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None of the ships in Fred.Olsen Cruise Line fleet was designed and built for them.  They all were built for someone else. They were bought when the ships were 15-20 years in age. All have been or will be refurbished into what Fred.Olsen wants. 

Everything is relative. The Terrace (Lanai) cabins on deck 3 are the same size as all the Oceanview cabins on deck 3. But their layout is different. While the Oceanview cabins have the beds opposite the door under the window, the Terrace have a glass door there. The Terrace cabins have the beds on one side wall with a very small aisle along the other side wall.

Here are the sizes of the various cabins:

Owners Suite 87 m2

Premiere Suite 36 or 43 m2

Balcony Suite 22-25 m2

Terrace Cabin 20 m2

Oceanview Cabin 20 m2

Inside Cabin 17 m2

20 m2 is the same 20 m2 between Terrace and Oceanview Cabins. 
The cruisemapper web site has drawings of the various cabin and suite layouts.

Whereas the sizes are the same, the difference in their layouts make them feel different. Terrace cabins are smaller than Balcony suites, but not by that much. 

Bumping this thread so that the last post is not about another cruise line. Go Fred. Olsen and its’ two new buys.

I’m from Texas, I’ll admit I have never sailed on a Fred Olsen ship under Fred Olsen ownership, but I have sailed on four of their ships when they were known as the Norwegian Dynasty, Norwegian Crown, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam. 
 

Here is something every potential cruise customer should know, (1) the cruise line can replace the ship at any time, (2) the cruise line can change the itinerary at any time, and (3) the cruise line can cancel the cruise at any time.  Choosing a cruise based upon a specific ship, a specific port, or a specific length of time  is a mistake. 

You should pick a cruise based on things that rarely change. Things like daily activities on board, fixed or open seating, dress up nights or not, casinos or not,  kid friendly or not, the general cruise area, etc. 

Too many reviews place emphasis on food menus, size of cabins, cruise directors, room stewards, and entertainers; all the things that can change between cruises. Captains, cruise directors, chefs, entertainers, room stewards, in fact every crew member aboard the ship can change between cruises.
 

What is more important is the general atmosphere aboard the ships any cruise line encourages from  its headquarters. How well do they manage you and the ship when things go wrong, like the equipment breaking down, bad weather at sea, bad weather in ports, virus outbreaks aboard the ships, etc. 

when looking at reviews here at cruise critic, that is what you should be looking for. 
 

3 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Having booked many outside cabins on Deck 1 and Deck 2 on the Rotterdam Class ships (now Borealis) and having visited friends who were booked in a Deck 3 outside cabin--even before it had been converted into a Lanai cabin--believe me, there is a different "spaciousness" due to the layout of the cabins on those three decks.  On Deck 1 and 2, if you separate the Queen Bed into 2 singles, the feel of "spaciousness" increases.  

 

The measurements may be the same.  They are only "part of the story".  

No doubt the layout differences between a Lanai cabin and Outside cabin contributes to the spaciousness differences. You have a glass door onto the Promenade Deck vs a headboard of a bed under a window at that location. Never-the-less, the sizes of the different cabins are the same. 
The decision to be made by the customer is whether you want a second door or a window at that location in your cabin.  You would prefer a window, others may prefer a door. Is it not nice to have choices?

Several websites indicate the size of Deck 3 outside cabins, including Lanai types, at 197 sq. ft. or 19 sq. m. Sizes of outside cabins of Deck 1 and 2 cabins are listed as the same.  Those toward the pointed end, the bow, are smaller, while those with wheelchair access are larger. just about the same can be said about every cabin class.

Inside cabins sizes are 182 sq. ft. or 17 sq. m. 

Veranda deck suites are 229 sq. ft. or 22 sq. m.

Navigation deck suites are 386 sq. ft. or 36 sq. m.

Penthouse suites are 937 sq. ft. or 88 sq. m.

Let's compare that to the Balmoral.

Inside cabin sizes 160 sq. ft. or 16 sq. m.

Outside cabin sizes 165 sq. ft. or 16 sq. m.

Balcony cabins are 197 sq. ft. or 18 sq. m.

Superior Suites are 275 sq. ft. or 26 sq. m.

Marquee Suites are 390 sq. ft. or 36 sq, m.

