Fred. Olsen vs HAL. Opinions from folks who have sailed on both.

[joat]

We have sailed on several cruise lines. We keep coming back to HAL (Holland America Line), mostly since we live in the U. S. But I read much about Fred. Olsen Line and would like to know from cruisers who have sailed on both lines which they prefer and why. Thanks.

[mancunian]

We have been on both but mainly on HAL. Fred Olsen is just not for us. The adventage is that the ships are smaller but we have never found that they match up to HAL in other ways. The passengers are practically all UK. This in our case we do not like although we are from the UK, because half the pleasure on HAL is meeting and travelling with people from America, Canada and Australia. This gives a whole added dimension to the cruise. We have not been on FO for a few years now so unable to comment on food, entertainment. At the time we went with them the food was not as good, but the entertainment was not dissimilar to HA - not very professional. We think that the service on HAL is very good and we love the dining room and cabin crews which has not been matched by any of the cruiselines we have travelled on.

[Copper10-8]

UK-based (Norwegian-owned) Fred Olsen Cruise Line currently has four ships: Black Watch (the former Royal Viking Star) and Boudicca (the former Royal Viking Sky), both 46 years old; Balmoral (the former Crown Odyssey), 30 yrs old, and Braemar (the former Cunard Crown Dynasty), 25 yrs old. All four classic ships. Fred Olsen has never operated new builds

Edited October 4, 2018 by Copper10-8