Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Overview
Cruises
Dining
Tipping
Kids
Overview
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has defined and refined the cruise experience, and judging by the number of passengers that come back time and again, they seem to have styled it to perfection.
Many of today’s ships are so vast that passengers feel removed from the very essence of a cruise. Not so with the four distinctive Fred. Olsen vessels. Rather than impersonal floating leviathans, Braemar, Black Watch, Boudicca and Balmoral are smaller ships where the emphasis is on you – a welcome guest and not just a cabin number.
By operating smaller vessels they can moor in the very heart of things where it is often a short walk down the gang-way to shore rather than a lengthy tender ride to port. What’s more you will be able to come and go as you please, maybe to pop back for lunch or drop off your shopping bags before you head back ashore to explore some more.
The Fred. Olsen Difference
* Personal & friendly service
* Traditional British cruising
* English speaking crew
* Sterling currency on board
* 218 single cabins across the fleet
* Value for money (see What’s Included)
* Cruises of all durations (2-119 nights)
* High customer loyalty
* Fantastic cuisine
* Great entertainment
* We visit over 200 exciting destinations
Smaller, Friendlier Ships
* Interesting and more varied itineraries; Fred. Olsen ships can sail to smaller ports that bigger ships cannot reach
* Less tendering; more time ashore
* Family run business
* More sociable atmosphere on board than ships with thousands of passengers
* Friendlier service where guests are remembered by name, not just a number
What’s Included
* Comfortable en suite cabin with TV, hairdryer, telephone, individual air-conditioning, tea & coffee making facilities
* In-cabin safe or safety deposit boxes
* Fine dining, informal buffets & late-night snacks throughout your cruise
* Captain’s Cocktail Party and gala buffet
* Ice cream at selected on board venues
* Complimentary tea and coffee throughout the day & early evening
* Free lectures & daily on board activities
* All evening entertainment including cabarets and dancing
* On board leisure facilities including: swimming pools; Jacuzzis; & use of gym equipment
* Free birthday and anniversary packages (for those celebrating during their cruise)
* All port taxes
* Reasonable drinks prices
UPGRADE TO ALL INCLUSIVE – FROM 2014 CRUISES ONWARDS
Fred. Olsen cruise is always great value, with so much included in the price. Now you can add even more value to your holiday by upgrading to All Inclusive from just £10 per person, per night.
You can enjoy selected beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks, all for one set price. Plus, you will be entitled to 50% discount off premium and branded drinks too.
Cruises
Dining
The Maitre d’ on board allocates your dining table arrangements. You can request first sitting (6.30pm) or second sitting (8.30pm) at time of booking. When you arrive on board you will find a Restaurant Seating Card in your cabin, which will advise you of your table number and dining time. This will be your allocated table for the duration of the cruise.
The main restaurants are:
Black Watch Glentanar Restaurant
Boudicca Four Seasons and Tintagel Restaurants
Braemar Thistle and Grampian Restaurants
Balmoral Ballindalloch, Avon and Spey Restaurants.
Ballindalloch is the main restaurant on Deck 6, whilst the Avon and Spey are more
intimate restaurants on Deck 10. Menu and service are identical.
Mealtimes are as flexible as possible – after all you are on holiday. Breakfast is normally served between 7.15 and 10.00am and lunch between 12.00 and 2.00pm in the main restaurants. A buffet breakfast and lunch will also be served in the Palms Cafe on both Braemar and Balmoral, and weather permitting, in the Poolside Cafe and Marquee Pool Bar on Black Watch.
‘Open Sitting’ evening dining is offered as an informal option in the Garden Cafe on Black Watch, The Secret Garden on Boudicca, and in the Palms Cafe on both Braemar and Balmoral. These informal restaurants operate on a self service basis, but a bar service is available.
Dress Code
Generally speaking, the style is informal, with gentlemen wearing jacket and tie (lounge suit or sports jacket is fine) and ladies smartly dressed. On ‘Formal’ evenings, gentlemen will prefer to wear ‘black tie’ with ladies elegantly dressed in cocktail or evening dress. As a guideline there are usually four formal nights on a two-week cruise. Details will be supplied with your travel documents.
Dining times
| Meal | Normal Sitting | Late Sitting |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | 7.15am – 9.30am | 7.30am – 10.00am |
| Lunch | 12.00pm – 2.00pm | |
| Dinner | 6.30pm – 8.30pm | 8.30pm – 10.30pm |
Tipping
What about gratuities, are they included?
Gratuities to crew, drivers, guides etc. ashore are not included in the cost of your holiday. We’re confident however that you’ll wish to reward staff on board for their service, although
tipping is entirely at your discretion. As a general rule £2.00 per adult Guest per day for your cabin stewardess and the same amount for your restaurant waiter is always very much appreciated. For your convenience this will automatically be added to your cruise end account. Please however contact
Reception on board should you wish to vary this amount.
Kids
Do You Cater for Children ?
Black Watch has a Games Room which is normally set up for Table Tennis, but is adapted to a Children’s Playroom on cruises falling within the main school holiday periods. Balmoral has an Arts and Crafts Room that again will be converted to a Children’s facility during the main school holidays. Braemar has a dedicated childrens playroom.
Babysitting
Unfortunately no baby-sitting services are available on any of the Fred Olsen Cruise Line ships.
