops to both teachers and children on the Maya.  She is also a consultant for television and radio. Dr Davies has created award-winning resources, organizes public trips to the Maya area and is also the Chair of Chok Education, a charity supporting the education of Maya children. Finally, she organises conferences on the Maya as well as lecturing to a variety of organisations, including the City Literary Institute, the Arts Society and the Historical Association.

Iconic India

2nd February 2022 | 15 nights | Boudicca | D2202 | Fly-Cruise

  • Uncovering contrasting traditional and modern highlights, spiritual sights and areas of natural beauty will showcase India at its most inspirational, authentic and iconic.
  • Immerse yourself in the everyday life of bustling Mumbai, revelling in the city’s legendary hustle and bustle; and capture the spiritual importance of Porbandar – birthplace of Gandhi.
  • See Kochi’s famous cantilever fishing nets and stunning synagogue; delve into the European history of Goa; and taste the intense, taste bud-tingling spicy flavours of traditional Indian cuisine.
Twin room from £3,099pp
Ocean-view Twin room from £3,449pp
Single room from £4,499
 
Plus, £125pp FREE On Board Spend
Gateway of India with sunset in Mumbai
Dr. John Stevens

Dr. John Stevens is a Research Associate at SOAS, University of London, and a member of academic staff at the SOAS South Asia Institute.  His PhD in History is from University College London. He teaches British Imperial history, Indian history and Bengali language, and is a regular visitor to India and Bangladesh. He publishes widely in the fields of British and Indian history. His biography of the Indian guru Keshab Chandra Sen will be published by Hurst in 2018. He appears regularly in the Indian media, and was recently a guest on BBC Radio Four’s In Our Time, discussing the poet and artist Rabindranath Tagore. 

Ancient Civilisations & Landmarks

17th February 2022 | 15 nights | Boudicca | D2203 | Fly-Cruise

  • Immerse yourself in centuries of extraordinary history, as you uncover some of the world’s greatest historic and holy sites.
  • In Egypt, you can explore the extraordinary Valley of the Kings and marvel at the magnificent Pyramids of Giza, on tours from Safaga and Alexandria respectively, and experience a navigation of the Suez Canal.
  • You’ll be afforded an opportunity to see the ancient tombs, archways and temples of Petra’s ‘Lost City’ in Jordan, while in Israel hallowed Jerusalem and Bethlehem await.
Twin room from £2,699pp
Ocean-view Twin room from £3,099pp
Single room from £3,999
 
Plus, £125pp FREE On Board Spend
Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

Eileen Goulding

Eileen is an experienced lecturer and published author with  an MA in Egyptology she has specialist knowledge of the ancient civilisations which bordered the Mediterranean, including Egypt, Greece and Rome, and has also studied extensively the history of the Caribbean with special reference to piracy, and the history of neighbouring Mexico with its Olmec, Inca and Mayan civilisations. She also has a keen interest in the Myths & Legends of the Ancient World. She has been a regular guest speaker for seven years on all her subjects on cruise ships and for three years with The Arts Society.

Croatia, Italy & Montenegro

1st April 2022 | 12 nights | Braemar | M2207 | Fly-Cruise

  • Discover beautiful, historic regions nestled along gorgeous Adriatic coastline, as smaller-scaled Braemar takes you closer to destinations in Croatia, Italy and Montenegro.
  • Experience scenic cruising of the fjord-like Bay of Kotor; explore Kotor’s beautifully preserved medieval centre; and discover the historic delights of UNESCO-listed Dubrovnik and Split.
  • Visiting Venice is an undoubted highlight; you’ll get to see iconic landmarks and ride a gondola on the famous canals, and even visit the charming, laid-back fishing town of Chioggia.
Twin room from £1,899pp
Ocean-view Twin room from £2,149pp
Single room from £2,999
 
Plus, £60pp FREE On Board Spend
Iconic Gondalas and bridge in Venice
Nirvana Rommell

After completing degrees in her native Croatia (English Language and Literature; History of Western Art and Arts of the Western Balkans), Nirvana spent a decade in South Africa. From 2000, she ran her own art history courses in Johannesburg, South Africa, and was invited to lecture to societies and companies.

Since settling in the UK in 2003, she has been working as a freelance lecturer. She has presented art history courses and lectures at the Manchester Art Gallery, National Museums Liverpool, the Whitworth Art Gallery, University of Manchester and other art institutions and societies in the North West. She has also trained museum staff and volunteers on collections interpretation and public engagement; and has been lecturing for the Arts Society since 2005. Nirvana is also active in the field of cultural travel, and has been consulting on, arranging and leading study tours to the Balkans, Italy, France, Sweden and South Africa since 2005.

Personal interests include cultural studies, cooking, oenology, fiction, theatre and cinema, jazz and hiking.

For bookings & enquiries, or to order a Fred. Olsen brochure please call our
Reservations Team on 0800 0355 116, quoting the Arts Society code AFN0001

Fares are per person, based on twin occupancy of the lead-in twin cabin, subject to availability. All pricing is capacity controlled, subject to availability. Offers may be amended or withdrawn at any time without prior notice, are subject to availability & cannot be applied retrospectively. All bookings are subject to Fred. Olsen's standard terms & conditions, available here on our website & on request. Some ports may be at anchor, intermediate days are at sea. FOCL reserve the right to amend itineraries for operational reasons.

The free on board spend credit is per person, based on the specified amounts. The on board spend credit is automatically applied to guests on board ship accounts and cannot be transferred, refunded, or exchanged for cash.

All Inclusive Upgrade offer covers selected beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks, subject to availability. Tours, tips, premium drinks, medical facilities and other optional spend, during travel to the ship and while on board, are not included. Any additional expenditure will need to be paid separately. All Inclusive Upgrade Package must be booked at least 8 days prior to departure.

The Arts Society free group drinks party on board operates subject to minimum numbers & includes house wines, sherry, soft drinks & cold canapés. To be hosted by the group leader. All Arts Society members bookings to be made under the Arts Society account code AFN0001. Arts Society guest lecturers are correct at the time of going to print June 2020 & may be subject to change.