Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
Welcome to the Fred Olsen fellowship.
Fred. Olsen cruises are operated by a family-run company, proud of their fleet of smaller, more intimate cruise ships which is made up of 3 vessels called Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral. This unique cruise line understands that passengers like a more personalised experience and one that is unashamedly British.
The personable and long-serving crew are well-versed in ensuring you relax the moment you step aboard. For many passengers, it is the happy blend of agreeable companions that is the Fred. Olsen distinction. Wherever you choose to cruise, you will soon feel part of the fraternity and enjoy some friendly ‘home-away-from-home’ camaraderie. Featured destinations include much of Europe as well as some outstanding Africa cruises, whilst there is also the possibility to explore Scandinavia and the Arctic Circle.
You expect quality on a good cruise ship, but Fred. Olsen knows from their vast experience, and from listening to their customers, what makes a special cruise; one that is a real emotional experience and one that leaves us wanting more. On-board these cruises, everyone is treated as the individual they are. The staff has a real interest in the passengers, their likes and their dislikes, and have an amazing desire to please. We know that the home we leave at the end of each cruise will be the home we enter next time we board a Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ship.
Bolette joined the Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines as the flagship of the fleet in late summer 2021, around the same time as Borealis. Launched in 2000 as the MS Amsterdam for Holland America Line, Bolette is 62,735 gross tonnes. She has 690 cabins, and can carry 1,338 passengers at standard occupancy, looked after by 615 crew members. Bolette is very similar, but not identical to Borealis.
Summary
We had a most enjoyable time on Bolette, and we see her as a welcome addition to the Fred. Olsen fleet. She still has all the things you would expect from Fred. Olsen, such as the friendly crew, tea and coffee in the cabins, good food, competitively priced drinks, the Morning Light Pub, and even the carpet designs so you know where you are on the ship. However, in addition, the bigger ships mean that you get larger cabins, more public rooms, a two-tier Neptune Lounge, a two-tier restaurant, and more speciality dining venues, all without increasing the number of passengers onboard by much. One major plus for Bolette and Borealis, is the Promenade Deck 3. There is a traditional wooden deck, on which you can walk all the way around the ship with having to go up or down steps. In additon, although open to the sea, the deck above covers the Promenade Deck, so you can do your daily laps whatever the weather.
If you are looking for ships which aren’t too large, offering lots of ex UK departures from ports right around the UK, with friendly crews offering great service, then you would find the offering from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines hard to beat. They offer some unique itineraries, which are constantly being updated, including some fly cruises as well.
Accommodation – there are 17 grades of cabins and suite, ranging from an inside cabin at 182 sq ft, up to the Olsen Suite at 1,181 sq ft, with many options in between, including adapted cabins, balcony cabins and single cabins. Cabins are all a good size, and they have a UK, a European and a US power socket, as well as two USB sockets. We stayed in a standard outside cabin on deck 2.
Dining Options – there is a selection of dining venues onboard, and I give brief details below, but times can vary depending on where the ship is at the time.
- Breakfast can be enjoyed in the main restaurants, as well as the casual venues, and it is usually served between 07.30 and 10.30
- Lunch would be in the same venues, and usually between 12.00 and 14.00
- Afternoon Tea is served in the buffet service restaurant between 15.45 and 16.45
- Poolside dining available between 10.00 and 17.00
- Dinner is taken in the main restaurant, with first sitting at 18.15 and second sitting at 20.30. Bolette also offers open dining in the main restaurant, to eat at a time to suit you. If you want something less formal, you can choose the open sitting dinner in The View
- Speciality Dining – there will be three speciality dining venues, with ‘Colours and Tastes’ for £5 per person cover charge, and Vasco which is complimentary.
Dress Code
During the day, and for breakfast and lunch, casual dress is the norm, but swimwear is not permitted in the restaurants. Most evenings are smart casual but on formal nights it is normal to dress up a little more. This could mean a dinner suit or dark suit and tie for gents, with ladies opting for a ball gown or smart cocktail dress. On longer cruises there are also some optional themed nights. If you really don’t want to dress up formally, then you could dine in The View on these evenings.
Thanks to her ability to cruise at higher speeds than other ships, Borealis – sister ship of our flagship Bolette – is perfectly suited for sailing our longer voyages across the globe. Cruising faster means she can include more stops, scenic discoveries and highlights into each itinerary.
Stylish, spacious and comfortable, with a choice of elegant public areas, restaurants and just 690, she is ideal for Fred. Olsen’s style of cruising. On board Borealis you’ll find you’re never overcrowded. There is always ample room in which to indulge yourself in the stylish dining venues, enjoy a glass of your favourite tipple and fantastic entertainment at the bars, lounges and theatres, and while away the hours by the all-season pool.
Borealis fits perfectly into our small ship fleet and, like all our vessels, has her own elegant design touches. Even the pattern and weave of the British-made carpets were hand-chosen by Fred. Olsen Jnr, with attention to the finer details every step of the way.
At 43,537 gross tonnes, Balmoral has 710 cabins and carries 1,350 passengers at normal capacity, with 510 members of crew. She originally entered service in 1988 as the Crown Odyssey, and she has also been called the Norwegian Crown. She first sailed for Fred. Olsen Cruise lines in February 2008, following a major refit during which she was ‘stretched’, enabling more cabins and public rooms to be added. While Balmoral is the largest ship in the Fred. Olsen fleet, she is small when compared to many of the new mega cruise liners. There is one main dining room, the Ballindalloch plus two, more intimate restaurants, the Spey and Avon restaurants. For passengers preferring a less formal dining experience the Palms Cafe offers an excellent choice of self-serve buffet-style meal options. Premium al fresco dining is available in The Grill where succulent steaks or seafood is on the menu. A reservation must be made and a small supplement is payable.
Fred Olsen Balmoral
Fred Olsen Bolette
Fred Olsen Borealis
Say no to 0870. Contact us for Fred Olsen new bookings, prices and availability. Free geographic alternative telephone number or freephone telephone number. (Fred Olsen 0845 314 3801) Call 01623 706328 or 0800 612 4872.
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