Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has marked 20 years of sailing from Newcastle, with more than 180,000 guests having travelled from the Port of Tyne since its first programme launched in 2006.
The anniversary was marked aboard Balmoral with live music and a piper welcoming guests before the ship departed with a water cannon salute.
The cruise line now has a further 21,000 guests booked on future Newcastle departures and is planning its biggest-ever programme from the port, with 27 sailings scheduled for 2027.
The itineraries include the Norwegian fjords, British Isles, Scandinavia, the Baltic and the Mediterranean.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines CEO Samantha Stimpson said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating 20 years of sailing from the Port of Tyne and bringing cruising closer to home for our guests across the North East.
“Newcastle remains a key part of our regional cruise programme, and we’re excited to be building on our strong partnership with the Port of Tyne as we look ahead to our biggest-ever programme of sailings from the city in 2027.
“I’d like to thank the Port of Tyne for helping make yesterday’s celebrations so special, and we look forward to welcoming even more guests from across the North East aboard our fleet in the months and years ahead.”