Penthouse Suites are 430 sq. ft. or 40 sq, m.

Inside 17/16 x 100 = 106.25%

Outside 19/16 x 100 = 118.7%

Smallest Suites 22/26 x 100 = 84.6% 

Middle Suite 36/36 x 100 = 100

Penthouse Suites 88/40 x 100 = 220%

The large cabin sizes, 25% larger than most at the same type of cabin, will surely spoil future cruisers on these ships. I would not be surprised if FOCL buys the remaining two Rotterdam class ships when HAL decides to sell them.

Come on guys, can’t anyone in Britain travel to Edinburgh and post some decent photos? 
Fred. Olsen has posted one video of both of them in the shipyard, not sure if it okay to link it here. But it is available on their YouTube site.

i was hoping for better photos than a YouTube video.

I understand folks saying not to blame NCL for delays likely caused by Customs. But Scott appears to have first hand knowledge of the situation. Why would they continue to call zones if they were not ready for the next group? This then would indicate that NCL is at least partially to blame for the congestion. In turn this would not help an already slowed down disembarkation process.

Rochelle

NCL calls zones as they offload baggage and that zone's baggage is available for pickup on the pier, that's been my experience. Those are facts they can keep aware of just from onboard ship communication capabilities.

That's the reason you should never leave the ship until your zone is called, you'll just be in the way of everyone else waiting for your baggage on the pier.

There's no practical way for the staff aboard the ship to know how well customs is doing clearing passengers. Customs' and the ship's hand held radios use different frequencies and can't communicate with one another.

Your subject made no sense to me, then I read the article and it talks about scrubbers. Unfortunately, I have no idea what scrubbers are, so it still made no sense to me. Ha! I give up. ;)

Scrubbers ware used to clean up the exhausts from the diesel engines. Environmentally, it's good news.

From a passenger point of view, there might be less soot on the upper decks near the funnels.

Yes, the food is basically the same fleet wide.

Any differences you'll see arrises from a differing amount of restaurants aboard the ship, and from the different personnel aboard the ships preparing the meals. You'll find that the Sky has less restaurants and the Epic will have more restaurants than the Spirit to dine at. Similar restaurants to each other will have the same menus.

I am sailing in summer 2015 on Getaway and so excited because it's a full day in Tortola vs. the 1/2 day on some of the Gem sailings.

 

I just wish they were replacing Nassau with Tortola, but I'm looking forward to visiting Tortola for sure.

Wishing isn't getting.

This is the fourth country NCL has long term agreements with. Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, and now British Virgin Islands. Looks like NCL really likes countries starting with "B":)

Don't expect NCL to drop ports in these countries, they are required by the agreements to provide many visits and many visitors. NCL can't do so if they drop ports in these countries. The reason NCL signed agreements with these countries is to get access to mostly new piers that the countries wouldn't have funded and built without the agreements.

Unforgiveable customer service and even more so when the front desk personnel did not fix "the buck stops here" problem and apparent lying about a supervisor/manager being on duty !!!!!

 

For the space of a couple inside cabins laundry service could be possible.

 

This should have been handled at the Pursers desk first off and was not a negotiable issue!

The front desk offered you the "fleet" standard $50 OBC for your issue right from the beginning. No one on board the ship can offer more, and they can never give the cash you were demanding. To get more, you'll have to take this issue to corporate headquarters, and they eventually gave you that information as well.

Talking to the supervisor didn't get you a better offer because they had already offered you the most they can. Believe it or not, demanding to speak with a supervisor is disrespectful of the purser at the desk, and rarely do you get a better result. Never-the-less, you did get to talk to the supervisor. How is this poor customer service?

If you look at your cruise contract closely you'll discover they aren't liable and that the $50 OBC offer was being generous.

6 NCL ships at one time had self service laundries. On all 6 ships, the self service laundries was the number 1 complaint. NCL removed them because they were losing too much money paying $50 OBC to all the complainers. $50 here, $50 there, add them all up it comes to big $ lo$$e$..

Good luck with the corporate office with your issues.

Which NCL ship are you planning to sail on? One will enter Glacier Bay National Park, the other will not.

