Canada Makes a Comeback as Fred Olsen Announces 39 New Cruises for an Expanded 2028 Season

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Canada is returning to Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ programme as the company announces 39 sailings for 2028. This move comes in response to rising interest in voyages. Travelers want experiences that highlight wildlife, scenic coastlines, Caribbean islands and rare natural spectacles at sea. The demand is clear. People are seeking more than a trip. They want to feel the moment. To see the whales. To stand on a beach. To watch the sun set over an island. Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is listening.. Canada is back, in the spotlight.

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is setting the stage for an experience-packed 2028 season with 39 voyages spanning Canada, the Caribbean and Europe, combining long-distance exploration with wildlife encounters, island discoveries and some of nature’s most spectacular events.

The programme covers departures from January to July 2028 and introduces a diverse collection of itineraries. Among the biggest attractions are the company’s first Canadian voyage since 2024, an extensive Caribbean journey through Bermuda, the Bahamas and Puerto Rico, and cruises scheduled to give passengers potential opportunities to experience a total solar eclipse and the Northern Lights while at sea.

Canada Makes a Major Comeback in 2028

Canada will return to the cruise line’s schedule with a 19-night journey departing Liverpool on 14 June 2028.

The voyage will take passengers across the Atlantic towards the striking landscapes of eastern Canada, blending days at sea with coastal exploration and opportunities to encounter wildlife.

The route is expected to offer chances to see whales and other marine species, while icebergs could become part of the scenery as the ship approaches Canadian waters.

Exploration will extend to Newfoundland, where dramatic shorelines and maritime communities shape the landscape. The journey will also take in the Gaspé Peninsula and Quebec, adding a mixture of natural scenery, heritage and local culture.

For UK passengers, the Liverpool departure removes the need to fly to an overseas port before joining the cruise, while making the Atlantic crossing an integral part of the holiday.

Bermuda, Bahamas and Puerto Rico Shape Caribbean Adventure

Warm-water exploration will form another important element of the 2028 collection.

A Caribbean island-hopping itinerary will connect Bermuda, the Bahamas and Puerto Rico, allowing travellers to discover several contrasting destinations during a single voyage.

Bermuda brings Atlantic scenery and distinctive island character, while the Bahamas offers extensive coastlines and marine environments. Puerto Rico introduces another layer through its tropical scenery, historic districts and rich Caribbean heritage.

By combining several destinations, the itinerary gives passengers a broader regional experience rather than concentrating their holiday around one island.

Total Solar Eclipse Adds a Rare Moment at Sea

Nature will play a central role in some of the programme’s most distinctive journeys.

Selected sailings have been scheduled to provide potential viewing opportunities for a total solar eclipse, turning the voyage into more than a conventional cruise holiday.

Experiencing an eclipse at sea can offer passengers open horizons and broad viewing areas away from densely developed landscapes. Actual visibility, however, will depend on weather and atmospheric conditions at the time of the event.

The addition reflects a wider emphasis on designing voyages around experiences that happen during the journey rather than relying exclusively on destinations visited ashore.

Northern Lights Bring Another Spectacle

The Northern Lights will provide another natural highlight on selected 2028 departures.

Cruises travelling through northern waters can place passengers in areas where the aurora may become visible when solar activity, darkness and weather conditions align.

Passengers could potentially observe the phenomenon from open decks, with the surrounding sea providing a dramatically different setting from conventional land-based aurora viewing.

As a natural event, Northern Lights appearances cannot be guaranteed, but the timing and routing of suitable cruises can create opportunities for travellers hoping to experience them.

Smaller Ships Put the Journey in Focus

The 2028 collection continues to build around Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ smaller-ship approach, allowing the sailing experience to become a significant element of each itinerary.

Instead of treating sea days purely as connections between ports, journeys can incorporate changing coastal landscapes, marine wildlife and scenic passages.

This approach is particularly relevant to the Canadian itinerary, where the transatlantic crossing and arrival into eastern Canadian waters form part of the wider travel experience.

It also complements cruises centred on natural phenomena, where some of the most memorable moments could happen aboard the vessel rather than during a shore excursion.

October Sales Launch Opens 2028 Programme

The wider collection will be available for passengers to preview before general sales begin on 7 October, while the 19-night Canadian voyage has been made available earlier.

Bookings completed by 4 November will qualify for the cruise line’s Freedom Fare Price Promise, which is designed to protect eligible early bookings from a lower advertised cruise price during the programme’s initial four-week sales period.

Selected accommodation will also be available to solo travellers without a single supplement during this period, providing additional options for passengers travelling independently.

With 39 departures planned between January and July 2028, the new programme stretches from tropical Caribbean islands to the rugged coastline of eastern Canada and destinations across Europe.

Canada’s return, after a four-year absence stands out as one of the season’s developments. At the time voyages linked to the Northern Lights and total solar eclipse add a stronger experiential element creating a 2028 programme built around not only where passengers travel, but also what they may encounter along the way.