Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is taking classroom learning to the high seas with an educational voyage aboard its ship Borealis. As part of a career exploration initiative, UK Level 3 Travel and Tourism students joined the cruise from Newcastle for a behind-the-scenes look into life at sea.

The students toured everything from guest areas and engineering spaces to the ship’s bridge. The hands-on program also included interactive workshops like mocktail-making classes and sustainability seminars—designed to showcase careers in hospitality, maritime operations, and guest services.

One of the biggest highlights? Meeting the crew. Students engaged directly with ship officers, chefs, engineers, and even the sustainability team to hear real-life career stories and gain valuable insights into shipboard roles.

Highlights included:

• A behind-the-scenes tour of the ship and the show stage
• Carbon literacy recognition, impressing Fred. Olsen’s sustainability team
• A towel-folding class with housekeeping and a mocktail-making session
• Day trips to Amsterdam (including the immersive Wondr Museum) and Rotterdam
• A formal night, afternoon teas, karaoke, a silent disco, and even joining a 70s-themed dance fitness session with fellow passengers!

For these students, it was more than just a trip - it was a professional experience that brought classroom theory to life in the most dynamic way possible. The students’ confidence, curiosity, and professionalism were outstanding, we're incredibly proud of how they represented themselves and the college.