Fred Holidays has announced it is set to offer a collection of cruises through the launch of a new brand, Fred Expeditions.
The company revealed that the cruises will be available to be booked through specialist operators and the firm believes the move, which will focus on expedition cruises, will be a first for the UK trade market.
Fred Holidays head of cruise Geoff Ridgeon stated that the company has seen a gap in the market and believes Fred Expedition can take advantage of it, Travel Weekly reports.
He said: “Historically the expedition market has not been the easiest for travel agents to source and can be confusing. We want to make it easier for agents to sell expedition cruises, particularly if they do not feel confident in selling it.”
Among the companies to have signed up to market their cruises under the Fred Expeditions brand include G Adventures, Hurtigruten, Lindblad Expeditions, Oceanwide Expeditions and Poseidon Expeditions, while Quark Expeditions and Silversea Expeditions are also on board.
The new expeditions programme set up by Fred Holidays will initially see its focus placed on the Arctic and Antarctic region, but this may be expanded at a later date if the company enjoys success as a result of the venture.
Tourists booking one of the expedition cruises through Fred Holidays will be able to enjoy a vast array of activities over the course of their break, including camping, fishing and helicopter tours.
The more active travellers will be able to try out hiking, mountaineering and kayaking, while a range of photography workshops are on offer too. Perhaps the most eye-catching of the trips available through the new Fred Expeditions banner are polar diving and ski-trekking.
Fred Holidays has been expanding quickly since it was set up by Fred Olsen Travel last year and cruise fans can already book trips through the company’s Fred River Cruises brand.
