BOLETTE CRUISE REVIEW ON BOARD FRED. OLSEN CRUISE LINES

 Read Amy’s  Bolette  cruise review  from her trip on board  Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines  newest ship.

 As seen on Channel 5's TV program 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗮𝗻'𝘀 '𝗖𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲' 

 I remember how exciting it was to hear the stunning announcement that Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines were going to be launching not one, but two new ships. A glimmer of hope on the horizon! (Albeit sad to see the beloved Boudicca and Black Watch leave the fleet.) During that time when most of the emails I received from trade news outlets were filled with bad news and despair, it was truly refreshing to learn about something new and exciting happening for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines that we could look forward to.

It had been years since Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines had had a new ship (Balmoral ’s inaugural voyage when she joined the fleet was in 2008), and any new ship is always an exciting prospect for my inner ship geek. I couldn’t wait to see these new ships – to be called  Borealis and Bolette  – and in September 2021, I finally got the opportunity with a two-week ‘Undiscovered Spanish Gems’ cruise from Dover onboard  Bolette .

Learn more about Bolette

Named after an Olsen family matriarch – Fred. Olsen Jnr’s great-great grandmother –  Bolette  is the new flagship in the Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines fleet, as well as the youngest and the largest.

BOLETTE CRUISE SHIP VIDEO TOUR

 Bolette was launched in 2000 as the  Amsterdam  for Holland America Line, as the last in their Rotterdam class of ships, and along with the then-called Rotterdam, was the co-flagship for the line. These two ships remain sisters, as they were both bought last year by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ( Rotterdam  is now  Borealis ), so it’s nice to keep them in the family!

Where is the cruise ship Bolette now?

 Bolette and Borealis entered service for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines in 2021), with  Borealis ’ maiden voyage on 5 July also marking the cruise line’s return to cruising since March 2020. Borealis  and  Bolette join Balmoral  cruising for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines around the British Isles,  to Iceland, parts of mainland Europe, and the Canaries, as on world cruises.

Learn more about Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Bolette

 As  Bolette  was built in 2000, this makes her the youngest in Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines fleet. However, with the retirement of the beloved  Black Watch  and  Boudicca , the average age of the current Olsen fleet is now much younger, and as we’ll see, the two new additions of  Bolette  and  Borealis  are an exciting evolution for Fred. Olsen, enabling them to offer new onboard experiences, while at the same time keeping very much within the inimitable Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines style and ambience that we all know and love.

In fact, it had long been rumoured and speculated (especially by Rachel) that Fred’s would buy one of the older Holland America ships, as they were considered an ideal fit for the Olsen brand.

Bolette  isn’t only the youngest in the fleet, Fred’s new flagship is also the largest, at 62,735 gross tons. Gross tonnage is the measure of a ship’s internal volume, i.e. its overall interior space, and there are some awe-inspiring numbers that jump out from some of the newer ships, especially since they started to exceed over 100,000 gross tons in the last two decades.

At 62,735 gross tons,  Bolette  is roughly 1.4 times larger than  Balmoral ’s 43,537 gross tons.

Although as  Bolette  and  Balmoral  carry a similar number of passengers, with a maximum capacity of around 1,330 each, they can still both be classed as small ships, despite the difference in gross tonnage.

However, as the passenger capacity has  not  increased in line with the gross tonnage afforded by the new ships – remaining level with  Balmoral  – guests onboard both  Bolette  and  Borealis  can enjoy a much greater space-to-guest ratio, a metric that’s especially important for a more premium cruising experience.

A guest onboard either  Bolette  or  Borealis  would enjoy a space ratio of 46.8 or 45.5 respectively, compared to the space ratio of 32.9 on  Balmoral.  So, while Fred. Olsen ships may be getting larger, their guests are not being more crowded.

Size can be something of a concern for loyal Fred’s guests, for whom one of the biggest attractions of a cruise with Fred. Olsen is the intimacy of their smaller ships, and it’s certainly something that Fred’s emphasise in their own marketing. So while  Bolette  (and  Borealis , which has a similar gross tonnage, and passenger capacity) may on paper seem like quite a departure for the cruise line in terms of their size, we’ve already seen that they are not becoming more crowded.

Traditional Fred. Olsen guests who might still be unconvinced will hopefully rest easy if we take a quick comparative look at  Iona , one of the newest (and largest) P&O ship (I’ve used P&O as an example as they are a well-known household name for Brits, whether they’re seasoned or first-time cruisers, and Fred. Olsen, although Norwegian family-owned, boast a ‘traditional British’ cruise experience).

