My first Fred Olsen cruise.

[Lottie A]

Yes it was my first ....but it certainly won't be my last! I had such a good time on Braemar that I came home and immediately booked another Fred cruise! I had previously been a bit dubious about how I would enjoy the very British experience with an older passenger demographic but how wrong I was. I usually cruise with Azamara and Silversea now but wish I had added Fred Olsen years ago. It's not the same type of cruise experience but it's certainly good value and very enjoyable. 

 

I was on Braemar for the 11 night Spain and Portugal cruise from Southampton on August 27th. Ports were La Coruna, Vigo, Funchal in Madeira for an overnight stay and Lisbon, with lots of lovely sea days in between. I enjoy sea days and loved the aft tiered decks to sit peacefully and read. 

 

Braemar is a "proper" cruise ship...maybe a little old school in places but still very well kept and attractive. It was sparklingly clean, the chairs and beds were very comfortable and my only criticism was that there were not enough seats in the Neptune Lounge for the show's. People were queuing to get in about 40 mins before the shows started just to get a seat. I think that may be because I was on first sitting dining, which seems more popular with the Fred passengers. The second sitting dining shows were not as crowded. Speaking personally, first sitting is far too early for me so I'm on second sitting for my next cruise with them. I would much prefer Freedom dining however. One other thing I disliked was that Braemar's speciality restaurant The Grill is outside and on this windy Atlantic voyage it wasn't very pleasant at night to be eating outside. I am looking forward to the inside Speciality restaurant on Balmoral on my next cruise. 

 

I was surprised at the passenger demographic. I was expecting very elderly passengers on walking frames and yes, there were a few but the majority of the passengers were lively, interesting and a lot were dancing in The Disco until very late. I met some lovely people and didn't feel like I was the youngest person onboard! Entertainment was varied...a lot not to my taste but my partner is a Cruise Director for another cruise line so I'm quite picky! There was a wonderful opera and West End show by Chris, one of the young hosts onboard. He has a marvellous voice and was actually better than the guest entertainers. There were also interesting lectures by Tim, a Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medallist. Trivia was huge fun and our team won often, so we sometimes donated the bottles of Cava prizes to other teams! I thought the drinks package was good value although I often bought upgraded drinks but it was good to have them reduced by 50% as I had the drinks package. I bought several of The Bookmark cafe coffee cards at £14.99 each for 7 coffees and a free bag of delicious chocolate truffles. The food onboard was very good indeed...there was not one meal I didn't enjoy and we dined with the Staff Captain, who was such a charming man. I preferred the smaller Grampian restaurant to the big Thistle restaurant, so we had breakfast and lunch there. 

 

We had had a storm in The Bay of Biscay so had to leave Lisbon at 2pm as the Captain was going to try to outrun it. He made the correct decision but it was still quite rocky at a Force 6 with a big swell. Unfortunately there was a helicopter medical evacuation of a very poorly passenger in the middle of the storm but this seemed to be handled very well by the crew concerned. I have to say the service from all the crew onboard was wonderful. It is on a par with Azamara, which I think has the best crew service and officer interaction at sea. We chatted to the Captain, had dinner with senior officers and the whole crew were so happy and cheerful.

 

To to sum up, I really enjoyed my Braemar cruise and met some lovely friends. I see many more Fred Olsen cruises in my future! 😄

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Les_ldh]

Lottie, thanks for a very comprehensive and useful review. I have been considering Fred as they sail from my home port of Tyne which is within walking distance for me, and you may well have just convinced me to give them a go. Thanks.

Les.

[Lottie A]

24 minutes ago, Les_ldh said:

Lottie, thanks for a very comprehensive and useful review. I have been considering Fred as they sail from my home port of Tyne which is within walking distance for me, and you may well have just convinced me to give them a go. Thanks.

Les.

I think you should Les. How convenient that Fred sail from so near you.

 

My next cruise with them is in a month from Dover on Balmoral and it's very difficult for me to get there from Wales but I loved the Fred experience so much that I'm willing to do it. 

[Britboys]

Thanks for taking the time to do a review.  I've only done one short cruise with Fred but am interested in another.  The drawback is that their launch fares are really high - especially for solo travellers and so you have to rely on promotions as & when they come along.  I would like to go to the far north of Norway with Fred and possibly up the Amazon some time.  So many cruises but not enough money to do them all soon 😁

[Lottie A]

On 9/18/2019 at 5:59 PM, Britboys said:

Thanks for taking the time to do a review.  I've only done one short cruise with Fred but am interested in another.  The drawback is that their launch fares are really high - especially for solo travellers and so you have to rely on promotions as & when they come along.  I would like to go to the far north of Norway with Fred and possibly up the Amazon some time.  So many cruises but not enough money to do them all soon 😁

I am surprised you think Fred Olsen fares are high Britboys. I think they are very reasonable indeed, especially for solo passengers. I can do three cruises on Fred for the price of one solo cruise on Azamara, especially when I book through my solo cruiser specialist. 

