Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ Bolette entered one of the drydocks of the A&P Falmouth shipyard on Feb. 23.
The 2000-built cruise ship is now undergoing routine maintenance, as well as class work, hotel upkeep and technical overhauls before resuming service on March 9.
According to the A&P Group Limited, who runs the English shipyard, the Bolette became the largest cruise ship to visit Falmouth in over 60 years.
Built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the 62,375-ton cruise ship was acquired by Fred. Olsen in 2020 and currently serves as the company’s flagship.
According to Fred. Olsen, the Bolette offers a “choice of elegant public areas and restaurants,” as well as an all-season swimming pool and “fantastic entertainment at the bars, lounges and theatres.”
A sister to the Borealis, which was also acquired by Fred. Olsen in 2020, the 1,380-guest vessel originally debuted as Holland America Line’s Amsterdam.
After arriving at the A&P Falmouth, the Bolette also became the third Fred. Olsen cruise ship to undergo a drydock since mid-2022.
In late August, the Balmoral visited a shipyard in Newcastle to fix a propeller issue during an unscheduled drydock.
Later, in October, the Borealis sailed to the Cammell Laird shipyard for routine maintenance and class work.
Following its drydock, the Bolette is set to offer a series of ex-UK cruises to Norway, Iceland, the Baltic and the Western Europe starting in March.
Sailing from the port of Newcastle, the five- to ten-night itineraries feature visits to ports including Alta, Tromso, Reykjavik, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Amsterdam and Antwerp.
In June, the ship is also offering a special 23-night cruise to the Arctic, with planned visits to the Svalbard archipelago, Iceland, Greenland and more.
A few months later, in September, the Bolette is also poised to offer a unique cruise to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Adriatic.
Sailing roundtrip from Southampton, the 26-night itinerary features several ports of call in Spain, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Albania and more.