At 184,089 gross tonnage, we can already see that  Iona  is already over twice the size of Fred’s new ships, and with a maximum capacity of 5,206 passengers, she also carries almost 4 times the amount of passengers! Perhaps a fairer comparison might be with  Aurora , the smallest in the current P&O fleet, but also a contemporary of  Bolette , as they both entered service in 2000 (after all,  Iona  was purpose-built to be the largest built for the British market!). In comparison,  Aurora  has a maximum capacity for 1,950 passengers – roughly some 600 more than  Bolette ,  Borealis , and  Balmoral , not to mention about a thousand more than  Braemar  – and a gross tonnage of 76,152, and a guest to space ratio of 39; much less favourable than  Bolette  or  Borealis ’.  Iona ’s guest to space ratio of 35.3 even less so.

This also illustrates how these two British-style cruise lines have opted to go in different directions, with P&O seemingly believing that bigger is better, while Fred. Olsen have embraced a little change with newer, slightly bigger-than-before ships, while remaining true to the core, small-ship values that have been so endearing to their guests and ensuring that their guests will not feel crowded on these new, larger ships.

This increase in size for Fred. Olsen need not be something to be feared or concerned about; there are opportunities to be enjoyed, from more space to a greater range of options available, such as onboard dining and entertainment, and more spacious cabins. I was certainly keen to find out more about the new features first-hand.

It must be about ten years since I’ve last cruised to the Med from a UK cruise port; during that time since, I’ve taken fly-cruises, which have lasted about a week, from either Piraeus (Athens) to Venice, or Barcelona to Civitavecchia (Rome), which has meant luggage restrictions and airport security. Of course, ten years ago, we didn’t have a pandemic to deal with, so there were some changes to our Dover departure this time around.

(NOTE - this reivew was written towards the end of the Covid restirctions) At check-in, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines provide a delightful blue ‘TraceSafe’ wrist band to be worn throughout the cruise, even ashore, which – while impossible to coordinate with any outfits – is designed to allow the medical team to identify anyone who has come into close contact with a fellow guest or crew member in the unlikely event of that person testing positive for Covid-19 during the cruise. The wristbands only monitor social distancing and the length of time spent in close proximity to other TraceSafe devices,  not  any personal data, or even your location, as the device doesn’t use GPS. However, this was an additional measure beyond the standard requirements for hand washing, masks in public areas, and testing pre- and mid-cruise (luckily, as we returned to the UK on 5 October, we didn’t have to take another test before arrival), and I found it to be reassuring. To my mind, it’s better to take as much of a belt-and-braces approach whilst simultaneously ensuring as little disruption to the cruising experience as possible, and in my experience, everything went seamlessly with regards to the Covid testing.

Throughout the cruise on  Bolette , the minor changes implemented for Covid (such as mandatory mask wearing when going about through the public areas of the ship, and social distancing implemented with dining tables or bar seating) meant that everyone was kept as safe, happy, and healthy as possible, without causing any real inconvenience, or detracting from the enjoyment of the cruise. Muster practice has also been amended in line with Covid-19 restrictions. Instead of everyone gathering at the same time at their assigned muster station for the safety briefing (and, thankfully, no longer requiring guests to practise walking alligator-style to their lifeboat), guests can now watch the safety briefing in the comfort of their own cabin on the TV, and must pop to their lifeboat station to be ‘checked in’ by a member of the crew.

After the Covid testing and check-in, it’s time to board  Bolette , tingling with excitement at being back onboard with Fred’s, and in anticipation of seeing the ship for the first time. Of course, whenever you embark, it’s always entering into the heart of the ship, rather than a lower deck usually used for ports of call; you’re immediately ushered in, wrapped up with a welcome, greeted by the smiling faces of the crew (I assume, given that they now wear masks), and invited to admire the ship.

The first glimpse of a ship is usually its most glamorous, and  Bolette  was no exception, as our eyes soon caught sight of the magnificent three-storey astrolabe, a striking monument that seemingly sets out  Bolette ’s mission statement as the new flagship for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, showcasing how the cruise line is not afraid to try new things, with a new boldness. Perhaps you could call it an evolution from the two-tiered glitzy art-deco style atrium onboard  Balmoral  with the bronze-coloured cracked globe near the bottom of the sweeping staircase.

