Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines: Smaller Ships, Hidden Ports, and the Reality Onboard
By Tom and Dom Travel | Updated:
09/07/26
Fred. Olsen Balmoral berthed at Horizon Cruise Terminal in Southampton
If you are looking for a cruise that feels a little more personal and a lot less crowded, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines might just be your perfect match. This is a cruise line that does things completely differently from the mega resort lines dominated by climbing walls and multi deck water slides. Instead, they focus on smaller ships, beautifully curated itineraries, and a real passion for the journey itself rather than just the destinations.
By keeping their ships small, Fred. Olsen can visit places that larger vessels simply cannot reach. You will find yourself visiting hidden coastal gems, tucked away historic ports, and enjoying breathtaking scenic sailings right through narrow fjords, rivers, and inland waterways. It is one of the key things that makes sailing with Fred. Olsen feel that bit more special and traditional.
Onboard, the atmosphere is incredibly relaxed, elegant, and welcoming. Think classic cruising with a lovely modern touch. There is no frantic rush, no sense of overcrowding, and absolutely no need to fight for a sunbed on the pool deck. Instead, you get friendly service, familiar faces, and a wonderful sense that the crew genuinely care about your holiday experience. It is the kind of hospitality where the bar staff and waiters know your name and your favourite tipple from day one.
Who Are Fred. Olsen? The History and Heritage
To truly understand what makes this cruise line tick, you have to look at their extraordinary heritage. Many people do not realise that the company actually dates all the way back to 1848. It all began in Hvitsten, a small, picturesque village on the Oslofjord in Norway, when three Norwegian brothers named Fredrik Christian, Petter, and Andreas Olsen bought their first two small sailing ships, the Johanne Christine and the Elizabeth.
The brothers were all experienced sea captains from an early age, and they quickly expanded their business into a highly successful international shipping company. Over the next few decades, the fleet transitioned from traditional timber transporting sailing ships to innovative steamships.
It was Petter’s son, Thomas Fredrik Olsen, affectionately known as Fred, who took control of the family business in 1884. Under his leadership, the brand truly transformed into a global maritime powerhouse. He purchased the company’s largest sailing ship, the Morning Light, in 1892, a legendary vessel that still lives on today through the name of the traditional Morning Light Pub found on every single ship in the modern cruise fleet.
Tom and Dom Travel in the main atrium on Fred. Olsen Balmoral during Formal Night
By the turn of the twentieth century, Fred. Olsen made its very first venture into the passenger travel market, establishing vital maritime links between Norway and British ports like Newcastle and Grangemouth in Scotland. Despite suffering devastating losses during both World Wars, where a large portion of their commercial fleet was sunk, the Olsen family rebuilt their business time and time again.
The company is currently under the stewardship of the fifth generation of the Olsen family, with Fred. Olsen Junior actively guiding the brand. While the wider parent company has diversified over the decades into renewable wind energy and aviation, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines remains a fully owned, proudly independent affiliate.
The Fleet: Classic British Cruising with a Nordic Soul
Although the company is proudly Norwegian by heritage and family ownership, the cruise line itself is firmly established in the UK, with its main headquarters based in Ipswich, Suffolk. Over the years, they have expertly crafted a product that is perfectly tailored to British tastes, combining a warm, traditional British club feel with a sleek, clean Scandinavian eye for design.
Every ocean going vessel to enter the fleet follows a distinct family tradition where the ship names almost always begin with the letter B. The current line up features three highly popular and distinct ships:
Bolette: The beautiful flagship of the fleet, offering plenty of wide open deck spaces, a stunning retractable roof over the swimming pool, and elegant lounges.
Borealis: A stylish and spacious sister vessel to the flagship, known for its comfortable lounges, expansive tiered theater, and the iconic Crow's Nest observation bar.
Balmoral: The smallest and most intimate ship in the current fleet, which holds a very special place in the hearts of Fred. Olsen's most loyal repeat past passengers.
What we love about this current fleet is the balance of space. Because these vessels were originally built to serve high end premium international markets before being extensively refurbished by the Olsen family, they feature exceptionally high space to guest ratios. You can always find a quiet corner to read a book, a panoramic window to enjoy the views, or a comfortable chair in the Bookmark Café for a premium coffee and a slice of cake.
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A surf and turf dinner served during Formal Night in the main dining room on Fred. Olsen Balmoral
Dining on Fred. Olsen: Unpretentious and Delicious
Food is a massive part of the journey with Fred. Olsen, and the culinary teams put an incredible amount of effort into tailoring the menus to the destinations you are passing through. In the main dining rooms, which feature elegant, multi course à la carte menus every single evening, you can expect traditional British favourites alongside unique regional dishes inspired by the local ports of call.
The main dining experience feels wonderfully unpretentious but still holds that special sense of cruise tradition.
Breakfast and lunch are open seating, allowing you to dine whenever suits your daily schedule, whilst dinner is split into two traditional fixed sittings.
If you prefer a more casual vibe, the buffet restaurants offer an excellent, high quality alternative with plenty of variety for breakfast, lunch, and supper, all served up by the smiling crew.
