Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines History
The Olsen family business can be traced back to 1848. Here, a young shipmaster called Fredrik Christian Olsen (known as the First Fred. Olsen) entered shipowning on his own account. His earliest vessels were wooden schooners of little more than 50 gross tons. Life was never easy and Norwegian owners and sailors had a harder time than most, with conditions in the winter months can be very harsh and dangerous. By the time the first Fred. Olsen died in 1875, 10 of the 22 vessels which he had owned had been wrecked whilst in his service. His brothers Petter and Andreas also went into the business, with small fleets of sailing vessels, starting in 1852 and 1860 respectively.
It was Petter's son, the Second Fred. Olsen, (actually Thomas Fredrik) who established the Olsen name as one of the most significant in Norwegian shipping. He was a practised seaman who had assumed command of one of his father's vessels at the age of 23. He was then given management of two of his father's ships, and over the next few years, added others to his fleet. The biggest of these was the Canadian-built ocean-going full-rigger Morning Light.
It was not until 1896 that, on behalf of a newly-established company called A/S Bonheur, the second Fred. placed an order for a steamship. She was a 1,000 tonner, and he called her Bayard after one of the vessels with which he started his shipowning career. Since then, it has become a family custom that most of the ships should have names beginning with the letter 'B'.
It was in 1899, after the death of his father, that the second Fred. transferred his office from Hvitsen to the capital city, Christianna (later renamed Oslo). He was now beginning his rapid ascent to become one of the country's most important shipowners. In Oslo, there is a street named after him: Fred. Olsens Gate, which is where the offices are partly accommodated, in a picturesque house dating back to 1710. In the early 1920's the Olsens entered the fruit-carrying trades from the Iberian Peninsular, Mediterranean and the Canary Islands to London and Continental ports.
The second Fred. Olsen's first serious venture into the passenger business came in 1901, when he acquired the Færder Steamship Company, whose ships stillh ad provision for raising sail in case of a breakdown. Each of them had accommodation for not much more than 100 passengers.
The Brabant was the first of a notable new generation of passengers ships, which was taken delivery of in 1926. She had a gross tonnage of 2, 335 and was the Olsen's biggest passenger ship so far, with accommodation for up to 70 first class passengers amidships, and could carry 30 third class travellers in less comfortable quarters at the stern. She also had space for 2, 500 tons of cargo in two substantial holds. She was a more modern looking ship than her predecessors and had one of the newly-fashionable cruiser sterns which were more easily constructed and maintained.
The second Fred. Olsen died in January 1933, which was a blow to the firm, as it came at such a difficult time. He had achieved so much, starting in a very small way but becoming one of the most important shipowners in a country which was certainly not short of vigorous entrepreneurs.
During the latter half of the 1930's, the Olsen brothers were able to restore some of the momentum which had been lost during the Great Depression; with introducing several notable new vessels into their fleet of 'fruiters'. Also around this time, the funnels on Olsen ships which had been painted black with a red band bearing the family's flag on either side, were evolving, and became buff yellow. The flag, white with its swallow tail and with a blue dot and a diagonal blue bar, had first been flown by the second Fred. Olsen on his racing yacht in the 1890's.
In 1951, the first of the new ships started on her maiden crossing from Oslo to Newcastle - she was called Blenheim, in honour of Sir Winston Churchill, who had been born at Blenheim Palace, the Churchill family seat.
The second ship followed two years later, and was given the name Braemar, which was a tribute to the British Royal Family. The new ships were relatively small, but were among the most striking-looking liners of their day.
In 1955, at the age of 26, the third Fred. Olsen suddenly found himself assuming the daunting task of managing and developing the family empire, after his father Thomas Olsen became ill.
The Black Watch entered joint service for Fred. Olsen and Bergen Line in 1966, and made her first voyage from London to the Canaries for Fred. Olsen in the September of that year. The following month, delivery of Black Prince was taken, and joined her sister on the Canary Islands route. The new weekly Canary Islands passenger service proved to be an enormous success.
The Olsens were no strangers to the cruise market, as for years they had been selling winter voyages to Madeira and the Canaries as round trips to the sun. However, the aim was to attract a wider range of passengers. The 'new' Black Prince would, it was hoped, attract younger, more active holidaymakers, many of whom might never have cruised before. One aspect of her former self would not change - with the age of mega-cruise ship already dawning, brochures emphasised that she was a smaller, more intimate and more friendly ship than most.