However, it didn’t seem that long until we came across the familiar teal carpet that Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines seem so fond of, and a Fred. Olsen ship would also simply be incomplete without a  Morning Light Pub , with the portrait of the three original Olsen brothers, and convivial clusters of chairs and sofas that invite guests to sit down and relax, and possibly enjoy one of the quizzes.

Guests fond of the popular  Bookmark Cafes  on the other ships will be pleased to find one onboard  Bolette  too, and perhaps indulge in the stunning homemade pastries, cakes, or truffles, and speciality teas or coffees, not far from the  Oriental Tea Room , which on  Bolette  is perhaps better positioned than it was on dear old  Boudicca . Seasoned Fred’s cruisers will find a sense of familiarity with such venues onboard, as well as the opportunity to discover new and unique venues available only on  Bolette  and  Borealis .

DINING ON BOLETTE

However, as the ships are sailing well below full capacity due to current Covid-restrictions, flexible dining has not yet been implemented, but once it’s brought onboard, guests who prefer the freedom and flexibility to dine when and where they like at night will enjoy dinner on the upper tier (the  Terrace restaurant  onboard  Bolette , and the  Aurora restaurant  on  Borealis ), while those who prefer the traditional first or second seating will be seated at their allocated table in the  Bloomsbury or Borealis restaurant  respectively. Guests who are particularly fond of traditional cruise ship dining need not be too alarmed; formal nights are still here to stay (we had three during our fortnight-long cruise on  Bolette ), and on such occasions, there was the lovely new touch of the classical string trio performing for diners. From our table (number 45) on the Terrace, we had the perfect view straight-on. Dining in the Bloomsbury and Terrace restaurants (and their equivalents onboard  Borealis ) is à la carte throughout the whole day, whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner. As with the other ships, there will be more intimate alternatives to the main dining room(s), with the  Orchid Room  and the  Indian Ocean Room  are  Bolette  and  Borealis’  answers to  Balmoral’s  Spey & Avon and  Braemar’ s Grampian restaurants respectively.

POOLSIDE CAFE

My favourite place on board Bolette for breakfast was the  Poolside Café , on deck 8, not surprisingly to be found alongside the main pool. Here, you can also appreciate another new and exciting feature onboard a Fred’s ship for the first time: a  retractable roof above the main pool  (a second, smaller pool could be found at the aft of the same deck on  Bolette , but not on  Borealis ), to ensure that you can enjoy relaxing by the pool, whatever the weather. Opening times for the Poolside Café were from 10am to 7pm and began with a late riser’s breakfast or brunch (which remained the same throughout the cruise), before offering some casual, light bites which featured a mix of favourite staples and daily dishes. I often found that breakfast times in the Bloomsbury restaurant and the View (the buffet restaurant onboard) tended to finish a little too early for me, especially if I had gone on an early-morning run, so this was a convenient alternative for me, but I also soon discovered that the breakfast on offer was delicious. I particularly liked the peach sundae, avocado on toast, and the classic eggs benedict. Delicious!

THE VIEW RESTAURANT

The View restaurant  on board  Bolette  could also be found on deck 8, near the aft staircase, and offers a far greater selection and variety than previously available, its layout reminiscent of Holland America Line’s Lido Market, a legacy from its past life as the  Amsterdam . This certainly allows for cooking stations providing roast cuts, stir-fry and pasta dishes of the day to be cooked right in front of you (as well as egg dishes for breakfast), and a wider range of different diets, such as gluten-free options. Along with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, afternoon tea would also be served here daily. Individual sandwiches etc would already be plated out ready. Of course, if you fancy a more indulgent and traditional afternoon tea experience, Fred. Olsen’s  premium white glove afternoon tea service  is also available, for a modest fee, on  Bolette  (and, of course,  Borealis ), to be enjoyed in the stunning  Observation Lounge , accompanied by the string trio, while eating finger sandwiches, delicate pastries, and scones with cream and jam from a three-tiered platter, and speciality teas.

VASCO RESTAURANT

Tucked away in one of the corners of the View Restaurant, you’ll come across  Vasco , one of the new speciality restaurants onboard  Bolette . Named after the Portuguese explorer who was the first European to reach India by sea, it is perhaps no surprise that this restaurant specialises in Goan cuisine. There are some thoughtful touches to the richness of the Goan tradition, with bright colours and beautiful tiles depicting scenes of Goa and Portuguese-inspired  azulejo , given the colonial influences in the region, but it’s the food which really showcases the style and flavours, with authentic recipes created by Fred. Olsen’s Goan chefs. Currently there’s no cover charge for this restaurant, just a reservation is required, but even once a cover charge is introduced, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines have always been reasonable when it comes to cover charges, and it would certainly be excellent value for money. Dinner starts with a series of Indian breads with delicious dips, followed by starters, main courses, and (if you still have any space after all that!) dessert.