If you're on the ship sailing to Glacier Bay National Park, I wouldn't spend any money in Juneau going to its glacier. Instead, I suggest taking the aerial tram up Mount Roberts - there's lots of trails up there they can hike on, the whole park is run by native Americans - a great education opportunity. The tramway's entrance is a short walk from the nearby piers, but a long walk away from the far pier, which can be reached by the free shuttle bus NCL usually provides if moored at the far pier. That's a big if. If you're on the ship that doesn't visit Glacier Bay National Park, the only glacier they may see if the one in Juneau - because the ship may not make it all the way up the arm to Sawyer Glacier.

Shopping is my recommendation for Ketchikan and Skagway where you can avoid the cost of excursions easily, many of the stores are within walking distance to the pier. The train ride at Skagway is a very popular excursion, but I believe some of the bus excursions are cheaper, and they provide just as much scenery. Whale watching boat excursions, totem poles tour, and the logging show are the very popular excursions in Ketchikan. They are not cheap. I believe the totem pole bus tour is cheapest, and another opportunity for a native American education.

I agree with the earlier responder who recommended visiting the port of call forums. There are many different excursions to choose from at different prices, it's difficult to suggest which is best for the girls without knowing the depth of their purses. There's a reason many take multiple cruises to Alaska, there's really too much to do and see on one cruse.

The problem I have with two way radios is there's no buzzer and no headset. Everybody nearby hears everything.

Imagine they are dining when the radio squawks, or in the middle of the show.

It's a bad idea to chain friends to the radio. Don't be surprised if they leave that darn radio behind in their cabin.

Use the telephones cruise lines so nicely place in every cabin. Their cabin number most likely will be their phone number on the ship.

How and what families do to keep in touch is their own business, but there are far better ways to keep in touch than using two way radios.

I'll admit I'm only guessing, but that would be a crew only space, possibly a crew stairway, elevator bank, or storage space for linens, etc.

The main dining rooms (free) will offer a special menu for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The speciality restaurants will still offer their normal menus, but you can order that special menu at them too. I've ordered the free lobster entree served at the main dining rooms on lobster night at a specialty restaurant before, but usually order the speciality restaurant's desserts, soups, and salads. You can always order two entrees as well.

Good luck!

C'mon now. Fresh eggs are the best.

 

Here is the solution:

Get a doctor to diagnose you with something like epilepsy, narcolepsy, panic attacks, allergy to nonsense....

Antway, something workable. Then, get a service animal to alert you af an attack by the aforementioned affliction.

 

See where we're going here? Get a chicken for your service animal. A daily egg would be a bonus.

You'll also need a rooster if you expect that chicken to keep laying eggs on a daily basis. :eek:

I am sailing on the Sky 4 days in Feb. with friends and am curious to know what changes they are making ........ we love the Spirit and also wonder if there are any similarities in the 2 ships. Can't wait for our cruise! This will be my 5th with NCL ...........

There's very little similarities in the way these two ships were built. But there will be many similarities with the services provided on these two ships.

I just had a conversation with NCL Miami about this very topic . Yesterday. About no ships in the carib for the summer..

Doesn't the Bahamas border the Caribbean Sea? If you think it does, there's one NCL ship from Miami plus a second NCL ship from New York sailing to the Caribbean during the summer!

Noticed that on NCL site, they are selling "combined itineraries" next February thru April on the new Breakaway.

This is where the ship is basically on a week's cruise from New York to Port Canaveral, GSC, and Nassau, but they will also sell embarkation from Port Canaveral and return. This apparently is common practice on some Med. cruises, where passengers can start from multiple ports.

 

I don't know about this....it changes the whole dynamics of the cruise...

It means that there is no proper 'welcome aboard' or 'farewell' activity...

not the same as a B2B, either.

And how many people would want to leave warm Florida in those months for some cold weather cruising, just to spend a few hours in NYC? And they would have to all get off in NYC to clear customs, before getting back on, even if they did not intend to see the city. Of course, they wouldn't have to do it again in Port Canaveral, unless they purchased some expensive items on board after leaving NYC...

Starting and ending a cruise in multiple homeports means the ship isn't close to selling out from the main port - in this case New York City. Otherwise, there wouldn't be any cabins left to sell in the second homeport, etc. Therefore, the ship being used is too large for the main homeport. One of the reasons why multiple homeports work in Europe is passengers prefer port side activities in their native languages and there are so many different languages in Europe - that isn't true for the USA.

