For our first cruise, there were positive experiences, including the (expensive) onshore excursions to the stunning Norwegian scenery, the good choice of on board food and dining, the lovely flowers and gifts from Fred Olsen Cruises for our silver wedding anniversary, and the high standard of housekeeping in our room by our cabin stewardess.
Unfortunately there were many negative experiences ...
Last cruise with Fred we were given our first ever upgrade to a magnificent Premier suite, well would you believe it,it happened again,
We stayed the night at the Crown Plaza adjacent to the cruise terminal and left the car there, embarking was fairly easy and our suite was as before sumptuous,
First meal in the Aurora was a disaster, service was abominable, staff were running around like ...
We chose this cruise because it departed from Newcastle upon Tyne, which is only 12 miles from home. Much better than hanging around airports, as so many people also commented .Embarkation was orderly and efficient. Luggage taken care of early on and delivered to door of cabin.
For all we have been on a number of cruises before we were impressed with both the size of the cabin(suite) and its ...
We chose this cruise on Borealis from Liverpool at 4 weeks notice .we thought we would try an in inside cabin, very roomy plenty of storage .Very acceptable.We were given second sitting dining which we managed to change once on board the ship.
Apparently we were very fortunate.The first night’s entertainment was a show by the ship’s entertainers.It was very downhill from there, till their ...
This was our fifth cruise with Fred Olsen - our first since the pandemic.
At the outset of the cruise were delayed by two hours while the ship underwent a "deep clean" as there had been a severe outbreak of Norovirus on the previous cruise.
Needless to say by day three of the cruise my husband and many other passengers were confined to cabin as the virus had once again taken hold. By day ...
I chose this cruise as it fitted in with school holidays and it was planned as a treat for my grandchildren. I booked a family cabin for my 2 granddaughters and myself and a separate cabin for my son - very expensive as charged full cost although obviously only half use of facilities and food. The family cabin was very cramped with uncomfortable beds. My son had to move cabins twice because of ...
We chose this cruise because it sailed from Liverpool which is only thirty minutes away from were we live. We usually sail from Southampton. This is our 11th cruise and our first time with Fred Olson.
I would like to start with the positives.
Embarkation was quick. Our luggage was taken off us as we arrived and was in our cabin an hour later. We opted for an inside cabin. We usually have a ...
Last time we went on a Fred Olsen cruise I said never again; if Olsen could charge for the air we breathed he would. But I succumbed. When we booked again we were offerd a drinks package at £25 or £29 a night (can't remember which) which seemed very expensive. During the criuse we learnt that late bookers had been offere free drinks packages. The moral is don't book early with Olsen.
On ...
We stayed in the Travelodge, Cobalt Business Park before our embarkation from Newcastle, which was a fairly new hotel. It was really good with the room, hotel and staff being excellent, so I would definitely recommend that as somewhere to stay pre-cruise. We stayed three nights, taking the opportunity to go on a boat ride to The Farne Isles one day with Serenity, which again I would recommend as ...
My wife and I enjoy cruising on small ships and wanted to see Iceland, this is as honest an appraisal as I can give on the whole Fred Olsen experience.
Cabin.
We had a premier suite which was perfect.
Staff.
Absolutely fine with one or two exceptions.
Mask etiquette
Some clown thought it was a good idea to let people sit in crowded restaurants without masks and dance in large ...