Cruise operator Fred Olsen has confirmed it will suspend fly-cruises from the Caribbean from next year.

Increases in the Air Passenger Duty were cited as the reason, with high costs making the trips economically unviable.

As a result of the decision Braemar will sail its last programme this winter in the Caribbean and will then voyage from UK ports.

“This was not an easy decision to make, as our Caribbean fly-cruises have always been popular,” said Lol Nichols, general sales manager at Fred. Olsen.

“We feel that the wide choice of ex-UK ports that we feature gives greater convenience to guests from all over the British Isles, and the addition of Braemar to the year-round ex-UK programme will allow for a greater variety of cruises, as well as allowing those loyal Braemar fans to cruise on the ship all-year-round from the UK.”