COLOURS AND TASTES RESTAURANT

 For both mum and me, our favourite restaurant on Bolette was Colours and Tastes, which offered Asian fusion cuisine on deck 4. Unlike Vasco, which has just one menu, Colours and Tastes offers alternating menus,  and we managed to sample both of the current menus during the course of our cruise;  at least two more menus have since been introduced, so I will need to get myself back onboard to try those!

The restaurant is beautifully appointed, and the service impeccable. As a speciality restaurant, a reservation is required, but there is a small £5pp cover charge currently. Yet given that you could order as many different starters to sample and share as you like, a main course – ranging from Pad Thai, Indonesian chicken satay, to glazed Peking duck or the most incredibly tender lamb massamam curry – with various sides, it’s incredible value for money! Unfortunately we never managed to fit in dessert after our incredible Asian fusion feasts, starting with sushi, wonton soup, coconut fried shrimp, Korean gojugang (fried chicken in a barbecue sauce), and so much more.

We always like to sample the speciality restaurants onboard, but they really offered exciting alternatives to the main restaurant’s menu. Whilst Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines are always reliable for the quality of their food, and it was beautifully executed, we found that sometimes the menu in the main restaurant could be a little conservative for our tastes. Given that you can preview what would be for dinner each night in the main restaurant, we would sometimes decide to see if we could book dinner in Colours and Tastes instead, if the menu didn’t quite appeal to us. While some of the dining choices in the main restaurant might have seemed a slight step backwards from the pre-Covid menus that Fred. Olsen had been serving up, I think much of this was more of a reflection of the supply chain issues the UK had been experiencing over the summer, and it doesn’t appear to have been an issue only affecting Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, having anecdotally heard of similar issues on other cruise lines either sailing from or around the UK. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the execution, presentation, or the quality of the food, more that sometimes the menu choices weren’t as exciting or inspiring as they would’ve been previously.

A third new venue on  Bolette  (and  Borealis ) – yet to open while we were onboard – will be  The Forrest Room,  a steak restaurant inspired by the Scottish highlands, suggesting a slightly different, or perhaps more curated, experience than the current Grill restaurant onboard  Balmoral  and  Braemar.  Clearly, I have another excuse to get back onboard, as if I needed one!

Below: Watch a video of Amy guiding you through all the dining venues onboard  Bolette , from the main dining room, to the speciality dining restaurants that are unique to  Bolette  and her sister ship  Borealis.

Of course, once embarked, the first thing you do is head to what will be your new home for the duration of your cruise. The first view of your cabin or suite onboard is as exciting as the very first impression of a new ship itself.

BOLETTE CABINS & SUITES SLIDESHOW

PREMIER SUITE ONBOARD BOLETTE

We were staying in a  Premier Suite  mid-ship on deck 7.  Our Premier Suite was nicely appointed, comfortable, and spacious, with plenty of storage space, wardrobes, and mirrors, and several plug points, although none close enough to the bed, given that the ship was built at the turn of the 21 ^st  century before mobile phones were quite as ubiquitous as they now are (ships built more recently increasingly have USB points by the bedsides, and now I come to think of it, I can’t even remember the type of chargers used for Nokia phones before smart phones became so prevalent). The balcony was a good size, but sheltered (perfect for me), although Rachel still managed to spend plenty of time enjoying the sunshine.

SUITES ON BOARD BOLETTE

On  Bolette , all the top suites can be found on deck 7, namely the two  Olsen Suites  located port and starboard at the most forward point of the ship, and the Premier Suites. The various available  balcony suites  – including  junior balcony suites  and  single balcony suites  – are all located on the deck below. (Positionings are a little different on  Borealis , with some balcony suites found on deck 7 too.) All of these categories come with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines  Suite Dreams Package , inclusions to enhance guests’ experiences, ranging from a welcome bottle of sparkling wine and daily canapé service (our favourite Suite Dreams benefits!) to weekly laundry coupons and the use of binoculars.

