Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will be welcoming war veteran Simon Weston CBE aboard Balmoral in 2023, when the ship visits the Falkland Islands as part of its epic 78-night voyage to South America and the Antarctic.

Simon Weston CBE will join guests onboard for 14-nights during the call into Port Stanley, and will share his experiences of his time in the Falklands.

Simon is well-known in the United Kingdom and abroad for his charity work, as a motivational speaker and broadcaster after he sustained serious burns to over 46% of his body during the Falklands War in 1982.

He is currently the Patron of the Falkland Veterans Foundation, The Enham Trust, Allied Service Trust and an Ambassador for Changing Faces.

Helen Bennett, Entertainments and Enrichment Manager at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

“We are so pleased to be welcoming Simon on board. His experience can add real insight to our guests as Balmoral sails to the Falkland Isles. His story is one of achievement and triumph in the face of adversity, and we know our guests will value learning more about his journey and about the Falklands War.”

Alan Warner, who represents Simon at Champions UK plc, said:

“Simon absolutely loves cruising, seeing new places and meeting new and interesting people on board. He is passionate about sharing his experiences during the Falklands campaign and life afterwards.”

Setting sail from Southampton on 5th of January 2023, Balmoral’s 78-night voyage will allow guests to discover some of the most fascinating, lesser-visited parts of the world, including the Galapagos and Patagonian Fjords, as well as iconic landmarks of Rio De Janeiro, the ancient sites of Machu Picchu and the idyllic beaches and lush green lands of Ilhabela and more.

Guests can choose between free door-to-door transfers, for up to 250 mainland miles to Southampton, or up to £400 per person to spend on board, so they can make the most of Balmoral’s many bars and lounges, specialty dining restaurants and spa, or to use towards immersive shore excursions.

Details of this cruise are as follows:

Balmoral’s 78-night L2301 ‘Exploration of South America and the Antarctic’ cruise, departing from Southampton on 5th January 2023. Prices start from £8,499 per person.

Itinerary: Southampton, England – Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal – Horta, Azores, Portugal – Hamilton, Bermuda – Havana, Cuba – Colon, Panama – Panama Canal – Guayaquil, Ecuador – Callao, Peru (overnight stay) – Matarani, Peru – Arica, Chile – Valparaiso, Chile – Castro, Chile – Puerto Chacabuco, Chile – Cruising Chilean Fjords – Punta Arenas, Chile – Cruising Magdalena & Cockburn Channel – Cruising by Cape Horn – Ushuaia, Argentina – Cruising Drake Passage – Cruising Antarctica Peninsula (three days) – Port Stanley, Falkland Islands – Montevideo, Uruguay – Buenos Aires, Argentina (overnight stay) – Itajai, Brazil – Ilhabela, Brazil – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (overnight stay) – Salvador, Brazil – Recife, Brazil – Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde – Santa Cruz, Tenerife – Southampton, England