Fred Olsen

With much of the cruise industry dominated by mega cruise ships and giant cruising corporations, it’s refreshing – and somewhat reassuring – to see that you don’t have to be big to be beautiful or successful. Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is a true example of a family-run firm done good. Over the years, it has built up a strong following for Fred Olsen cruise holidays among British cruisers who come back time and time again for the friendly, intimate atmosphere of its ships. For this loyal clientele, a Fred Olsen cruise represents the age of tradition and custom before the all-singing, all-dancing mega-ships sailed on to the cruising scene. Instead, Fred Olsen holidays hark back to the age of set meal times, formal nights, on-board lectures, after-dinner quizzes and captain’s cocktail parties.

Fred Olsen cruises tend to attract an older, mainly British, clientele who like the pace and style, but it does attract families during the school holidays. The line runs a series of ‘family friendly’ cruises on its newest ship Balmoral, which was launched in February, Boudicca, Black Watch and Braemar, which also has a dedicated children’s playroom. The fifth ship in the fleet is the Black Prince, which has a loyal following for its on-board atmosphere and the ability to slip into small ports overlooked by the bigger ships. For passengers wanting to soak up the culture of a destination, a Fred Olsen cruise doesn’t just offer the chance to experience it on tours ashore with expert guides, it also organises on-board lectures and talks on a variety of topics. But the secret of successful Fred Olsen holidays is based upon the basic premise of good food, good company and good conversation.

Fred Olsen’s newest ship, Balmoral, is also the largest with 744 cabins, three restaurants, a grill and café as well as a small casino. It will also be the first of the line’s ships to be based in Miami where it is offering a winter series of Fred Olsen cruise holidays to the Caribbean. When it comes to sailing across the globe, Fred Olsen cruises offer many routes to far-flung destinations with a selection of world cruise and transatlantic crossing in addition to sailings in popular cruising grounds such as the Mediterranean, Amazon, Northern Europe, Canary Islands and the Caribbean. Passengers wanting to start their Fred Olsen cruise from British shores can take their pick from a wide range UK departure ports including Southampton, Dover, Port of Tyne, Liverpool, Greenock and Leith.