- Fire in July damaged ship
- Cabins and public areas to be refreshed
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ 44-year-old Black Watch will undergo a ship-wide refurbishment with upgraded in-cabin technology, new restaurants, new decor and new designs for the pubs and bars.
The 804-passenger ship will depart Tilbury on November 18th and enter dry dock at the Blohm + Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany on November 20 for a 26-day refits. The ship will re-enter service on December 15, for a Christmas Markets Cruise from Tilbury.
Fred. Olsen also revealed a number of features of the refurb will be rolled out to the rest of the fleet “in coming years”.
A fire on the ship last July caused significant damage and led to a cruise being shortened, passengers flown home and the ship taken to Spain for repairs.
The refurbishment includes:
- Cabins will get a new interactive in-cabin TV system, safes and mini-bars installed
- Bathrooms will be refurbished;
- Braemar Garden Café converted to a 54-seat restaurant,
- Brigadoon gets new décor for a stylish, intimate dining experience.
- Braemar Courtyard converted into a separate specialty dining area, called The Black Watch Room. The 46-seat restaurant will offer steaks cooked to order, with its own dedicated galley.
- The existing Grill restaurant, situated on Lounge Deck 6 aft, by the main pool area, rebranded and redesigned, for a Mediterranean-themed dining experience.
- The main dining room, the 340-seat The Glentanar refurbished with new furniture, carpet and curtains.
- The Observatory Lounge décor and fittings refreshed,
- The Lido Lounge new furniture, fabrics and carpets, a full-width sliding door to the aft.
- The Morning Light Pub moved to the area currently occupied by the Braemar Lounge to replace the existing Pub next to the Neptune Show Lounge with new furniture and fabrics and a new bar. The area vacated by the existing Morning Light Pub will be renamed the Neptune Bar.
- The Marina Cinema will be upgraded with the latest 3D technology.
- Guest Services area will be refreshed
Mike Rodwell, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “Black Watch is one of Fred. Olsen’s most popular cruise ships, and it is important that she always looks her best. During her 26-day dry dock in Hamburg, as well as the usual maritime inspections and maintenance work, we will also be undertaking major upgrades to the cabins and public areas throughout the ship, to ensure that we continue to provide the best facilities possible to meet our guests’ expectations.”
