Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has started a collection on board each of its four ships for victims of the Haiti earthquake. Guests on board have expressed their desire to help raise funds for the disaster, so on-board collections have been set up. Guests can donate via their cabin accounts or simply by giving cash at Reception if they prefer. Anyone else who would like to contribute to the fund can do so by sending a cheque, made out to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, to the company’s head office in Ipswich, with a short covering note addressed to Ms. Sam Brown who is co-ordinating donations.

The fund-raising will continue through February, and the cruise line will co-ordinate collection of all donations which will be forwarded to the Disasters Emergency Committee.

Peter Deer, Commercial Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise lines, said: “This is a dreadful disaster to hit one of the poorest nations on earth, and from which the country will take many years to recover. Our passengers and crews have expressed their desire to assist through Fred. Olsen, and we are happy to handle this on their behalf.”

Although no Fred. Olsen ships visit Haiti, the company often visits neighbouring Dominican Republic, as well as other islands and resorts in the Caribbean.