Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines says it is introducing a new programme of fly-cruises to the Canary Islands, West Africa and the Cape Verde Islands aboard Braemar, to go on general sale from 10th February 2012. "The exciting new fly-cruise itineraries – including ‘Sun and Souks’, ‘African Beaches and Tropical Islands’ and ‘Morocco, Madeira and the Canaries’ – will depart from London Gatwick and Manchester airports and are available between 6th January 2013 and 17th March 2013."

 “This is a really exciting, innovative development for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. While we know that many of our regular cruise guests relish several days at sea, there are many would-be cruisers who are slightly younger and cannot take time for a leisurely voyage, or simply prefer to start enjoying their sun-seeking as soon as possible. The short and easy flight to Tenerife means that guests can start to enjoy their cruise holiday in the sun within hours. This is a great new product to help agents sell cruises to those who might otherwise take a traditional package holiday," said Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

The new fly-cruises will be between seven and 14 nights’ duration, with exclusive charter flights from London Gatwick and Manchester to Santa Cruz, Tenerife. The fly-cruises are available as a ‘cruise only’ option, so that guests have even more choice when booking their Fred. Olsen cruise holiday. This flexibility means that agents can take advantage of ‘dynamic packaging’ to create a tailor-made cruise experience that is just right for their customer.

It also means that agents can sell cruises to their local markets using convenient regional airports, as Tenerife is served by flights from London Gatwick, London Stansted, London Luton, Manchester, Birmingham, Blackpool, Glasgow, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Bristol, East Midlands, Cardiff, Aberdeen, Belfast, Bournemouth and Doncaster Sheffield.

The cruise ship Braemar, which in previous years has been based in the Caribbean over the winter, will be based in Tenerife from January to March 2013. Braemar will depart from Southampton on 6th January 2013, on her repositioning cruise of seven nights, and will return to the UK on 24th March 2013.

Prices for the new fly-cruises start from £799 per person, based on M1305FC, a seven-night cruise departing from London Gatwick/Manchester on 17th February 2013, visiting Lanzarote, Madeira, La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera, with return flights from Tenerife. Prices include accommodation, all meals and entertainment, as well as flights, and airport taxes.