FRED Olsen Cruise Lines, a regular visitor to the port of Southampton, is to buy another vessel, boosting its fleet to five ships.
This comes hard on the heels of Fred Olsen's acquisition of the company's latest ship, Boudicca, which came into service earlier this year.
Aimed mainly at the rapidly expanding British cruise market, Fred Olsen frequently bring its ships Black Prince, Black Watch and Braemar to Southampton, and later this year Boudicca will make her first call to the port.
Fred Olsen has reached an agreement to buy Norwegian Crown, currently owned by Star Cruises and operated by Norwegian Cruise Lines.
Norwegian Crown was built in 1988 by Meyer Werft in Germany.
The 32,242-ton vessel accommodates 1,104 passengers, but this figure is likely to be reduced when the ship is taken over.
Fred Olsen will take delivery of the vessel in November next year.
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