Dairbear01

Thanks for the info

We are looking at a cruise in October on Marella discovery which includes 7 days in a Orlando hotel plus the 7 day cruise to grand Turk. We have only cruised once before with Fred Olsen on the Bolette, so trying to spread our wings and the deal for the above cruise via iglu cruises seemed to good to miss. If possible could anyone answer a few questions we have. 1/ is the Marella discovery of a decent standard. 2/ my wife is gluten free, Fred Olsen were brilliant, so we hoped she would be looked after as well on that ship. 3/ anyone used iglu and are they trustworthy. Thanks for any help Kenny

Thanks for the feedback, I thought it might only drop more if the cruise wasn't selling, but to drop from £1299 to £899 seemed to good to miss

We loved our first Fred Olsen cruise and wondered about booking another, but our first for 10 days was in an outside cabin with a window for £899 to the Baltic capitals. Which I think was a great deal. They have a sale on for 10 days around Scotland in July which was £1299 for an inside cabin, but has dropped to £999 and with the royal code , it is at the same as we were before £899. I like the itinerary but wondered if its worth waiting to see if it drops more, or with others experience, were we just lucky to get the deal we got previously. I appreciate it's probably just pot luck, but thought I'd ask before I jumped. Thanks Kenny

Thank you will check them out

We have recently had our first cruise on the Fred Olsen Bolette, sailing from Newcastle , which was brilliant, but now we are wondering about looking at another cruise later in the year. Bolette is changing from Newcastle to Southampton in a few months, so that takes her out of the equation for the time being. So we either look at her sister ships, or try a different cruise line. Any recommendations on similar sized cruise lines approx 1300 guests max, sailing from either northern England or Scotland. Would rather not have to travel south to Southampton if we can

Just to add we were on the saver fare so pay £5, if you are on the freedom fare you don't pay the £5.

As an example in Finland we got the shuttle into Helsinki and passed a sauna that was on the trip list for £159pp for 3hours , we had looked at it and the entrance fee was 23 Euros for 2 hours each. It turned out the tour walked from the ship to get to the sauna , but they got a free drink- wow I understand you pay more for guides, transport and knowledge but how they can justify that vast difference in prices is crazy. We heard there were quite a few tours cancelled as not enough interest, maybe as the ship had only 850 passengers rather than 1300, this was effected, but I think it is more down to the tours been way over priced. Surely it would be better having full buses with a more attractive pricing policy. It was our first cruise so didn't know what to expect, but we found we could see all the highlights either by walking straight in, if the Bolette was berthed in a central location ( I believe this is common because of her size), or by using the £5 shuttle bus to get us to a central location, then exploring from there. We loved our first cruise and couldn't really fault Fred and the experience, as we saw what we wanted to , without using this option, but each to their own.

Just asked as we are just back from the Nordic capitals on the Bolette and found the excursions really expensive. We had planned to go on public transport and do our own thing, but when we were berthed out of walking distance they provided courtesy buses for only £5 for the day each, so we just used those and still did our own thing, which worked out great. We found we had done as much as some on the trips for a fraction of the price and at our own pace, whilst having more time to enjoy the site. Hope that helps you plan your must see sites.

Where are you going with Fred

Glad to be proved wrong, as they definitely deserve it.

I think after the Bolette the block of flats would be to big and busy. The Philippine, Thai, Indian etc crew couldn't do enough for you, with a brilliant attitude and work ethic, shame that for that level of service, they are probably getting paid half of what a British crew would. Looking forward to going again and maybe trying one of the sister ships

Just back from our first ever cruise, which was on the Fred Olsen - Bolette to the Nordic Capitals I've got to say it was a fantastic experience, the ship is just the right size to enjoy the destinations, plenty of space to chill, or enjoy the entertainment, brilliant food and drink. The staff were so friendly and helpful, it was like being with family after a day I will definitely cruise again with Fred. Kenny

We were just watching a video about Bolette on YouTube, the lady sailed to Norway recently, she was saying you could pay extra to move if you really wanted to, but it was £2 each per day, so around £40, I think I'd rather go to the buffet or spend the money in the specialist restaurant. Also she had bad sea sickness, with our lovely North sea, so hopefully our weather will behave

@sleepingcat Thanks for that, certainly worth a try, shame to miss out on the restaurant experience with it being later, if it was possible to move to the earlier time, we could then see what works best with the gluten free requirements in the restaurant and buffet

Thanks for the info, were definitely not into the formal dining, so will stick to the buffet for that night, my wife is gluten intolerant so felt we might have to lean towards the restaurant, meeting maitre-d once boarded. so hopefully the buffet will be fine, we eat by 6pm latest, so that late restaurant sitting just doesn't suit us. As it's our first cruise, I have chinos and jeans, but prefer to be in jeans and a polo shirt, so hoped we could dine like that, seem to be taking so much clothes because it's colder, didn't want to take even more.

We are off next week on our first cruise with Fred Olsen on the Bolette. We arent looking to get dressed up, so wondered about dining on the Bolette. Anyone know, if you are just going to the buffet is it ok to wear jeans, or do you have to wear chinos or dress trousers. We can't see us eating in the main restaurant as it's 8.30 which is to late for us to eat. Thanks In advance

@Eglesbrech That's good to know about the gf afternoon tea and the shopping, we can hopefully start passing on our knowledge, rather than keep asking everyone, hoping it will be the first of many cruises

@Eglesbrech Thanks again, we have flagged up gluten free, so I believe my wife will get to speak to the maitre-d, for her meals, the Vasco might be to problematic. We are already on a massive learning curve with it being our first cruise, so trying to keep it as problem free as possible

Thank you for the information. We will definitely book shuttles if they are available and hoped to maximise the time in port by getting up and out as soon as possible. We weren't sure on the Indian speciality night as we aren't keen on fish and my wife is gluten intolerant, so didn't know if they would be flexible, or just bring out the full menu. Kenny

Sorry just saw your message, thanks for the info, I was hoping there would be a shuttle, we weren't going to book any trips, as we felt it would be nicer to just wander round the city centres and take in the sights.

Sorry just saw your response, thank you for the port info, it's a great help Kenny

thank you for the info, we dont know where exactly we will be berthing, but as its our first cruise we were trying to be as organised as possible.

We are going on our first cruise in April with Fred Olsen on the Bolette, to the Nordic capitals. Aarhus Denmark Copenhagen Denmark Helsinki Finland Nynashamn Sweden Oslo Norway Does anyone know if there is transportation from the cruise jetty to the individual capitals, if the ship is berthed away from the city centre. If anyone has been on the Bolette and has any tips or positive feedback, that would be great to. Thanks Kenny

Thanks we are going to Aarhus Denmark Copenhagen Denmark Helsinki Finland Nynashamn Sweden Oslo Norway