# Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines reports record demand for 2028 programme

- **Source:** https://pelavox.com/fred-olsen-cruise-lines-reports-record-demand-for-2028-programme/
- **Publisher:** pelavox. (The voice of shipping)
- **Author:** Helena Pierce
- **Published:** 2026-10-22T15:00:00+00:00
- **Updated:** 2026-10-21T10:53:03+00:00
- **Section:** Shipping / Passenger & Cruise
- **Type:** News
- **Topics:** Cruise Bookings, Cruise Industry, Cruise Itineraries, Cruise Tourism, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Passenger Shipping

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has reported the strongest booking day in its history following the launch of its 2028 cruise programme, marking the second time the company has broken its own daily trading record in 2026.

Bookings for the new programme opened on 7 October, covering 39 cruises scheduled to depart between January and July 2028. The launch generated booking demand that exceeded the company’s previous record, established in July following the release of its 87-night Amazon and Antarctica Grand Voyage.

The operator said the latest results reflected strong interest in its smaller-ship cruise offering and destination-focused itineraries. However, it did not disclose the number of bookings, booking revenue or the percentage increase compared with its previous record.

## New itineraries attract strong booking demand

The 2028 programme includes regional departures from Liverpool, Newcastle, Rosyth and Portsmouth, alongside fly-cruise options across several destinations.

Among the itineraries attracting particularly strong interest were a 13-night voyage visiting nine Northern European countries, an 18-night sailing exploring the Italian Riviera and Amalfi Coast, and a 37-night island-hopping cruise covering destinations including Bermuda, the Bahamas and Puerto Rico.

The wider programme also features voyages around the Norwegian Fjords and British Isles, departures timed for Northern Lights viewing, and fly-cruise itineraries to the Mediterranean and Atlantic Islands.

One of the earliest sailings released, *Scenic Highlights of Canada*, sold out less than two weeks after bookings opened, according to the company.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines said the response to the programme had exceeded its expectations, generating unusually high booking volumes throughout the launch day.

## Second booking record in 2026

The latest result follows a previous company record established in July, when Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines launched its 87-night Amazon and Antarctica Grand Voyage for 2028.

The October launch surpassed that earlier performance, giving the operator two record-breaking booking days within the same year.

Geoff Ridgeon, Head of Sales at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said demand for the new programme had exceeded expectations and thanked travel trade partners and customers for their patience during the launch.

The company also reported continued interest in its 2026 and 2027 sailings, although it did not provide comparative booking figures for those programmes.

The newly announced itineraries form part of the operator’s deployment plans for the first seven months of 2028, with a combination of regional UK departures and international fly-cruise options.

While the record booking day indicates strong initial demand for the programme, the company has not published figures that would allow a comparison of passenger volumes or revenue with previous launches.

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Cite as: "Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines reports record demand for 2028 programme", pelavox., 22 October 2026, https://pelavox.com/fred-olsen-cruise-lines-reports-record-demand-for-2028-programme/