Maybe NCL should use the Gem for that cruise, and reposition the Breakaway to Miami instead? Or lengthen the winter season itineraries to a full two weeks so the ship makes less turns in New York City?

I'll agree forward looking Lounges provide great experiences for an Alaskan cruise with the ship sailing through passages and land constantly in view. But they aren't that great for most cruises in the Caribbean because you're rarely see any land at all while the ship is moving. I believe NCL has removed both the Star and Dawn away from Alaska itineraries.

I would think NCL would have opened the bar in these forward looking lounges early in the day, but it has been my experience they didn't open until after lunch. Those floor to ceiling windows were usually dirty. Those wishing to view the great scenery from an inside locale had to go outside to get a drink at the pool's bar. You might as well watch the scenery from outside anyways where you have a clear view.

But I do understand your loss of a forward looking "inside" view. Maybe you now can understand my loss of a rearward looking view with a bar nearby - even though outside. Only the Spirit provides that free view now in NCL's fleet. All the other NCL ships have decks upon decks of private cabins there now.

I think NCL has left LA just like they had left Houston and Charleston. The reasons may be different, Houston closed their pier in Houston, NCL retired their last small ship for Charleston. Other homeports have also lost ships. Honolulu lost two due to a fail business plan, and may eventually lose three, and Vancouver lost one because Alaska raised it taxes.

It should be obvious by now that NCL is retrenching back to historic more profitable times sailing mainly from Florida. I'm surprised NCL isn't sailing at least one ship in the near future from Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville too.

I agree with Don that all 8 night Mexican-Rivera cruises was a mistake for the long term. Maybe a more flexible schedule like Carnival's with 8, 7, and 6 day cruises that kept the turnaround in LA on the weekends would have been more successful. In the short term, the 8 night cruises provided a port few ships visited and did well, that is until steady passengers got tired of that port too.

I'm not so sure Don's other suggestion of fuel consumed due to the length of the cruise is valid.

It's 1648 miles by air from Los Angeles to Acapulco, a round trip cruise would be at least 3296 miles.

New York to St. Thomas is 1635 miles, a round trip cruise would be at least 3270 miles.

Miami to St. Thomas is 1100 miles, a round trip would be at least 2200 miles.

New York to Nassau is 1096 miles, a round trip would be at least 2192 miles.

New Orleans to Roatan ia 962 miles, a round trip would be at least 1924 miles.

Miami to Cozumel is 562 miles, a round trip would be at least 1124 miles.

Maybe Don does have a point with the fuel, traveling 2000 miles should consume two-thirds less fuel than traveling 3,000 miles. Or looking at it the other way around, which is how the cruise lines will look at it, traveling 3,000 miles consumes 150% more fuel than traveling 2,000 miles......

Which may explain why NCL doesn't have more cruises from New York to St. Thomas. But I do believe we may have stumbled upon a very valid reason why NCL has chosen to drop Mexican-Rivera cruises. As consumers, we look at these cruises solely upon the number of nights, we forget the cruise lines must also look at the miles traveled and fuel consumed.

I found this photo the shows where the Oslo Deck is located best.

The Promenade Deck is the open deck on the right, towards the left you can see oval holes in the ship's hull. Above it is the Oslo Deck, and above it is the International Deck.

All access to the Oslo Deck is from the International Deck. The short stairway to the Oslo Deck is to the sides (port and starboard) of the forward main stairway.

Has any one stayed in an Ocean view cabin on the Oslo Deck on the Sun? It looks like it is in between the two levels of the theatre. Is there a lot of noise in these cabins? Is there a problem getting around the ship? Thanks for any info you can give me.

The Oslo Deck cabins are usually more quiet because there's far less through traffic on that deck because the deck is fairly short in length and the elevators skip it. You will have to use the stairs to reach the International Deck to go anywhere. It is not between two levels of the theatre. The Promenade Deck for most of the ship about a deck and a half tall, to impress us with relatively tall ceilings. Towards the front of the ship, the Promenade Deck ramps downward, which allows room for the Oslo Deck (an additional deck) to be added.