Today’s monthly cruise issue coincides with the maiden voyage of Fred Olsen’s MS Borealis, the former Holland America Rotterdam joining the Ipswich-based company’s fleet.

She is embarking on a series of short ‘seacations’ from Liverpool but has cancelled her Scottish port visits.

Also see July Cruise News in this week's BTN.

Your Editor-in-Chief (and wife) are on board having initially booked a trip to Bordeaux over a year ago.  Via this story, and TWITTER, the plan is to update during the voyage.  Do return to this page on a regular basis (www.btnews.co.uk/article/17844).

Borealis has passenger accommodation for 1,360 in lower berths, which means a comfortable 650 guests under the Government rules.  She has 10 fully accessible wheelchair cabins and a further 15 with restrictions, the ship well planned for less mobile holidaymakers.  Rotterdam previously gained a 1353 rating by Douglas Ward in the Berlitz Cruising & Cruise ships standard guide, much the same points as the line's popular Balmoral.  Bolette, sister ship and ex-Amsterdam, joins the fleet 16 August, with its maiden voyage from Dover.

www.fredolsencruises.com