 

I am not allowed to recommend a travel agent on here but if you google specialist solo cruise travel agents you will find some marvellous bargains on Fred. Never book directly with Fred Olsen themselves as much better prices for solo’s can be found in travel agents who are solo cruise specialists. That goes for all cruise lines of course, not just Fred. I am really quite “passionate” about that! 😄

[Britboys]

2 hours ago, Lottie A said:

I am surprised you think Fred Olsen fares are high Britboys. I think they are very reasonable indeed, especially for solo passengers. I can do three cruises on Fred for the price of one solo cruise on Azamara, especially when I book through my solo cruiser specialist. 

 

I am not allowed to recommend a travel agent on here but if you google specialist solo cruise travel agents you will find some marvellous bargains on Fred. Never book directly with Fred Olsen themselves as much better prices for solo’s can be found in travel agents who are solo cruise specialists. That goes for all cruise lines of course, not just Fred. I am really quite “passionate” about that! 😄

Thanks for that.  I completely agree with you in that I never book direct.  I normally use a Cruise Specialist (named after the English town they have their roots in!) but admit that I haven't priced up a Fred Cruise with them.  I have seen plenty of late deals with Fred for solos which are quite good - it just seems the launch prices are high.  Fred's prices do seem to have risen over the last year or so but yes, in comparison to Azamara they are significantly cheaper.  Azamara of course a premium cruise line as opposed to being mid-market like Fred.  I'm already booked up for the next couple of years but definitely intend to get back on a F red Olsen cruise.

[Pentlands]

There are certainly some good deals via travel agents, but that is true for all cruise lines. We booked a future cruise on Fred a couple of weeks ago. Got 5% off for onboard booking, upgrade, which gave me a good price I could not match when back home. But I transfered it back to the TA I had booked the first cruise with and they added some other things including a free case of wine. You can find them in most newspapers.

[tring]

Thanks for posting this review Lottie.  We have done a number of Fred cruises in recent years, but have booked one on Azamara for October and got a really good price with an extra agents discount.  So trying the opposite to you.

 

I think there is something to be said for all smaller ships, but Fred has put his prices up a lot in recent years.  At least he is still in business though as are favorite cruise lines (Swan Hellenic and Voyages if Discovery) do not exist anymore after their parent company went bust a few years ago.  We went on P&O's Arcadia in August and were not too keen at all, but the itinerary was good, which is what we cruise for.

[Lottie A]

1 hour ago, tring said:

Thanks for posting this review Lottie.  We have done a number of Fred cruises in recent years, but have booked one on Azamara for October and got a really good price with an extra agents discount.  So trying the opposite to you.

 

I think there is something to be said for all smaller ships, but Fred has put his prices up a lot in recent years.  At least he is still in business though as are favorite cruise lines (Swan Hellenic and Voyages if Discovery) do not exist anymore after their parent company went bust a few years ago.  We went on P&O's Arcadia in August and were not too keen at all, but the itinerary was good, which is what we cruise for.

Tring, you will love Azamara. Compared to Fred the prices are much higher of course, but the Azamara onboard experience is truly the best. I just wish I could also say that about the AZ pre cruise info and admin but I can't as it's dismal. Fred Olsen beats them every time with their very usable app, cruise documentation and even printed luggage tags. With Azamara it's a "Blue Peter" type job with a printer, double sided tape and staples. 🙁

 

I have only recently started cruising solo and Azamara solo prices are just extortionate now, so I'm happy to have found Fred who do very good solo prices (especially when I book through my local specialist solo travel agent) but of course, I will still do my essential Azamara fix at least twice a year. It just won't be four or five times a year anymore. 

[tring]

37 minutes ago, Lottie A said:

Tring, you will love Azamara. Compared to Fred the prices are much higher of course, but the Azamara onboard experience is truly the best. I just wish I could also say that about the AZ pre cruise info and admin but I can't as it's dismal. Fred Olsen beats them every time with their very usable app, cruise documentation and even printed luggage tags. With Azamara it's a "Blue Peter" type job with a printer, double sided tape and staples. 🙁

 

I have only recently started cruising solo and Azamara solo prices are just extortionate now, so I'm happy to have found Fred who do very good solo prices (especially when I book through my local specialist solo travel agent) but of course, I will still do my essential Azamara fix at least twice a year. It just won't be four or five times a year anymore. 

