Thursday, April 11, 2024

Top 10 Reasons to Cruise with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

fred olsen cruise

We put as much time into planning scenic cruising as we do in choosing the destinations themselves. Balmoral’s 13-night L2503B ‘Winter Warmth in the Canary Islands’ cruise, departing from Southampton on 2ndFebruary 2025. Catering mainly to Brits, the ship provides a friendly, home-from-home atmosphere in increasingly stylish surroundings following Balmoral's extensive refurbishment in December 2017, which is part of an ongoing multi-million fleetwide upgrade.

It’s a good choice for traditional cruisers

The company is part of Fred Olsen Group (family-owned, by Bonheur and Ganger Rolf). Other subsidiaries of Fred Olsen Group (headquartered in Oslo Norway) are the shipping companies Fred Olsen Express (fast-speed ferries in the Canary Islands) and Fred Olsen Energy (crude oil tankers). Our smaller-sized ships have been elegantly designed and they all look and feel like ships with wide open deck spaces as well as lounges and restaurants which have been meticulously planned to ensure you have a wonderful experience. The smaller size of our ships also allows us access to more interesting places, such as Norway’s lesser known Fjords. It also means we can dock in the heart of some of the world’s most fascinating cities.

Sailing from a port near you

This, combined with the onboard service and intimate atmosphere, is what draws loyal passengers back time after time -- many saying they would never travel on a big ship or with another cruise line. While most cruises are adults-only, families are welcome in peak holiday periods. These are most likely to be multigenerational families, or grandparents travelling with grandchildren, and the experience is better for younger kids than teens, as it's fairly sedate.

Sails To

We put enormous consideration into ensuring every single day you are with us is as stimulating and enjoyable as possible. Our ‘Treats of the Region’ cooking demonstrations and “Itinerary Insights” informative talks, for example, are curated specially for the regions we are visiting so that you gain the fullest understanding and appreciation of them before you get there. And our on-deck ‘Stargazing’ talks help you understand much about the universe we live in. Fred Olsen is well-known for its winter cruises to Northern Norway. The interior of Colors & Tastes restaurant on the Fred Olsen Cruise Lines ship Borealis.

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The most wonderful way to sail the world is aboard a smaller ship. Our guests love the feeling of being on an elegant ship, close to the sea. They appreciate that our smaller ships can take them to more interesting places – to the furthest reaches of Norway’s lesser-known fjords, through narrow waterways and canals and to the very heart of some of the world’s most beautiful cities. Notably, the boutique cruise line has announced two grand voyages for 2026. Bolette will embark on a 95-night voyage from Liverpool in the UK on January 5, 2026, and will sail to destinations like Bora Bora, the Cook Islands, Bali, Komodo Island, Singapore, Australia, and the Great Barrier Reef.

The Bolette is one of the three ships in the Fred Olsen Cruise Lines fleet. I have the consent of all guests in my group to access and manage this booking. The main entertainment venue is the two-tier show lounge and there is also live entertainment, such as music and comedy, in other bars and lounges.

They're experts on Norway

Olsen Cruise Lines is offering complimentary car parking to guests who book a 2024 sailing departing from Dover between June and August, according to a press release. Onboard, there is a welcome reception for solo travelers, a designated table in the buffet restaurant for those wishing to have company during meals, and a meeting point when the ship docks in ports. The ships feature a traditional layout with a focus on comfortable lounges and dining spaces over flashy attractions available on the newest resort ships.

In Bordeaux, while big ships moor out at Le Verdon, Fred. Olsen vessels slip up the Gironde estuary into the Garonne, to dock alongside in gorgeous Bordeaux. They can also squeeze through Germany's Kiel Canal,  up the Guadalquivir into Seville and along the Seine as far as Rouen, a beautiful port in itself and an easy jumping-off point for Paris. Formal nights -- usually one per cruise -- require black tie or black suit and tie for men (and the tie rule is enforced in the dining room!) and cocktail or long dresses for ladies.

Each has been elegantly designed and they all look and feel like ships (not hotels or holiday resorts); with wide open deck spaces as well as lounges and restaurants which have been meticulously planned to ensure you have a wonderful experience. Enjoy exclusive savings and a great selection of special offers on a number of our cruises. These cruise deals are often for a limited time only, so we'd recommend you book today to avoid disappointment.

There are more than 50 single cabins, with grades ranging from Inside to Balcony Suite, along with wheelchair accessible staterooms and some cabins with bathtubs. Drinks are very reasonable -- currently £4.05 for a glass of wine and £3.30 for a pint. There's also very good all-inclusive upgrade offer of £10 per day if you book in advance.

While formal nights might put some people off, there are usually just two on a typical itinerary and they are not compulsory. Anyone not wishing to dress up can eat in the buffet restaurant or order room service. For us, it’s not just about where we go but how we take you there.

fred olsen cruise

Join our mailing list to keep up to date with all the latest news and offers from Fred. We sail from across the UK to make joining your next Fred. Let us know what you want most from a cruise, and we will share with you some hand-picked cruises we think you'll like. There is much that sets the experience of a Fred. As Mr. Olsen himself says, ‘It’s all about the people.

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While not for everyone, Fred Olsen’s ‘mystery cruise’ is a popular concept among regular cruisers. Guests know where they’re leaving from and how long the cruise will be, but have no idea as to the destinations aside from a recommended packing list. One of the biggest benefits of small ship cruising is the more flexible and distinctive itineraries.

Balmoral’s 15-night L2503A ‘In Search of the Northern Lights’ cruise, departing from Southampton on 18thJanuary 2025. Enjoy up to £300 in credit to spend on board or free door-to-door transfers of up to 150 UK mainland miles to the port. Guests can also take advantage of an offer of up to £300 of credit to spend on board or free door-to-door transfers for up to 200 UK mainland miles on selected sailings for bookings made by 30th April inclusive. In August 2017, the company contracted Speedcast International Ltd to provide fleetwide full package communication (voice and data) services.

When there are enough kids onboard, a children's club, Little Skippers, operates for five to 11-year-olds, offeringa variety of games and fun activities. Children get designated pool time and there's a kids' menu in the restaurant. There are  family-friendly shore excursions like Segway tours, jeep safaris, whale watching and bike tours when families are onboard. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Rates are in USD and valid for US and Canadian residents only. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S.

Olsen will be offering a series of six fly-cruises in the Mediterranean aboard Balmoral. The unique sailings will offer overnight port stays and allow cruisers to pick their departure port as the ship travels to destinations like Italy’s Cinque Terre and Naples, Croatia’s walled city of Dubrovnik, and the Greek Islands. Balmoral has a strong and loyal base of regular middle-aged to retired passengers; some of whom travel only with Fred. The passengers may generally be mature, but they are lively and enthusiastic and throw themselves wholeheartedly into shore excursions that range from standard city walking tours to some exciting and unusual activities.

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