description of Black Watch

Thursday the 19^th of April

Today we are halfway through the voyage from the Caribbean to the Azores and our final port of call Ponta Delgarda.

Throughout this cruise we have at times been in port next to “gigantic Cruise ships” which make “Black Watch” look very tiny indeed. We have docked next to ships from Holland America line, Cunard, Celebrity and Costa. The opinion of people on this ship is, with the exception of Queen Mary 2, that they look like floating blocks of flats, and with the sleek lines of the ships of the Olsen line of which “Black Watch” is one, that there is something to be said that small in this case is very much better.

Anthony and Joke have asked for some details of the Black watch, so here goes:

She cannot be described as a luxury liner, but once you have travelled on her, she is like a comfortable shoe, you keep returning to.

She is 28,613 tonnes in weight, 205.47 metres long and has a beam of 25.20 metres. Her speed is 20 knots and is fully stabilised.

She can carry 804 passengers with 307 crew members. She is a lovely ship and is very comfortable.

Deck 2 is for crew quarters and rest areas.

Deck 3 The Marina deck is where we are and it is a deck of cabins, the medical Centre and an excellent Cinema Theatre.

Deck 4, The Atlantic Deck is mainly Cabins but also has the hairdresser and beauty parlour situated.

Deck 5 is Main Deck and it is here that Reception, Shops, tours desk and cruise booking office is situated. It also has some cabins.

Deck 6 is the Lounge Deck. Here situated are the 2 restaurants, 2 bars, the theatre and main lounge. At the rear is the outdoor restaurant with swimming pool Jacuzzi and plunge pool and plenty of sun loungers.

Deck 7 is the Lido deck and this has a great bar lounge which opens on to the back decks. Also there is the library, the card room, reading room and some cabins. This is also the promenade deck and one can walk all around the ship on this deck on the outside and also sunbathe on the loungers.

Deck 8, the Bridge Deck is what it says and this where the Bridge is located and the officers mess. There are also some cabins on this deck.

Deck 9 is the Marquee Deck and here are some cabins but mainly the outdoor restaurant with Jacuzzi and pool. The observatory lounge is also here and this gives a panoramic view of the sea in front as we sail.

Deck 10 is the sun deck. Plenty of opportunity to sunbathe here but also here is access to the gym, the sauna, the tennis court putting green and other sports activity areas.

“Black Watch” is truly a friendly and nice ship to be on and most of the passengers are what are called “repeaters” with over half of them having been on this ship by absolute choice over and over again. Some passengers have on this trip been on board 5 months, and some have completed many cruises before including many world cruises.

The reason for so many people being so loyal to Olsen Cruise line is because of the care that the company take in making their ships so friendly and comfortable. The staff is really really helpful and charmingly friendly and this descends in equal measure from the Captain down to the lowliest workers and deck hands. More than half of the Olsen business is created from people who return time and time again having experienced and contrasted favourably, cruises with Olsen line to other ships that are so much bigger.

Having talked with passengers who have been on the big ships while they were in port it would seem that with upwards of 6.000 passengers there is so much less the opportunity to be part of the community you are sailing with.

“Black Watch” is a great ship and one can be on board meeting people and knowing that you will see them again. The opportunity to make new friends is much more possible on a small ship. We love it here on “Black Watch” and it does appear to be the favourite of all the Olsen cruise ships.

Last night we went to probably the best concert we have had since the cruise began. This was a combination of the Black Watch Orchestra and the Rosario string trio who normally perform on deck 6 in the lounges. It was spectacularly good and musically very satisfying with classical music and film music together with some songs sung by Fely.

Another feature of Black Watch is the amount of entertainment on board with small ensembles and pianists performing most of the day in different areas of the ship.

For those of you who have wanted more information about the ship I hope this suffices.

Incidentally, for those who do not know, “Black Watch” is named after the Scottish Regiment of that name.

Fd