BLACK WATCH DRY DOCKED FOR EXTENSIVE REFIT

Fred. Olsen Cruise Line's stalwart, the 28,000 ton, 804 passenger Black Watch, has been dry docked at Blohm and Voss's Hamburg shipyard for an extensive, twenty six day refit intended to significantly enhance cabins and public areas right throughout the popular ship. Following this, Black Watch is due to re- enter service from Tilbury on December 15th on a seven night European Capitals sailing.

Cabin comfort will be enhanced by the installation of an interactive TV service across all 423 cabins, with a renovation of all bathrooms, and the installation of mini bars and safes to all cabins currently lacking these. In addition, the main reception area on Deck Five will be remodelled to make it more user friendly.

A lot of attention will be paid to public areas, too. The Marina Cinema- one of the few such venues afloat- will recieve new 3D upgrades to allow it to showcase contemporary films and television programming. Up top, the forward facing Observation Lounge will get a much needed floor to ceiling makeover, too.

The popular, aft facing Lido Lounge will get all new fixtures and furnishings, plus a sliding wooden floor at the aft end. Inside, the Morning Light pub will be moved to the area of the current Braemar Lounge, and expanded to accommodate a larger crowd. Meanwhile, the area it currently occupies will be reshaped and styled as a new, Neptune Bar.

While all of this is impressive enough, the real changes come in terms of the on board dining options. The current, on board Garden Cafe on Deck Six will morph into Brigadoon, a fifty four seat restaurant that will have an emphasis on Scottish specialities. Next door, the current Braemar Courtyard will become the Black Watch Room, a venue specialising in steaks and other fine cuts. To facilitate this, a new galley will be especially created to service this forty six seat venue.

Outdoors on the aft pool deck, the current Grill will be rebranded and redesigned as a venue specialising in Mediterranean fare. As of yet, no other specifics are available on this alternative venue. The main dining room, the two sitting, 340 seat Glentanar, will be reconfigured to allow for smoother service, and updated with all new furniture and carpeting.

All things considered, this is a sympathetic, thoughtful series of enhancements that should help this perenially popular ship to maintain her place in the cruising firmament. Similar work will eventually also be carried out on her three fleet siblings- Balmoral, Boudicca and Braemar. 

It is to be hoped that the cabin enhancements also extend to the hopelessly outdated room service menu, which remains almost unchanged over two full decades.