Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

Small and proud of it, Fred. Olsen Cruise Line have the years of experience needed to know that bigger isn’t necessarily always better. These smaller ships enable you to go on some of the finest cruises in the world

Visit more interesting places

Fred. Olsen’s smaller ships can get into ports and harbours that larger ships find impossible to reach. Low bridges, narrow canals and winding fjords all make it almost impossible for larger ships to visit many of the unique and wonderful places Fred. Olsen are able to enjoy. Set sail with Fred. Olsen through the Corinth Canal in Greece, the Kiel Canal in Germany and the Seine River in France, in addition to being able to view stunning scenery such as the UNESCO listed Naeroyfjord.

Get closer

Bigger vessels sometimes have to dock a long way away from the places they visit – not Fred. Olsen! These smaller ships are able to dock right in the heart of your destination, getting you closer than you ever thought possible to some of the most incredible places on earth. In Seville, your ship will just glide into the city centre; in Helsinki dock on the edge of the Market Square while when visiting Bordeaux you can be alongside the promenade, with the city centre at the end of the gangway.

Get on or off more easily

With fewer passengers onboard, it is possible to move much more easily around your Fred. Olsen cruise ship smoothly and efficiently.

Be kind to the environment

Fred. Olsen’s smaller ships are powered by cleaner fuel while improved engineering has significantly reduced waste. Even further, Fred. Olsen have banned single-use plastics from their ships and recognise that reducing the environmental impact of travel is a journey which never ends.

Enjoy a more personal service onboard

On the smaller ships of Fred. Olsen you will find levels of personalised service that larger ships can sometimes be too big, or too busy, to provide. There aren’t thousands of passengers onboard (Balmoral has the largest capacity of the Fred. Olsen fleet with just 1,325 berths) so you can expect a genuine, caring service. As a family-run business, Fred. Olsen take huge pride in looking after their guests and regularly go above and beyond to provide some of the best service at sea.

Discover more ashore

Fred. Olsen’s shore tours are an immersive experience, where you will “discover” rather than just “see”. For instance, in St. Petersburg you won’t just go to the ballet, you’ll meet the dancers too. In Seville watch the flamenco performance then give it a try yourself! In Norway visit the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel then try some ice carving of your own.

Avoid overcrowding

On a Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines cruise, you have the room to relax completely and enjoy yourself in an elegant, friendly atmosphere, and that atmosphere carries on ashore. With smaller ships and fewer guests, you can fully enjoy your destination without the crowds and show respect for the places you visit and the people who live there.

It’s the people

A cruise is only as good as the people you meet, and at Fred. Olsen they are justly proud of their staff and crew.

Fred. Olsen choose their crew for their personalities and skills in making a warmer atmosphere onboard and providing a more personalised style of service. And the crew choose Fred. Olsen because of the friendly, home-from-home atmosphere created on such unique, small ships.

You’ll notice how happy a Fred. Olsen cruise is from the moment you step onboard. There is a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and nothing is too much trouble – that’s the difference between being treated as a “passenger” and being treated as a “guest”.

Dining

On your embarkation you will find a helpful Restaurant Seating Card in your room, this will detail your evening dining time and your table number for either first sitting (18.15) or second sitting (20.30). Informal, open-seating dining is always available in Brigadoon (Black Watch), the Secret Garden Café (Boudicca) and Palms Café (Balmoral and Braemar)

Entertainment

When the lights go down each evening, you can enjoy a live show after dinner, courtesy of resident and guest entertainers. There is everything from music to magic, cabaret to comedy – simply sit back and enjoy with the tipple of your choice. Following the show you may want to go star-gazing with the ships telescopes or simply dance the night away, and with Dance Hosts on every cruise nobody will go too long without a dance partner.