Fred Olsen Cruises
Fred Olsen Cruises
Independent Expert Reviews by Professional Travel Journalists
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines runs a fleet of five smaller, traditional-style cruise ships, carrying around 1,000 passengers or fewer in comfortable, relaxed and friendly surroundings.
The fleet consists of Boudicca, Black Watch, Black Prince, and Braemar with fifth ship – Balmoral – due to join early this year (2008).
The vessels are reminiscent of the ‘Golden Age’ of cruising, with generous amounts of open deck space, light and airy public rooms, comfortable well-equipped cabins and a good selection of facilities.
An atmosphere of informal, friendly relaxation is encouraged and the general ambiance is similar to that of a country house hotel.
The typical Fred Olsen passenger is British, over 50 and very loyal – there is a high level of repeat business. Many regulars become firm friends with the crew and other travellers, and relish returning time and again to their favourite ship – and often their favourite cabin.
There is a predominantly UK feel to the ships, although Fred. Olsen is a Norwegian family firm; the ships have distinctly British names, reflected in many of the on board rooms, the main language on board is English, currency is sterling and the quiet civility and tolerant, relaxed attitudes that prevail offer the best of Britishness.
Although mostly catering for older travellers, Fred Olsen ships welcome families with young children at peak holiday times – summer, Easter and Christmas – when cruises may be designated Family Friendly. This means there will be a children’s programme on board, special children’s menus and activities and discounts for families travelling together.
Selected cabins on all the ships are designed for passengers with disabilities and all ships have a generous number of single cabins for solo travellers.
Carrying 1,350 passengers, Balmoral enters service on January 30 and in the first year will operate Caribbean fly/cruises from Miami and Mediterranean fly/cruises from Rome (Civitavecchia).
The ship then returns to Dover to run itineraries to the Norwegian fjords, Mediterranean, Baltic, and Canada and the eastern seaboard of the US.
In the summer, Braemar undergoes a major refit and the insertion of a 30m mid-section which will increase her passenger numbers to 977. In winter 2008-09, Caribbean fly/cruises will be available from Barbados on Boudicca, and on Braemar from Miami.
The combination of an additional ship and the lengthening of another will enable Fred Olsen to offering record cruise capacity in 2008 with a wider choice of cruise destinations and departure ports.
The extensive 2008-9 cruise programme offers the greatest ever number of ports of call at 306 in 116 different countries, with around 21 ports new to the company.
The use of regional UK departure ports continues to be an important part of the line’s aim to bring ships to local departure points. In 2008-09, Black Prince will operate a programme of cruises from Liverpool and Greenock. Boudicca’s first regional cruise programme will see cruises departing from Leith and Newcastle.
In addition to Gatwick and Manchester, passengers can fly to join Caribbean cruises from Belfast, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Doncaster/Sheffield, Dublin, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Humberside, Leeds/Bradford, Liverpool, Newcastle, Newquay, Norwich, Stansted and Teesside.
