Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines offers nine night Balmoral 'Superbikes & Scenic Hikes' cruise to include this year's Isle of Man TT Races

Prestigious Cruise line operator Fred. Olsen is offering a nine night 'Superbike and Scenic Hikes' cruise on board the company's flagship Balmoral departing from Southampton on 31st May 2015 which will include a trip to this year's Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy. This is the first time that Fred. Olsen has offered the TT Races as part of a cruise holiday.

The Balmoral will arrive first in picturesque St. Peter Port, on the island of Guernsey. Next stop is colourful Tobermory, a quaint Scottish town on the Isle of Mull.
 
The cruise will then continue onwards to Kirkwall, capital of the Orkney Islands, before calling at the Isle of Man's capital Douglas. During the ship's time in port, the Isle of Man will be hosting the RST Superbike TT Race at 11.00 hours and the Sure Sidecar TT Race at 14.00 hours.

Fred. Olsen will be offering the following TT shore tours in the Isle of Man (subject to availability):

Option A - Noble's Park Fanzone (on request only, £58 per person)
Experience the excitement and enjoy the atmosphere at the Noble's Park Fanzone, located close to the main Grandstand. It may offer access to the paddock walkabout prior to the first race, as well as great photo opportunities of the riders' celebrations. A shuttle will operate between the ship and St. Ninians, with an easy walk to the Noble Park Fanzone. An allocated seat is included within the Fanzone stand.

Option B - Roadside Shuttle (£45 per person)
This shuttle will depart early morning and drive part of the TT course, before dropping guests off at a roadside location, from where they can watch the racing - Quarterbridge to Ballacraine to Kirk Michael, finishing at Ramsey. Bray Hill is also within walking distance - the shuttle will not be able to take guests on the Mountain Section of the TT course. Guests will need to stay at the location for the duration of the day - once the road closes, there is no access for vehicles until the racing ends, when guests will be returned to the ship.

Option C - Ramsey Shuttle (£35 per person)
This shuttle offers a service throughout the day to Ramsey, where guests will be able to watch the TT racing at Parliament Square, browse the shops or have something to eat. The return shuttle will depart from Parliament Square every two hours, or guests will have the option of a tram from Ramsey - both the bus and tram will be exclusive to Balmoral guests. Please note that the times of the bus and tram service cannot be guaranteed, as road closures during the race may cause delays, and guests may be transferred back to Douglas using a public tram service.


As well as being the home of motorcycle road-racing, the Isle of Man - fondly referred to as the 'Rock' by residents - also boasts a number of other interesting attractions, including the 1890s Manx Electric Railway and the Great Laxey Wheel - the largest working water wheel in the world.

The final port of call on this unique cruise is the vibrant city of Dublin, in the Republic of Ireland, famous for its Guinness and 'Temple Bar' area, where guests can experience the city's renowned Irish hospitality, or 'craic'.

For further information on Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, visit the website at http://www.fredolsencruises.com Book online, call Reservations on 0800 0355 242 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm; Saturday, 9am to 5pm; Sunday, 10am to 4pm), or visit an ABTA travel agent.

Not sure what I think of the above, however being something new and potentially bringing the TT and the Isle of Man to a totally new audience, you never know just what may come of it ???

Comments on the above welcome.

(Keep it clean and no defamatory content please).