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Black Watch Cruise to Rio de Janiero
 
Reviewed By: Wright, Maidenhead on 8th Feb 2010
Cruise Line: Fred. Olsen Cruises Times cruised before: 6-10
Cruise Ship: Black Watch Sailed: January, 2010
Destination: South America Age: 65+
Cabin: Outside Occasion: Getting to a destination
I would like to give a report on our trip to South America on the Fred Olsen’s Black Watch.

We did the first leg of the full 3-leg cruise leaving Southampton on January and ending at Rio de Janeiro on February on January 31st.
As we had booked with Voyana Travel they included with the Black Watch cruise an extra two nights room with breakfast at the Royal Tulip Regente ****hotel until 3rd February. The hotel is situated just across the road from the Copacabana Beach.

This is the first time my wife and I have cruised with the Blackwatch. Having previously cruised with the other Fred Olsen ships the Braemar and Boudica.

This is also first time we have cruised out of the UK and Southampton. We have previously chosen a cruise that flies out to a destination and cruises from there and we fly back home. That way we avoid inclement weather early on in the cruise especially when cruising in January!
Having said that, leaving Southampton on January 13th in a blizzard the thought of crossing the Bay of Biscay in a storm force 10 gales I was thinking why didn’t we fly to Rio, after all we were flying home from Rio at the end of the first leg of this South American Cruise of 76 day’s.
Anyway I can report that although the Captain, Terje Ulset announced that there would be a force 10-gale wind and a very rough sea for 24 hrs, The Black Watch seemed to iron out most of the swell and I saw no evidence of anyone being unwell.

Due to the cold weather for first two day’s it was not possible to sunbathe on the decks. It was a pleasure then to say that below decks during this period did not appear to be overcrowded with people. The refit has improved the public areas in quality and accommodation so they never appeared crowded.
On the days at sea there was so much to do, especially the first three days in the form of quizzes, talks in the main theatre, art classes, learn bridge and films in the cinema.
Even when we reached Portugal on the third day and the weather had warmed up it was difficult to decided whether to leave the sun bed or go to one of the many other attractions.
The Black Watch is about the same size as the Boudica but the recent refit of the public areas has greatly improved the facilities especially the Cantana Restraurant.

We have been impressed by the standard of food with the Fred Olsen ships but this cruise on the Black Watch the food was outstanding. The menus each day had more choice and the presentation and quality of the food was faultless. The German chef and his team are to be highly commended.
We had the 8.30 late dining option which we prefer as it gives more time ashore during the days in port. The downside of this was that we were never hungry enough to do justice to the Midnight Buffet!

Going on to the main theatre entertainment this by far was the best ever we have seen on the Fred Olsen ships. The cruise director Ronnie Finch was a true professional and his knowledge of the entertainment business really showed through during his entertaining announcements and introductions.
On three separate evenings he did an in depth interview with the three entertainers which as well as giving an in depth sort of Michael Parkinson type show, each one was very funny.
Credit goes to the entertainment in the Neptune Lounge twice nightly at 8.30 and 10.30.
Comedian/Magician Dain Cordean who was very funny and was a very clever magician, a sort of small Tommy Cooper without the tricks going wrong. Dave Kristian was the other Comedian/Singer funny and had a good voice although he did not go down well with everyone.
The star singer was Andrew Robley what a night it was when he was on stage. His next show is at the Sydney Opera house where he is playing lead in Phantom of the Opera.
To round off the evening entertainment there was a variety singing dance act on five separate evenings during our 19-day cruises.
On the last night in Rio a Brazilian shore dance/singing team came and did an hour show in the main theatre.
The ship also has three other bars with a grand piano player during the day and evenings
Also on the cruise was Shirley Anne Field who gave three separate afternoon chats when the ship was at sea about her life, covering her childhood right up to present day. For those of you who may never have heard of her she started he proper film life with Albert Finney in the film Saturday Night & Sunday Morning, some of her leading men in those days have been Steve Mcqueen, Laurence Olivier.
It was so nice that on a ship this size it was small enough to see the entertainers in their real life casual manner and all of them would stop and chat if you so desired.

The shore trips were very well organised and but rather expensive.
When in Salvador we took a taxi to a beach and having been dropped off arranged a pick up return time with him he agreed and did not require paying until we got back to the ship. I would always recommend choosing your own taxi rather than take one outside the port that thrust them onto you with a guided tour. This may be ok but they can work out expensive and you may not get to the place you want.
We shared the taxi with two others therefore making it more economical.

As I said earlier that this was the first leg of a three leg cruise of South America.
As we had booked this cruise with Voyana Travel they added two nights hotel B&B at the end of the first leg in Rio. Also incuded was a half-day trip to the Figure of Christ statue and a scenic tour of Rio back to our hotel Royal Tulip Regente ****.
The hotel room was fully A/C with fridge and mini bar.
We would rate Voyana and their agents in Rio as excellent.

