Fred Olsen's Black Prince to retire

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has announced that in October 2009 Black Prince will retire from their fleet of ships. Black Prince was built by Flender Werft in Lubeck in 1966 and after entering service on the 19 October 1966 operated as a joint passenger/freight ferry between the UK and the Canary Islands in the winter, and the UK and Norway in the summer. Black Prince was converted to a full time cruise ship in 1987.

There will be a series of four farewell cruises for Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s Black Prince, starting on the 9 September with a 10 night cruise from Liverpool to Southampton, a 3 night mini cruise from Liverpool to Southampton, a 10 night Historic Home Ports cruise and finally a 14 night cruise to the Canary Islands. Black Prince will return to Southampton on the 16^th October.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines managing director Mike Rodwell said: “This is a very sad announcement for the company to make as Black Prince is one of the best loved ships that caters to the UK market, and many passengers have cruised on her so often that even they have lost track of the number of holidays they have taken. We know that there will be thousands of passengers who have sailed on her who will be very sad on that final day.”