The re-modelling of Black Prince increased her gross tonnage to 11, 209, with 125 new cabins built into much of the space which had formerly been occupied by either cars or cargo. Black Prince started her new career in 1987, when she sailed from Southampton for Cadiz, Casablanca, the Canary Islands, Madeira, Gibraltar and back to Southampton. The master on that first cruise, and many later ones, was Captain Thor Fleten, who, over the years came to be associated with the ship. A sociable man, much liked by his passengers, is often credited with having set the friendly tone which became one of Black Prince's most endearing characteristics.
From 1987 to 1996, Black Prince was a 'singleton' - a one-ship operation. In 1996, the Olsens found their ship, one they had been eyeing for some time. She had been completed in June 1972 as the Royal Viking Star, the first of three sisters built for Royal Viking Line. In 1994, she was transferred to another company within the Kloster group, the Greek-managed Royal Cruise lines and became their Star Odyssey. Once bought, and following her refurbishment, Black Watch's standard capacity became 761, with a maximum occupancy of 843. She was refitted in 2005, for the replacement of her old engines, and fourteen new balcony suites were created, and more cabins on Bridge Deck given balconies.
By the start of the Millennium, the success of Black Watch and the continuing popularity of Black Prince prompted Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines to seek a third vessel. In early 2001, the 19, 089 gross tons Crown Dynasty was found. She was sent to Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg to be thoroughly refurbished. She was specifically designed for 7-day cruises in the Caribbean, which suited the Olsens, and was given the traditional name of Braemar. The advent of Braemar gave the Olsens the opportunity of adding fly-cruises to their programme.
2005 was a significant year for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. Not only was Black Watch sent to be re-engined and upgraded, but almost simultaneously, they surprised the cruise world by announcing the purchase of one of her sisters. This was the former Royal Viking Sky, with a gross tonnage of 28, 078. Completely refurbished, a very elegant ship has emerged, well able to regain much of the regard in which she was held in her distinguished early years. Boudicca, named after Boadicea, the great English queen of the Iceni tribe, first cruised in 2006, and fittingly visited the Canary Islands. She has since established herself as a popular member of the fleet, running a varied programme of cruises of different lengths.
History information taken from The Fred. Olsen Line and It's Passenger Ships, by Anthony Cooke.
It was Petter's son, the Second Fred. Olsen, (actually Thomas Fredrik) who established the Olsen name as one of the most significant in Norwegian shipping. He was a practised seaman who had assumed command of one of his father's vessels at the age of 23. He was then given management of two of his father's ships, and over the next few years, added others to his fleet. The biggest of these was the Canadian-built ocean-going full-rigger Morning Light.
It was not until 1896 that, on behalf of a newly-established company called A/S Bonheur, the second Fred. placed an order for a steamship. She was a 1,000 tonner, and he called her Bayard after one of the vessels with which he started his shipowning career. Since then, it has become a family custom that most of the ships should have names beginning with the letter 'B'.
It was in 1899, after the death of his father, that the second Fred. transferred his office from Hvitsen to the capital city, Christianna (later renamed Oslo). He was now beginning his rapid ascent to become one of the country's most important shipowners. In Oslo, there is a street named after him: Fred. Olsens Gate, which is where the offices are partly accommodated, in a picturesque house dating back to 1710. In the early 1920's the Olsens entered the fruit-carrying trades from the Iberian Peninsular, Mediterranean and the Canary Islands to London and Continental ports.
The second Fred. Olsen's first serious venture into the passenger business came in 1901, when he acquired the Færder Steamship Company, whose ships stillh ad provision for raising sail in case of a breakdown. Each of them had accommodation for not much more than 100 passengers.
The Brabant was the first of a notable new generation of passengers ships, which was taken delivery of in 1926. She had a gross tonnage of 2, 335 and was the Olsen's biggest passenger ship so far, with accommodation for up to 70 first class passengers amidships, and could carry 30 third class travellers in less comfortable quarters at the stern. She also had space for 2, 500 tons of cargo in two substantial holds. She was a more modern looking ship than her predecessors and had one of the newly-fashionable cruiser sterns which were more easily constructed and maintained.
