IPSWICH: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has received a major travel industry accolade.

The company, which is based in White House Road, Ipswich, has been named Best Cruise Line for Groups in the 2011 Group Travel Awards, voted for by readers of Group Travel Organiser magazine.

Fred. Olsen had to beat off stiff competition from six other nominated cruise lines, which included Carnival, MSC, NCL, P&O, RCI and Saga.

Ellie Fulcher, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ groups sales executive, received the award from travel writer and broadcaster Simon Calder during a ceremony at the Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel in London.

She said: “I am absolutely delighted that Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has won this award – we have been working very hard to develop our groups business in recent years.

“We have a dedicated groups brochure, and a team who work hand in hand with group travel organisers to ensure that each tailor-made booking is designed perfectly for the individual group.

“We also arrange regular visits to the ships, when they are in UK ports, so organisers can see at first hand what we have to offer.

“It is especially pleasing to know that the group travel organisers themselves have voted for us, and we’d like to thank then very much for their support.”

The latest accolade for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is welcome good news for the company, following a number of sickness outbreaks which affected customers in 2009 and 2010.