 

Thanks for the encouragement.  Actually we have got 7 nights cruise only on Azamara for £937pp (£134pppn) whereas our 14 night Indian cruise next Feb on Boudicca cost £2084 (£149 pppn) even with our 5% Oceans discount.  Both cruises have included drinks and tips and we have chosen our cabin number on both, but only one choice with Azamara, though it is still a mid ship cabin.  Full window with Azamara c.f. portholes on Boudicca as well.

 

The big crunch is that we booked Boudicca just over a year ago, so have had plenty of time to arrange our three week in total extra land trips and flights for Boudicca, whereas Azamara was booked late May this year.  No problems getting short haul flights/hotel stays to go with that, but not so good if we needed to arrange a whole long haul holiday which we have taken to doing.  Fred's reductions are virtually all on a guarantee basis and we are not keen to risk that.

 

We are looking at a Fred fly cruise from the 2020/21 Boudicca jaunt, but prices have jumped up a lot more and drinks have not been offered with those at any stage.  Hence thinking of hanging on to see what else we can get, but do want an unusual itinerary and that is not easy to get when cruises are reduced.

 

I know it is not PC to mention prices, but this does seem to explain a point, hope I have not offended.   

Edited September 22, 2019 by tring

[Lottie A]

Not at all Tring. That seems like amazing value for Azamara! What’s the itinerary if you don’t mind me asking? Is it a repo cruise as they do sometimes have very good discounts. 

 

My next Azamara 9 night cruise as a solo is costing me over £4000 and that’s without the flights or transfers in an OV cabin. I do have high loyalty with Azamara and so I had 7% off with substantial OBC but it was still over £4000 to pay. By the time I have booked flights, transfers, transport to Heathrow and a pre cruise hotel I expect the cost to approach £5000. I am going with friends and I know we will have a wonderful time but it’s still a lot of money for 9 nights on an OV cabin. They used to have solo supplements of 25%-50% but those days have long gone. 

 

Anyway isn’t it great to have all these options? Now I have taken early retirement I intend to cruise or holiday at least every 6 weeks or so. Life is short! 

[tring]

3 minutes ago, Lottie A said:

Not at all Tring. That seems like amazing value for Azamara! What’s the itinerary if you don’t mind me asking? Is it a repo cruise as they do sometimes have very good discounts. 

 

 

It is 19th Oct on Quest from Barcelona to Civitavecchia, with some small unusual ports in France and Italy.  The free Azamazing evening is a night at the opera in a lovely old theatre.  Not opera fans, but are looking forward to it and will enjoy some late nights as well on that cruise which we always like.  Our cruise agent was giving another 8% reduction on Az cruises, though she had to go away and make sure it would still be applicable on that one.  Az normally are pretty pricey though as you say, but I was surprised to find they include drinks and tips as standard.

 

Have not seen any other Az cruise with that sort of pricing since we booked mind and I think it was only available for a short time when an inside cabin became available.  Now if I costed out my time on an hourly pay basis for searching the net for things like this, the cruise would be a whole load more expensive 🙂  You just have to catch things like that at the right time.

[Lottie A]

Yes, that cruise is sold out I think. Well done on getting such a good price. 

If your Azamazing Evening is in the Goldoni Theatre in Livorno it will be wonderful. I have done it at least five times. It’s not heavy Opera at all and I think you will love it. 

Have a wonderful cruise and I will be thinking of you on Quest when I’m sailing up The Seine to Rouen and Honfleur on Balmoral...also on Oct 19th! 

[tring]

2 hours ago, Lottie A said:

Yes, that cruise is sold out I think. Well done on getting such a good price. 

If your Azamazing Evening is in the Goldoni Theatre in Livorno it will be wonderful. I have done it at least five times. It’s not heavy Opera at all and I think you will love it. 

Have a wonderful cruise and I will be thinking of you on Quest when I’m sailing up The Seine to Rouen and Honfleur on Balmoral...also on Oct 19th! 

 

Thanks, enjoy your cruise.  I got the ship wrong we are on Pursuit, not Quest (I blame old age).  I still think of it as Swan's Minerva II which was our first cruise ship (26 nights with a full two weeks up the Amazon in Oct 2006).  We sampled the Adonia version of the same ship in it's maiden season, but not too keen on that at all because of the the set sittings for dinner, Butlins style entertainments rather than excellent speakers on Minerva and also the lack of a self service restaurant most nights.  I know they will not be problems on The Pursuit incarnation.

