Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Fred. Olsen: the back story
The back story
About Fred. Olsen: the back story
Fred. Olsen began in 1848 on the shores of the Oslofjord and now sails three smaller ships from British ports. The style is classic cruising, five-course dinners and scenic sailing, with a Norwegian motto: ‘in the best of company’.
From the Oslofjord to Ipswich
The story starts in Hvitsten, a small town on the Oslofjord, where in 1848 three Olsen brothers, Fredrik Christian, Petter and Andreas, bought their first ships. More than 175 years later the family is into its fifth generation, and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines runs its British business from Ipswich, in Suffolk, while the wider group keeps its headquarters in Oslo and Tenerife. Its motto is Norwegian: ‘I det beste selskap’, in the best of company.
Smaller by design
The fleet is three ships, and the line is proud that they look and feel like ships rather than resorts. Bolette, the flagship, is named after Fred. Olsen’s great-grandmother; Borealis, her sister, has sailed for the line since 2020 and is now adults only; Balmoral is the smallest, with a crest that echoes the royal family’s Scottish residence, a nod to the Olsens’ long links with Scotland.
I det beste selskap: in the best of company.
Where size matters
Small ships go where big ones cannot. Balmoral can sail Norway’s Åkrafjord beneath a low cable that blocks larger vessels, travel up the Seine to Rouen and pass through the Kiel Canal with her mast lowered. On every ship the Observatory is the place to be for scenic sailing, with commentary by day and live music in the evening.
The table
Dinner is five courses, à la carte, in two-tiered main restaurants, with a menu that changes daily and ‘Treats of the Region’ dishes from the coast you are sailing. For something different, Colours & Tastes rotates Asian, Italian and grill menus for a small supplement, and the Chef’s Table pairs a multicourse menu with the sommelier’s wines.
What the fare covers
Fred. Olsen sells two fares. The Freedom Fare includes full board, entertainment and enrichment talks, house beer and wine by the glass and draught soft drinks with lunch and dinner, gratuities, shuttle buses where the port is more than a mile from the ship and UK port taxes. The Saver Fare is cheaper, paid in full at booking and non-refundable, with the cabin and dining allocated for you.
Our advice: choose Fred. Olsen for the itinerary and the pace. A week on Balmoral through the fjords, or a winter Northern Lights voyage from Newcastle or Southampton, shows the small-ship case at its most persuasive, and Borealis suits couples and solo travellers who want an adults-only ship.
Why it's on our list
- Family line since 1848
- Three smaller ships
- No-fly cruises from five UK ports
- Adults-only Borealis
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Fred. Olsen: the back story before you go.