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Bolette, Fred. Olsen’s flagship, under way on the still water of Eidfjorden below grey-green Norwegian mountains

Cruise line · Premium & small ships

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines: Our Cruise Line Guide

A Norwegian family line sailing from British ports: three smaller ships, five-course dinners, gratuities included on the Freedom Fare, and itineraries that slip up fjords and rivers the giants cannot reach.

Plan your trip:Official website

The back story

Fleet: Three ships: Bolette (flagship), Borealis (adults only) and Balmoral (fredolsencruises.com, Oct 2026) · Ship sizes: Bolette 62,735 GT, 690 cabins; Borealis 61,849 GT, 702 cabins; Balmoral 43,537 GT, 710 cabins (fredolsencruises.com) · What’s included: Full board with five-course dinners, entertainment and talks, UK port taxes, porterage; on the Freedom Fare also house beer and wine by the glass with lunch and dinner, gratuities and port shuttles (fredolsencruises.com, Oct 2026) · UK departure ports: Southampton, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Rosyth (Edinburgh) and Newcastle, plus fly-cruises · Sails to: Norwegian fjords, the Arctic and Iceland, the British Isles, the Baltic, the Canaries and Madeira, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and a World Cruise · On board currency: Pound sterling · Heritage: The Olsen shipping family, from Hvitsten on the Oslofjord, 1848; the cruise line is based in Ipswich

  1. The back story

    Fred. Olsen: the back story

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·In depth

    How a Norwegian shipping family, five generations on, came to run Britain’s small-ship cruise line from Ipswich.

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The fleet

Who it suits. On a budget: A short cruise from a UK port on a Saver Fare is the cheapest way in: Fred. Olsen listed a Southern Spain Siesta from £1,299pp and German Christmas Markets from £999pp for 2026 (fredolsencruises.com, Oct 2026). Saver Fares are paid in full and non-refundable. Mid-range: A Freedom Fare on Bolette to the Norwegian fjords, with house wine or beer at lunch and dinner and gratuities in the price, and a night or two at Colours & Tastes. Luxury: An Owners Suite on Bolette or Borealis, with the Suite Dreams package, on a Northern Lights voyage or the 98-night World Cruise on adults-only Borealis.

  1. 690 cabins

    Bolette

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·Ocean ship · flagship·€€

    The flagship, named after Fred. Olsen’s great-grandmother, with an Observatory for scenic cruising and a pool under a retractable roof.

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  2. Adults only

    Borealis

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·Ocean ship · adults only·€€

    Bolette’s sister ship, adults only, with the new Fresco deck venue and the line’s 2027 World Cruise.

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  3. 710 cabins

    Balmoral

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·Ocean ship·€€

    The smallest ship, able to sail under low cables in the fjords, up the Seine to Rouen and through the Kiel Canal.

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The suites

  1. 1,181 sq ft

    Fred. Olsen Owners Suite

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·Suite · Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral·€€

    The largest accommodation on Bolette and Borealis, with separate sitting, dining and dressing areas and a furnished balcony.

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  2. 568–644 sq ft

    Fred. Olsen Premier Suite

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·Suite · Bolette·€€

    A spacious suite on Bolette of about 568 to 644 sq ft, with the Suite Dreams extras.

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  3. 472 sq ft

    Balmoral Marquee Suite

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·Suite · Balmoral·€€

    A forward suite high on Balmoral’s Highland Deck, with a balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows.

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Dining on board

  1. Included

    Fred. Olsen main restaurants

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·Main dining·€€

    Five-course à la carte dinners that change daily, with ‘Treats of the Region’ dishes and bread baked on board overnight.

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  2. From £20pp

    Colours & Tastes

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·Speciality dining·€€

    Fred. Olsen’s speciality restaurant, rotating Asian, Italian and grill menus, with steaks hand-cut by an in-house butcher.

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  3. From £100pp

    The Chef’s Table Experience (Fred. Olsen)

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·Tasting menu·€€

    An intimate multicourse dinner with wines chosen and introduced by the ship’s sommelier.

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  4. Borealis

    Fresco (Borealis)

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·Casual alfresco·€€

    A Mediterranean-inspired alfresco venue on Borealis, with light bites, a foot spa and live music under the stars.

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  5. Included

    The View and The Poolside

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·Casual dining·€€

    Relaxed self-serve dining with no set tables and no formal dress code, and a poolside grill for late breakfasts and lunch.

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  6. £13pp

    Traditional Afternoon Tea in the Observatory

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·Afternoon tea·€€

    A served afternoon tea on selected sea days, with the pianist playing and the view ahead.

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Spa and wellness

  1. All three ships

    Atlantis Spa

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·Spa and wellness·€€

    The spa on every Fred. Olsen ship, with ocean-view treatment rooms and, on Bolette and Borealis, a Thermal Suite.

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Life on board

  1. The Observatory

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·

    The panoramic lounge at the front of every ship, for commentary on the scenery by day and live bands by night.

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  2. Talks, art and behind the scenes

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·

    Guest speakers on every cruise, the Olsen Art Studio, and a two-hour tour of the galley, engine control room and bridge.

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  3. Dress code and themed nights

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·

    Formal nights plus themed evenings, from a 1920s night to a masquerade ball, listed in your Journey Guide.

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Where it sails

  1. Fred. Olsen from UK ports

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·

    No-fly cruises from Southampton, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Rosyth for Edinburgh and Newcastle.

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  2. Northern Lights and winter sun

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·

    Winter voyages north in search of the aurora, or south to the Canaries, Madeira and Cape Verde.

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  3. The 2027 World Cruise

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·

    Ninety-eight nights round the world on adults-only Borealis, from Southampton on 21 January 2027.

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What’s included and how to book

  1. Fred. Olsen Freedom Fare

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·

    Full board, house drinks with lunch and dinner, gratuities, port shuttles and UK port taxes, with a 15% deposit.

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  2. Fred. Olsen Saver Fare

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·

    The lowest price, paid in full at booking and non-refundable, with cabin and dining allocated for you.

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  3. Gratuities and extras on Fred. Olsen

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines·

    Gratuities are in the fare; budget for Wi-Fi, speciality dining, the spa and drinks beyond meals.

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