Cruise Frog guide
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is a British-based, Norwegian-owned cruise line headquartered in Ipswich, Suffolk. It belongs to the Fred. Olsen Group, the shipping business founded in 1848 in Hvitsten on the Oslofjord by three Olsen brothers and still run by the family in its fifth generation, and is owned through Bonheur.
Style
Premium
smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream
Best for
- Couples
- Solo travelers
- History and culture
Fleet rating
No ships rated yet.
About Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
The fleet is three midsize ships: Balmoral, built in 1988 and lengthened for Fred. Olsen in 2008, and Bolette and Borealis, the former Holland America Line ships Amsterdam and Rotterdam, bought in 2020 to replace the older Black Watch and Boudicca. Braemar, laid up since 2020, was sold in 2024.
Most cruises sail round trip from UK ports, chiefly Southampton but also Liverpool, Newcastle, Portsmouth and Rosyth, to Norway, the British Isles, the Baltic, the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and the Caribbean, with occasional world cruises. The onboard style is traditionally British, with formal and themed nights, afternoon tea and observation lounges, and Borealis sails adults-only.
What Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is known for
Fred. Olsen is known for smaller ships, an unhurried, traditional British atmosphere and no-fly cruises from regional UK ports. The line leans on that smaller scale in its marketing, saying its ships can navigate narrow waterways for scenic cruising and that its crews get to know their guests. It is the longest-standing corporate partner of the RNLI lifeboat charity, and its awards include a 2026 Group Leisure & Travel Award for best cruise line.
The trade-offs follow from the same choices. All three ships were built between 1988 and 2000, so they lack the water parks, large production shows and range of venues found on newer ships, and specialty dining and drinks packages cost extra. The traditional British style, with formal nights and afternoon tea, will feel quiet to travelers looking for nightlife, and Borealis does not take children.
Who it's for
Fred. Olsen suits British travelers, especially retirees, couples and solo cruisers, who want to sail from a UK port without flying and prefer a calm ship of around 1,300 guests to a resort-style megaship. Its itineraries suit people who like scenic cruising, Norwegian fjords, Northern Lights voyages and longer winter-sun trips, and its afternoon teas and formal nights appeal to those who enjoy a traditional style.
Families with young children, travelers looking for nightlife or big-ship attractions, and anyone outside the UK who would need to fly to Southampton or Liverpool will usually find better options elsewhere.
- Couples
- romantic dining, quiet spaces, balcony cabins
- Solo travelers
- studio cabins, low or no single supplement, easy to meet people
- History and culture
- port-intensive itineraries, lectures, included excursions
How it rates
None of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines's ships has been rated yet. A line's rating is the average of its ships' scores.
Where Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines sails
Ships
Balmoral1988 · 43,537 GT · 1,275 guests · Canary Islands · MediterraneanBalmoral was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, and entered service in 1988 as Royal Cruise Line's Crown Odyssey, later sailing for Norwegian Cruise Line and Orient…
Bolette2000 · 62,735 GT · 1,273 guests · Canary Islands · MediterraneanBolette is the flagship of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, built by Fincantieri in Italy and launched in 2000 as Holland America Line's Amsterdam, the last of the Rotterdam class…
Borealis1997 · 61,849 GT · 1,299 guests · World cruises · Canary IslandsBorealis was built by Fincantieri in Trieste and entered service in November 1997 as Holland America Line's Rotterdam, sailing for that line for 22 years. Fred. Olsen bought her…Former ships
| Ship | Sailed | Gross tons | Left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Braemar | 2001–2024 | 24,344 | February 2024 |
| Black Watch | 1996–2020 | 28,613 | August 2020 |
| Boudicca | 2006–2020 | 28,388 | August 2020 |
Where to fly in
- London Heathrow (LHR)3 Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ships sail from Southampton, England40 lounges on Lounge Frog
Quick answers
What is Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines known for?
Fred. Olsen is known for smaller ships, an unhurried, traditional British atmosphere and no-fly cruises from regional UK ports. The line leans on that smaller scale in its marketing, saying its ships can navigate narrow waterways for scenic cruising and that its crews get to know their guests. It is the longest-standing corporate partner of the RNLI lifeboat charity, and its awards include a 2026 Group Leisure & Travel Award for best cruise line.
Who is Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines best for?
Fred. Olsen suits British travelers, especially retirees, couples and solo cruisers, who want to sail from a UK port without flying and prefer a calm ship of around 1,300 guests to a resort-style megaship. Its itineraries suit people who like scenic cruising, Norwegian fjords, Northern Lights voyages and longer winter-sun trips, and its afternoon teas and formal nights appeal to those who enjoy a traditional style.
Where does Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines sail?
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines's ships in service sail Mediterranean (3 ships), Canary Islands (3 ships), Caribbean (1 ship), Northern Europe (1 ship), Norwegian Fjords (1 ship) and World cruises (1 ship).
How many ships does Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines have?
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has 3 ships in service on Cruise Frog: Balmoral, Bolette and Borealis.
Who owns Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines?
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is part of Bonheur (Fred. Olsen Group).
Where is Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines based?
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is headquartered in Ipswich, England. It has operated since 1848.
What is Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines's loyalty program called?
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines's past-guest loyalty program is Oceans Club.
What is the largest Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ship?
Bolette is Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines's largest ship at 62,735 gross tons, carrying 1,273 guests.
Cruising with children
Fred. Olsen families must choose the ship as well as the itinerary. Its current children’s policy differs from older descriptions of the fleet and its former club.
Read the Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines family guide →