Fred Olsen Cruise Lines unveils Journey Navigators programme

Four experts will be on board each ship on every 2023-24 sailing

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines plans to recruit 16 experts who will join sailings to enhance the onboard experience as part of a new Journey Navigators programme.

Four experts – a nature scout, a culture curator, a maritime guide and an entertainment host – will be on board each ship on every 2023-24 sailing.

Speaking during a tour of Bolette in Southampton this month, head of sales Geoff Ridgeon said: “It’s about exploring the world from the ship and enjoying the time that you spend at sea. Starting in 2023, we’re going to launch Journey Navigators and they are going to bring that experience to life.”

The line said nature scouts will be hired “for their expertise and passion for the natural world” and will help passengers “enjoy the natural beauty of places”, and passengers can join the onboard nature scout to stargaze or spot sea life, while the culture curator will organise onboard talks.

“Passengers will really get to learn about the places that we’re visiting on a much deeper level,” Ridgeon said.

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Maritime guides will host bridge and galley tours as well as question and answer sessions with crew members.

Entertainment hosts will ensure passengers’ days are filled with “live music, dancing, quizzes, competitions and all other forms of fun and games on every cruise”.

Commenting on the current rate of post-pandemic recovery in the cruise industry, Ridgeon predicted the sector would return to “a forward booking” market during the second half of 2022.

“Having a lates market is something that we’re not used to but it’s a by-product of coming out of the pandemic,” he said.