Head of sales Geoff Ridgeon said he was keen for agents to experience the new vessels in person to "get a taste for the Olsen way of life".

"We believe there is no better way to experience a Fred Olsen cruise," Ridgeon told TTG while onboard Bolette in Southampton on Wednesday (4 May).

"A ship visit is a fantastic way to get a taster, but to be able to bring the industry and the agents on for an educational trip where they can really get under the skin of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines and understand us at a deeper level going forward is vitally important." 

According to Ridgeon, agents have been, and will be, a "vitally important part" of the company’s route to market.

"We feel we’ve changed the way we’ve communicated through the pandemic, we’ve tried to make things simple, we’ve tried to make things easy, to the point where an agent can understand us at a much deeper level than possibly than they were able to before," he added.

"The two ships, Bolette and Borealis, have enabled us to amplify that and we’re very much looking forward to bringing the ‘Olsen way of life’ to agents." 

Ridgeon said Bolette’s debut season from Southampton has so far been "promising" after the line received "amazing feedback" from its guests. "To be able to bring the ship into and out of Southampton is great," he continued.

"It’s the largest departure port in the UK for different ships so to actually play a part across the industry by actually having Bolette here is amazing. We’ve received so much amazing feedback from everyone who has stepped onboard so far."