One of our absolute personal highlights onboard was our visit to the brilliant, very reasonably priced Colours and Tastes speciality restaurant. This venue features a fantastic rotating menu of delicious, vibrant Asian fusion cuisines inspired by different cultures. The flavours are absolutely spot on, the presentation is gorgeous, and it represents fantastic value for money for a special night out.
Both Bolette and Borealis also feature further exquisite speciality venues, such as the Orchid Room and the Indian Ocean Room, which serve up beautifully spiced, authentic regional dishes that elevate the onboard evening dining experience even further.
Tom and Dom Travel on the aft deck of Fred. Olsen Balmoral
Entertainment, Activities, and Immersion
When the sun goes down, evenings on Fred. Olsen are all about enjoying the moment and relaxing with good company. You will not find any booming, high tech nightclubs or flashing casinos dominating the decks. Instead, the entertainment revolves around live acoustic music, classic cabaret, and quick fire stand up comedy in the main theatres and secondary lounges.
The ships' resident show companies perform wonderfully polished musical revues, and there is always an opportunity to finish the night with a quiet drink as the ship gently sails away from port.
During the daytime, the activity schedule is heavily focused on enrichment and immersion. Through their signature "Olsen Way" cruise programming, they provide fascinating guest lectures, wildlife spotting sessions out on the open decks with conservation experts, and creative hands-on workshops.
Everything is carefully structured to connect you more closely with the stunning landscapes and cultures you are visiting outside. If there is a day of scenic cruising through the Norwegian fjords, the schedule is clear so everyone can find a spot on deck to enjoy the view while the captain provides live, informative commentary over the PA system.
Value for Money: What is Included?
Fred. Olsen sits comfortably as a premium value cruise line. While their initial cruise fares might appear higher than some of the budget mega ship lines, what you actually get for your money represents excellent value when you look at the total holiday package.
Your standard cruise fare includes all of your full board accommodation, five course main dining room dinners, daily afternoon tea, theatrical entertainment, leisure facilities, and even a complimentary shuttle bus service in ports where the town centre is located over a mile away from the ship.
To turn the experience into a truly stress free holiday, we highly recommend upgrading to their popular All-Inclusive Drinks Package. This package covers a wide selection of beers, wines, spirits, and soft drinks throughout the bars and restaurants, and booking it in advance before you sail is generally considered a much more cost effective option than paying per drink onboard.
Dom from Tom and Dom Travel taking in the scenery as Fred. Olsen Balmoral sails along the River Seine
Final Thoughts
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will not be for everyone, and that is exactly the point. If you are after go karts, sprawling waterparks, and non stop high tech action, you simply will not find it here. But if you want a slower pace of travel, deeply thoughtful itineraries, and a beautifully designed ship that quickly feels like a true home away from home, this is where Fred. Olsen truly shines.
For us, it is all about the fine details, the breathtaking hidden destinations, and that unmistakable feeling of being at sea in a way that is calm, comfortable, and genuinely enjoyable. They have mastered the art of intimate, personal cruising, and that is exactly why their loyal guests return to them year after year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Fred. Olsen cruises suitable for families and children?
While children are welcome onboard and the ships do feature family friendly pool spaces, Fred. Olsen cruises are primarily designed for adults. There are no dedicated high tech kids' clubs, youth teams, or youth entertainment programmes, so the atmosphere appeals much more to couples, solo travellers, and groups looking for a peaceful, mature holiday style.
Which UK ports do Fred. Olsen ships sail from?
One of their biggest selling points is their fantastic regional UK departure network. Instead of forcing everyone to travel down to the south coast, Fred. Olsen offers regular, convenient no-fly departures from ports all over the country, including Southampton, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Rosyth near Edinburgh.
What is the dress code like in the evenings?
The evening dress code is usually smart casual for the majority of nights, meaning smart trousers, chinos, and open neck collared shirts for men, and dresses or smart separates for women. On typical week long cruises, there is usually one formal night where guests love to dress up in black tie, dinner jackets, and elegant evening wear.
How accessible are the smaller ships for passengers with mobility needs?
Despite being smaller and more traditional, the fleet is fully equipped with modern accessible cabins, elevator access across all public passenger decks, and designated seating spaces in the main theatres. However, because these smaller ships frequently dock at more remote ports, some destinations may require the use of tender boats to get ashore, which can be restrictive for full time wheelchair users.
What is the significance of the Morning Light Pub found onboard the ships?
We absolutely love this little nod to history! The Morning Light Pub is a traditional British-style venue found on every single ship in the Fred. Olsen fleet. It is actually named after a legendary four-masted sailing ship purchased by Thomas Fredrik Olsen back in 1892, which was the largest sailing ship the family business owned at the time. Onboard today, it serves as a fantastic, warm hub for live acoustic music, friendly quizzes, and catching up with fellow passengers over a cold pint.
About the Authors
Hey there! We’re Tom and Dom, the faces behind Tom and Dom Travel. Fueled by an absolute obsession with life at sea, we share honest cruise reviews, detailed port guides, and practical tips to help you cruise smarter. We focus on bringing you real, firsthand advice from our own experiences on board and in port, so you can plan your next cruise with total confidence. When we aren't sharing our latest maritime adventures over on YouTube, you’ll usually find us researching our next getaway or ship-spotting from the top deck. Thanks for stopping by, and we'll see you at sea!
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