Fred Olsen Cruises

The three ships in the Fred. Olsen fleet are small enough to sail where most cruise ships simply cannot go. While larger vessels turn away from narrow fjords and city-centre harbours, Balmoral, Bolette and Borealis can navigate deep into Norwegian fjord country, dock in the heart of historic ports and sail through inland waterways that remain out of reach for ships carrying thousands of passengers. The result is a fundamentally different kind of itinerary, and a closer connection with every destination.

Fred. Olsen has won Cruise Critic's Best Itineraries award five consecutive years, and it is easy to see why. Routes are designed by expert journey planners who think carefully about where to go and when, timing arrivals to catch ports at their most vibrant and building in scenic cruising through landscapes that the itinerary itself makes memorable. From the peak of Norwegian fjord season to the quiet harbours of the Mediterranean, these are journeys designed to be discovered slowly.

Fred. Olsen sails no-fly from a wider range of UK departure points than almost any other cruise line. Southampton, Liverpool, Newcastle and Rosyth near Edinburgh all feature regularly in the programme, along with sailings from Bristol, Belfast and Dundee. For guests who prefer to drive or take the train to their ship, this breadth of regional departures makes a genuine difference, removing the airport entirely and beginning the holiday from the moment you step on board.

Fred. Olsen takes the time between ports as seriously as the ports themselves. Days at sea are shaped around the destination ahead, with Itinerary Insights talks from regional specialists, Treats of the Region cooking demonstrations using produce and recipes from places you are about to visit, and on-deck stargazing sessions during a Northern Lights cruise in waters far from light pollution. Whether you spend a sea day on deck watching the horizon or in a talk about the history ahead, the voyage itself becomes part of the experience.

Fred. Olsen has been voted Best Cruise Line for Solo Travellers two years running by Cruise Critic. Every ship carries dedicated solo cabins and selected sailings with no single supplement, while the intimate size of the fleet means a sociable atmosphere comes naturally. The smaller the ship, the easier it is to meet people and build the kind of friendships that often become the most memorable part of any voyage.