Fred Olsen Cruise has announced that it has changed the itinerary for its 106-night Balmoral world cruise next year.
The move will see the vessel avoid sailing through the Gulf of Arden as a result of security issues in the region.
Previously, the ship was due to stop off at ports in the Indian Ocean, but will cross it from Fremantle in Australia instead.
Matt Grimes, director of planning for the cruise line, said the safety and wellbeing of passengers and staff members was a prime concern, adding that the cruise will return to Dover as scheduled on April 21st.
"Although our passengers will no longer visit places such as Dubai and Salalah, their cruise experience will include the breathtaking beauty of Mauritius and South Africa," he commented.
The company recently launched a mini-brochure featuring a number of northerly destinations for summer and autumn 2009, including the Baltic states, Lapland and the Norwegian fjords.
Written by Mike Cotgreave
