A MAJOR cruise operator has filled some of the gaps that were available at Tilbury's International Cruise terminal following the demise last year of the borough-based Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV).

CMV became one of the biggest business casualties of coronavirus when it went into administration last summer with the loss of many local jobs and hundreds of crew members on its fleet stranded at the borough port. There was to be no rescue of the company and it took several months to repatriate the crew members – while the ships were sold off – some of them for scrap!

Now there has finally been some good news on the cruising front. While holidays at sea are still banned, there is optimism that the industry will bounce back to life later in 2021 and into next year.

And Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has unveiled a new programme of cruising as the line gears up for a return to sailing, with 126 new voyages taking in 82 countries, with new regional departures from Tilbury filling the gap created by CMV's demise and visiting many of the relatively close North and Baltic Sea ports that CMV ships regularly called at.

The programme, which was released on Monday, includes short, closer to home excursions and a number of sailings for those looking to venture further afield.

Martin Lister, Head of Itinerary Planning and Destination Experience at Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, said: "We are always incredibly proud to unveil our new cruise programmes, but this year it feels particularly exciting as it is the first time we will do so with our new look fleet.

"Every year we craft our new itineraries from scratch to ensure that we continue to offer our guests exceptional experiences in the destinations they visit with us. This has felt even more important this year, with the past 12 months having left us all dreaming of our next adventures and really considering what we all want from our holidays.

"For those looking to set sail on a shorter cruise, there are plenty on offer, each with the opportunity to experience time ashore, entertainment-packed sea days and scenic cruising aplenty.

"Our ships really come into their own in the Norwegian fjords, and of course we are continuing to celebrate that. Aboard our smaller-sized fleet, guests will be able sail size-restricted waters, away from the well-sailed route, right into the heart of the fjordland. Plus, the northerly departure ports of Newcastle and Rosyth in Edinburgh are ideally placed to showcase them at their best in just five nights.

"But the shorter escapes are not just bound to Norway, with sailings to Belgium, France, Denmark and Spain available in six nights or less, with many of these sailings made possible by the impressive sailing speeds of our new ships, Bolette and Borealis.

Some of the cruises leaving from Tilbury include:

Bolette's five-night T2226 'Antwerp & Amsterdam City Break' cruise, departing from London Tilbury on 21 October 2022. Prices start from £699 per person. Enjoy a free all-inclusive drinks package or up to £100 per person to spend on board.

Bolette's 15-night T2229 'Ancient Walls of the Med with Malta' cruise, departing from London Tilbury on 17 November 2022. Prices start from £1,899 per person. Enjoy an all-inclusive drinks package or up to £200 per person to spend on board.

Bolette's 13-night T2232 'White Christmas in Norway' cruise, departing from London Tilbury on 21 December 2022. Prices start from £2,299 per person. Enjoy an all-inclusive drinks package or up to £150 per person to spend on board.

For further information on Fred Olsen Cruise Lines' new 2022/23 itineraries, click here. Book online, call Reservations on 0800 0355 242 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm), or contact your ABTA travel agent.