Well is there any downside to this Black Watch cruise, not much. We had a nasty rattle behind a panel in our cabin which kept us awake the first night but a request to reception to get it fixed was carried out whilst we were at dinner that same day.

There is very little shade around the main deck pool area for sun beds, the shade there is for tables and chairs for eating breakfast or for drinks during the day. You can find shade away from the pool one deck up but be prepared to have shuffleboard and coits played at certain times of the day.
All in all we thoroughly enjoyed this cruise with Fred Olsen and Black Watch.

Brian Wright










Quality of Food5
Entertainment5
Shore Excursions4
Staff5
The cruise director Ronnie Finch
Children's Facilitiesn/a
Onboard Activities4
Cabins5
Overall Rating5
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Comment by Wilson, bromsgrove (06 Mar 10 17:33) about this REVIEW
ANDREW ROBLEY has never been in the phantom and if you check sydney opera house you'll find phantom isn't even playing there so its all lie's.
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Comment by Wright, Maidenhead (06 Mar 10 23:11) about a COMMENT by Wilson (06 Mar 10 17:33)
Andrew named Entertainer of the Year! MR WILSON,THIS IS A COPY OF FACTS FROM HIS SITE.I THINK THIS CONFIRMS MY STATMENT,ALTHOUGH I CANNOT SEE ANY REFERENCE TO HIS FORTHCOMING JULY29TH-10TH AUGUST PHANTOM FULLY SOLD OUT CONCERT AS TO THE VENUE.SO PERHAPS YOU HAVE NOT LOOKED UP THE FINER POINTS?. BRIAN With six musical albums, performances before all senior members of the Royal Family, starring roles in the Phantom of the Opera and solo performances with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Andrew Robley is one of the UK's brightest performers. Find out the latest information and check out the downloads included in this website. •Radio Cumbria interview, September 2009 •New Picture Page - Andrew in Australia •2009 Pictures Updated Newsletter - Happy 2009! Andrew's latest CD album "From The Heart" Available now.
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Comment by Wilson, bromsgrove (08 Mar 10 12:16) about a COMMENT by Wright (06 Mar 10 23:11)
well i have looked all over the internet and have found no info that supports any of this...i think it takes a very insecure person to make up things that he has never done...and the reason you can't find any reference to his forthcoming show in july...is because the shows are not real..lies's!!!..its people like you that get taken in by this garbage!!
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Comment by Wright, Maidenhead (06 Mar 10 22:59) about a COMMENT by Wilson (06 Mar 10 17:33)
Wll thats what the compare and he said ,I rest my case. Brian
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Comment by edwards, new eltham (11 Feb 10 18:16) about this REVIEW
great report Brian thanks we are going on Black watch in may for the first time so it's nice to read good things about her Gra
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Question by Parr, Lpool (11 Feb 10 08:41) about this REVIEW
Sounds like you had a great time on Black Watch. We have been thinking of booking for a summer cruise. We love to ballroom dance at a social level, can you tell me what the opportunities are like on board for dancing during the evening? shame about the shore excursions, but this seems to be the same story with all most lines - We have learned to be selective, and to make our own arrangements when possible. I think if I was going to Brazil though, I would probably want to be on an organised tour.
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Answer by Wright, Maidenhead (11 Feb 10 22:32) to a QUESTION by Parr (11 Feb 10 08:41)
There are two sessions of Ballroom dancing in the main theatre prior to the main shows, depending if you are 6.30 or 8.30 sittings.Lasting up to 3/4 hr each session. An anouncement is made as to which steps you should be dancing to.The music is sometimes the live band or good quality CD. There was also Ballroom steps learning sessions at certain times when the ship was at sea during the day. One other bar has another small dance floor and has a pianist alternating with a duo singing pair.
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Comment by Lomer-Hedges, Swansea (10 Feb 10 22:29) about this REVIEW
Reading everyones comments on the newly vamped Black Watch. We are due to go up to North Cape middle of July on it and have booked car parking with ABP at Southampton. As we are travelling on the day from Swansea, can someone tell me what time should we get to the port and what time can we get on to the Black Watch?
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Comment by Wright, Maidenhead (11 Feb 10 00:20) about a COMMENT by Lomer-Hedges (10 Feb 10 22:29)
Lomer,Fred Olsen will tell you about a week before your cruise at which time they will like you to arrive for embarkation,this is to stagger the boarding times so that everyone does not arrive at the same time but don't worry if you are early or late you will get through necessary passport etc control in less than 3/4 hour ,I hope this helps. Regards Brian
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Comment by Wilcox, WOODHALL SPA (10 Feb 10 22:11) about this REVIEW
Glad to hear that you had a lovely cruise. We sailed on the Black Watch in November when she went down to the Canaries and we had very rough weather, but it did not spoil the cruise. It was sailing to Hamburg for the refit after we were disembarked and it is very nice to know that you liked the upgrade in the public areas. I look forward to sampling them when we sail on Black Watch in September this year to the Black Sea. Bridget
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