CABINS ON BOARD BOLETTE

Towards the end of our cruise on  Bolette , we had the opportunity to take a look at various cabin grades, including a balcony suite, an  adapted superior ocean-view cabin , a  terrace cabin , and a  superior ocean-view cabin . As suite and balcony cabin categories aren’t quite uniform across the fleet – Marquee Suites are unique to  Balmoral , and while there are balcony cabins as well as balcony suites on  Braemar, all balconied accommodation on  Bolette  and  Borealis  are suites – it’s not easy to make a direct comparison between the higher grades. 

However, it’s easy to see that outside and inside cabins are generally much more spacious onboard  Bolette . While Porthole Oceanview Cabins on  Bolette / Borealis  and  Balmoral  may not have much change between them (porthole cabins range from approximately 140 to 160sq ft on  Bolette , while twin-share porthole cabins on  Balmoral  are approximately 165sq ft and 140sq ft for solo porthole cabins) – are at the lower end of the same spectrum, this is just a small exception to the general rule. 

The largest available Picture Window cabins on  Balmoral  are approximately 200sq ft, which is the closest in size to  Bolette ’s 214sq ft picture window cabins, but this is just one cabin grade; the rest (and therefore the vast majority) are approximately between 160-165sq ft. Interior cabins onboard  Balmoral  (ranging from 130sq ft to 160sq ft) are smaller than the 183sq ft enjoyed by  Bolette . 

It’s perhaps worth noting that an interior cabin onboard  Bolette  is in fact larger than the average oceanview cabin onboard  Balmoral .

TERRACE CABINS ON BOARD BOLETTE

Terrace cabins were introduced onboard  Boudicca  and  Black Watch , both of which have since left the fleet and been replaced by  Borealis  and  Bolette , both of which feature terrace cabins of their own. 

Found mid-ship on deck 3, the terrace cabins’ sliding doors open out on to the wraparound promenade, and designated sun loungers. However, unlike their predecessors, privacy isn’t afforded by the terraces. Previously on  Boudicca  and  Braemar , the terrace accommodation were actually terrace  balcony  suites , with balconies overlooking the deck (rather than the sea), enabling guests to have a bit of a gossip with passers-by, while still enjoying some privacy with the balcony, whereas on  Bolette  (and  Borealis ), it’s a terrace  cabin , with sliding doors opening out, simply allowing guests to step straight onto the public deck outside. 

However, at approximately 218.5 sq ft, these terrace cabins are slightly larger than an outdoor cabin, and, with their glass door, allow more natural light to flood into the room, plus you have two designated sun loungers right outside.

BOLETTE CABIN AND SUITE TOUR VIDEO

Below: Take a look at the various cabins and suites on  Bolette  for yourself, with our cabin tour, looking at a Premier Suite, Balcony Suite, Adapted Superior Ocean-View Cabin, Terrace Cabin, and Superior Ocean-View Cabin.

BOLETTE CRUISE ITINERARY

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines have won a number of awards for their itineraries (deservedly so), and their smaller ships enable them to visit smaller, less busy ports of call, or dock more centrally in other ports while larger ships have to dock further away on the outskirts of a city and bus guests in. Although we’ve looked at how  Bolette  and  Borealis  are larger than the rest of Fred’s current, or any of their previous, fleets, they do also have the advantage of being quicker too, able to travel at higher speeds than  Balmoral  or  Braemar , and therefore able to reach destinations quicker, which has given Fred’s fantastic journey planners the ability to craft itineraries with more visits to ports and places, even on shorter cruises, and more time to enjoy sailing the most scenic routes.

View all Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines itineraries

ENTERTAINMENT ON BOARD BOLETTE

However, it still takes a couple days to cross the Mediterranean to and from Dover. We had three days’ sailing before reaching our first port of call (the gorgeous Andalusian city of Cadiz). Relaxing around the pools were a popular pastime for many guests, but there the usual onboard activities on offer, including socially-distanced ballroom and Latin dance classes (perhaps not so usual!). One of the new innovations onboard  Bolette  (and, of course,  Borealis  too), is the  Auditorium . 

Although it’s not the easiest to find as it’s somewhat tucked away near Guest Services (hopefully by now they’ve improved the signage!), once you find it, you can enjoy daily cooking demonstrations with the chefs. This was a real highlight for me, not least because everyone gets to taste a sample of the daily dish being demonstrated, and the setting of the Auditorium – complete with kitchen facilities, theatre-style seating, and TV screens to ensure that everyone can see what Chef is doing – is ideal for food demonstrations. Previously, there might have only been one or two food demonstrations in the onboard theatre on a sea day, but the Auditorium offers guests a daily opportunity – whether at sea or on shore – to learn the secrets of cooking some of the most popular dishes onboard, taken from various restaurants across the ship, including Vasco or even the Bookmark Cafe.

