Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
Smaller ships, regional UK departures, the warmest welcome at sea
A family-run British cruise line of three smaller ships — Borealis (adults-only), Bolette and Balmoral — carrying 900-1,400 guests each. Departing from four regional UK ports (Rosyth, Newcastle, Liverpool and Southampton), with handcrafted itineraries that reach ports the big-ship lines can't. Gratuities included in the fare.
Where Fred Olsen Cruise Lines sails from
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Find a Fred Olsen Cruise Lines voyage
Real itineraries, real prices — sourced live. Use the filter inside the widget for dates and length.
Why a Fred Olsen Cruise Lines voyage?
Six reasons we recommend this line to the right kind of traveller.
Smaller ships reach more interesting ports
At capacity, Fred's ships carry only 900-1,400 guests. Smaller means access to ports the mega-ships can't reach — Norway's lesser-known fjords, European cities with narrow waterways and size-restricted bridges, smaller historic harbours.
Departing from four regional UK ports
Most cruises depart from Rosyth (Edinburgh), Newcastle, Liverpool or Southampton — meaning many guests can drive to the port. Easy no-fly cruising whether you're in Scotland, the Midlands, the North-West or the South Coast.
Borealis — the adults-only ship
All Borealis sailings are exclusively adults-only — a quieter, more sociable atmosphere for couples and solo travellers. Bolette and Balmoral remain multi-generational for guests who want family flexibility.
Cruise Critic's Best Itineraries — 5 years running
A small team of specialist itinerary planners handcraft every journey to mix iconic destinations with hidden gems. This isn't algorithmic routing — it's researched, curated and refreshed each year.
Gratuities included in the fare
Unusual in mainstream British cruising — Fred Olsen bakes all gratuities into the headline cruise fare. No daily per-guest service charge, no calculations at the end of your trip.
Stargazing and ORCA conservation
Two distinctive on-board partnerships — Go Stargazing astronomers running on-deck sessions on selected sailings (including a 2026 solar eclipse cruise), and the ORCA marine wildlife charity surveying whales and dolphins with guests joining the science.
Might not be for you if…
No cruise line is for everyone. Here's where Fred Olsen Cruise Lines might not fit. We'll point you elsewhere if so.
You want a big-ship resort experience
Fred Olsen ships are small and traditional — no rock-climbing walls, no go-kart tracks, no waterparks. For mega-ship cruising look at Royal Caribbean or MSC.
You're travelling with kids
Bolette and Balmoral are open to all ages but with no formal kids' programme. Borealis is adults-only. For family cruising, P&O, MSC or Royal Caribbean is a better fit.
You hate formal evenings
Fred Olsen preserves traditional cruise evenings — at least one Formal Night on cruises of 5+ nights, where dinner jacket or dark suit is suggested for men and dresses/gowns for women. If you want zero dress code, Marella or Virgin Voyages is the fit.
You want all-inclusive drinks
Drinks are not included by default. The optional Premium Drinks Package is £32-£48 per person per night depending on sail length and whether bought in advance. Gratuities ARE included though.
Meet the Fred Olsen Cruise Lines ships
Showing Borealis (adults-only) by default — use the search inside the panel to switch to other ships in the fleet.
Smaller-ship dining done with care, included gratuities
Multiple complimentary main restaurants per ship plus speciality dining at modest cover charges. Fresh tea and coffee in every cabin and 24-hour tea and coffee stations around every ship.
What you actually do all day
Go Stargazing sessions
Partnership with Go Stargazing — professional astronomers running on-deck stargazing sessions, laser-guided tours of constellations, planet-spotting and deep-sky objects. Special August 2026 solar eclipse cruises with experts on board.
ORCA marine wildlife
Volunteer marine mammal surveyors join selected sailings to spot, identify and record whales, dolphins and porpoises. Guest lectures, on-deck observation and citizen-science contribution baked in.
Dance hosts & ballroom
Friendly dance hosts and hostesses for solo travellers wanting a dance partner — ballroom evenings, daytime classes, full orchestras. The traditional cruise pursuit kept alive.
Atlantis Spa & wellness
Hair salon, beauty and spa treatments, gym, sauna, swimming pools. Sociable rather than resort-scale — perfect for a sea-day spa break.
What's included in your fare
Every Fred Olsen Cruise Lines fare bakes these in.
All gratuities
Service charges included in the headline cruise fare
Main dining
Multi-course dining included on every fare
24-hour room service
Free in-cabin menu of drinks and snacks
Tea & coffee
Twinings teas and coffee in every cabin, plus 24-hr stations around the ship
Pools & hot tubs
Outdoor pools and indoor jacuzzis (varies by ship)
Entertainment & lectures
Theatre shows, live music, ORCA talks, Go Stargazing sessions — included
Good to know
- Minimum age
- Borealis is exclusively adults-only (18+). Bolette and Balmoral welcome guests of all ages but with no formal kids' programme.
- Drinking age
- 18+ on all Fred Olsen ships (UK-flagged ships, UK rules).
- Voyage length
- 2-5 night samplers up to 100+ night World Cruises. Most no-fly UK voyages 5-14 nights; longer voyages on Grand Voyages.
- Dress code
- Casual by day. Most evenings are Smart Casual. Cruises of 5+ nights include at least one Formal Night — dinner jacket or dark suit for men, evening dress or gown for ladies. Buffet stays casual every evening.
- Gratuities
- INCLUDED. All on-board gratuities are baked into the Fred Olsen cruise fare. Additional voluntary tips are welcome but not expected.
- Drinks packages
- Premium Drinks Package available — £32-£48 per person per night depending on sail length and whether bought in advance (advance saves £4/night). Includes cocktails, wines, spirits, beers; excludes premium brand whiskies, Champagne and speciality coffees.
- Wi-Fi
- Per-cruise Wi-Fi packages — Starlink-powered on the fleet. Day-pass and full-cruise tiers; surf and streaming options.
- Currency on board
- Pounds Sterling on every Fred Olsen ship. Cashless system; everything goes to your cabin account.
Quick answers about Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
Where does Fred Olsen sail from?
What's the difference between the three ships?
Are gratuities included?
What's the dress code?
What are stargazing cruises?
What's the Oceans Club?
Do you have a money-back guarantee?
Do I need a passport?
Oceans Club
Five-tier membership — Bronze on your first night, then upgrades at 31, 101-250, 251-500 and 501+ cruise nights. One point per night since 1 January 2000. Points become void if more than five years between cruises.
Ready to sail with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines?
A Travel Designer who knows Fred Olsen Cruise Lines will pick the right ship, the right itinerary, and the right cabin tier for you. No call centres.