The second Fred. Olsen died in January 1933, which was a blow to the firm, as it came at such a difficult time. He had achieved so much, starting in a very small way but becoming one of the most important shipowners in a country which was certainly not short of vigorous entrepreneurs.
During the latter half of the 1930's, the Olsen brothers were able to restore some of the momentum which had been lost during the Great Depression; with introducing several notable new vessels into their fleet of 'fruiters'. Also around this time, the funnels on Olsen ships which had been painted black with a red band bearing the family's flag on either side, were evolving, and became buff yellow. The flag, white with its swallow tail and with a blue dot and a diagonal blue bar, had first been flown by the second Fred. Olsen on his racing yacht in the 1890's.
In 1951, the first of the new ships started on her maiden crossing from Oslo to Newcastle - she was called Blenheim, in honour of Sir Winston Churchill, who had been born at Blenheim Palace, the Churchill family seat.
The second ship followed two years later, and was given the name Braemar, which was a tribute to the British Royal Family. The new ships were relatively small, but were among the most striking-looking liners of their day.
In 1955, at the age of 26, the third Fred. Olsen suddenly found himself assuming the daunting task of managing and developing the family empire, after his father Thomas Olsen became ill.
The Black Watch entered joint service for Fred. Olsen and Bergen Line in 1966, and made her first voyage from London to the Canaries for Fred. Olsen in the September of that year. The following month, delivery of Black Prince was taken, and joined her sister on the Canary Islands route. The new weekly Canary Islands passenger service proved to be an enormous success.
The Olsens were no strangers to the cruise market, as for years they had been selling winter voyages to Madeira and the Canaries as round trips to the sun. However, the aim was to attract a wider range of passengers. The 'new' Black Prince would, it was hoped, attract younger, more active holidaymakers, many of whom might never have cruised before. One aspect of her former self would not change - with the age of mega-cruise ship already dawning, brochures emphasised that she was a smaller, more intimate and more friendly ship than most.
The re-modelling of Black Prince increased her gross tonnage to 11, 209, with 125 new cabins built into much of the space which had formerly been occupied by either cars or cargo. Black Prince started her new career in 1987, when she sailed from Southampton for Cadiz, Casablanca, the Canary Islands, Madeira, Gibraltar and back to Southampton. The master on that first cruise, and many later ones, was Captain Thor Fleten, who, over the years came to be associated with the ship. A sociable man, much liked by his passengers, is often credited with having set the friendly tone which became one of Black Prince's most endearing characteristics.
From 1987 to 1996, Black Prince was a 'singleton' - a one-ship operation. In 1996, the Olsens found their ship, one they had been eyeing for some time. She had been completed in June 1972 as the Royal Viking Star, the first of three sisters built for Royal Viking Line. In 1994, she was transferred to another company within the Kloster group, the Greek-managed Royal Cruise lines and became their Star Odyssey. Once bought, and following her refurbishment, Black Watch's standard capacity became 761, with a maximum occupancy of 843. She was refitted in 2005, for the replacement of her old engines, and fourteen new balcony suites were created, and more cabins on Bridge Deck given balconies.
By the start of the Millennium, the success of Black Watch and the continuing popularity of Black Prince prompted Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines to seek a third vessel. In early 2001, the 19, 089 gross tons Crown Dynasty was found. She was sent to Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg to be thoroughly refurbished. She was specifically designed for 7-day cruises in the Caribbean, which suited the Olsens, and was given the traditional name of Braemar. The advent of Braemar gave the Olsens the opportunity of adding fly-cruises to their programme.
2005 was a significant year for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. Not only was Black Watch sent to be re-engined and upgraded, but almost simultaneously, they surprised the cruise world by announcing the purchase of one of her sisters. This was the former Royal Viking Sky, with a gross tonnage of 28, 078. Completely refurbished, a very elegant ship has emerged, well able to regain much of the regard in which she was held in her distinguished early years. Boudicca, named after Boadicea, the great English queen of the Iceni tribe, first cruised in 2006, and fittingly visited the Canary Islands. She has since established herself as a popular member of the fleet, running a varied programme of cruises of different lengths.
History information taken from The Fred. Olsen Line and It's Passenger Ships, by Anthony Cooke.