Opposite the Auditorium, there was a space which looked like it could be used for  wine tastings . The bottles of wine shelved in glass cabinets were a bit of a clue. However, this space wasn’t used during our cruise, although there were a couple of wine tasting classes on offer (I went to one on Port tasting, which was held in the Terrace Restaurant). This could have been due to social distancing measures, as it’s quite an intimately sized space, with a long table, albeit open to the rest of the deck, rather than enclosed. 

Another area that offers new opportunities for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is  The Studio , found on deck 9, but again, at the time of our cruise, this was not yet open. I am sufficiently intrigued to go back onboard  Bolette  when they do decide what to do and when to open it, but I really don’t need any excuses to go on a cruise! 

On deck 7, another then-unused space was what was called the ‘Neptune Lounge’, and in its Holland America days had been a private lounge for suite guests, not to be confused with the  Neptune Lounge and Balcony , the two-tiered theatre (another new feature for Fred. Olsen, again bringing them into line with more contemporary cruising), found on decks four and five respectively. 

Rachel and I both hate cruise entertainment, so we didn’t see any of the shows in their new glory, with the exception of the  Crew Show , a much loved Fred. Olsen tradition on the final formal night, where various members of the crew get to show off hidden singing talents or dances, sometimes traditional dances for their regions, or the ever-popular rendition of Tom Jones’ Sex Bomb or a Village People mash-up. The Captain of  Bolette , Jozo Glavic, made a point of highlighting some of the more behind-the-scenes members of staff during his speech, which we thought was a very nice touch, and during his daily briefing from the Bridge at noon, he would also announce birthdays of any crew members.

However, for those who prefer more low-key entertainment (like we do), in-house performers were available to watch and listen to in some of the bars and lounges onboard. There was a particularly popular band which performed in the  Observatory Lounge  most nights, and the string trio who accompanied formal nights and the white-glove afternoon tea service would often perform in the  Ocean Bar  (the nearest lounge to the theatre on deck 5), as well as by the main pool around midday, which was especially popular and often encouraged encores. Another new feature was the  Piano Bar , which offered Fred. Olsen a bit of New York style.

BOLETTE SHIP TOUR VIDEO

BOLETTE CRUISE REVIEW SUMMARY

In some respects, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is trying to offer a  more premium cruising experience  with these new additions to the fleet. The introduction of a more flexible dining option and enhanced guest to space ratio will elevate the onboard experience, bringing it more in line with contemporary expectations of cruising (especially more premium cruising), and may make the line more attractive to cruisers who might otherwise have considered Fred’s to be too old-fashioned with traditional first or second seating.

Arguably, this could lead to a two-tier cruise line, with die-hard Fred’s traditionalists perhaps opting more for Balmoral , and a newer following for the new sisters,  Bolette  and  Borealis , although there is still enough of the classic Fred’s feel, and many of the line’s fan favourites like the Morning Light Pub as just one example, to ensure that many Fred’s cruisers will be happy to cross over between all the fleet, perhaps being more influenced by itinerary, but still enjoying the famous Fred’s friendliness, which ever the ship, be it  Balmoral, Bolette, or Borealis .

AMY AND RACHELS THOUGHTS...

Time will tell whether this two-pronged approach – with a fleet of ships offering a choice between a ‘classic Freds’ or a more contemporary, premium Fred’s experience – will remain, or whether  Bolette  and  Borealis  represent the future for Fred. Olsen, once  Balmoral is for the knacker’s yard. However, I certainly enjoyed experiencing these new aspects of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, which I felt only elevated the onboard experience which remains underpinned by its legendary friendly service. After all, you could have all the mod cons onboard a ship, the most stylish furnishings, the most spacious cabins and public spaces, but it’s the crew which are really the heart of the ship, and can make or break a cruise, and Fred. Olsen have always been famous for their friendly crew, which remains the case onboard  Bolette. 

For me, it felt like Fred. Olsen have upped their game again (something I’ve noted they’ve been doing over the last few years or so with their itineraries), and are embracing positive changes but remaining true to themselves; it feels like a step in the right direction as we all re-enter the world of travel and cruising. So, stepping back onboard Fred. Olsen felt like a return to home, albeit with a few new exciting features.

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