Edited September 22, 2019 by tring

[Daveywavey70]

Many thanks for the great review Lottie. We usually cruise with Silversea but are considering one from Liverpool (as we live in North Wales) and has a killer itinerary through Norway and over to Svalbard. The only thing holding us back is the food. I’m not expecting SS standards but we are real foodies, what should our expectations be with Fred in comparison? 

[Pentlands]

When you describe yourselves as foodies, what cruise line or hotel line do you class as up to your standard?

 

[Daveywavey70]

6 hours ago, Pentlands said:

When you describe yourselves as foodies, what cruise line or hotel line do you class as up to your standard?

 

We love the food on SIlversea. On a 10 night cruise we would usually eat in an upcharge restaurant around 5/6 times. I can’t find much info about Fred’s upcharge restaurant and what is available and  I’d happily pay every night if the food would wow us a bit. From what I’ve seen in YouTube videos the food looks quite ordinary. Like I said I’m not expecting the same, it’s more about the itinerary and embarking in Liverpool but I think 16 nights of meat and 2 veg might take the edge off for us. Any tips or opinions greatly appreciated. 
 

Here is a video of some of the food from our Summer cruise this year which gives you an idea. 
 

 

[Britboys]

17 hours ago, Daveywavey70 said:

Many thanks for the great review Lottie. We usually cruise with Silversea but are considering one from Liverpool (as we live in North Wales) and has a killer itinerary through Norway and over to Svalbard. The only thing holding us back is the food. I’m not expecting SS standards but we are real foodies, what should our expectations be with Fred in comparison? 

Keep your expectations low and I am sure you will be fine on Fred Olsen.  They are not a luxury line, they are a mid-market line specialising in smaller ships, so will not be up to Silversea standards.  It will not be "meat & two veg" every day - there is plenty of fish on the menu plus pasta and vegetarian options.  Check out this page https://www.fredolsencruises.com/our-ships/dining-and-restaurants, click on "Main Restaurants" and then "Example Dinner Menu".  That is probably one of the Gala Menus but it will give you an idea of the menu format etc.  You can also link through via that page for information on the (limited) speciality dining.

[Daveywavey70]

Many thanks Britboys for that. It’s a shame there’s not more info/pics/videos out there but from what I’ve heard of the average age onboard it’s hard to upload 16mm cine film onto t’internet.  Only kidding. I’ve heard many times what a friendly crowd Fred’s frequent floaters are and I’m looking forward to finding out myself. 

[ovccruiser]

On 1/19/2020 at 8:53 PM, Daveywavey70 said:

Many thanks for the great review Lottie. We usually cruise with Silversea but are considering one from Liverpool (as we live in North Wales) and has a killer itinerary through Norway and over to Svalbard. The only thing holding us back is the food. I’m not expecting SS standards but we are real foodies, what should our expectations be with Fred in comparison? 

Hi, I have cruised with Cunard, Princess, P & O and Fred on many occasions and would say that of the four, Cunard are probably top with the remainder on a par with each other. Certainly on Fred as with the other cruise lines, there is always the Garden Cafe type dinning which in the main is self service but always has a very good choice and is any time dinning. 

[Pentlands]

You can upmarket restaurants, but no idea what they are like. Never felt the need to go and never seen anyone in!

 

I would mark Fred just short of Celebrity and Aqua.

[Daveywavey70]

Thanks for the input guys. 

[Britboys]

16 hours ago, Daveywavey70 said:

Many thanks Britboys for that. It’s a shame there’s not more info/pics/videos out there but from what I’ve heard of the average age onboard it’s hard to upload 16mm cine film onto t’internet.  Only kidding. I’ve heard many times what a friendly crowd Fred’s frequent floaters are and I’m looking forward to finding out myself. 

😁 I know you are only kidding but that reminds me of a cruise I took on a Saga ship. The lady who sat next to me was talking about how much she enjoyed taking photographs on her cruises.  She told me that one of her sons had recently bought her a new laptop so that she could download her photos and create a slideshow of them.  She was 91 👍👋 

[July morning]

We went on our first FO last January on the Braemar "Amazon Adventure"  and enjoyed it so much we booked another one going next week.  We are hoping this one will be as good as the last one as there are a few cruises with "Fred" that we like the sound of.

We have cruised mainly with P&O and found the food to be as good and often better with FO and the hot food was hot!

[Lottie A]

On 1/19/2020 at 8:53 PM, Daveywavey70 said:

Many thanks for the great review Lottie. We usually cruise with Silversea but are considering one from Liverpool (as we live in North Wales) and has a killer itinerary through Norway and over to Svalbard. The only thing holding us back is the food. I’m not expecting SS standards but we are real foodies, what should our expectations be with Fred in comparison? 

Daveywavey I am a frequent Silversea and Azamara cruiser and I must confess that before my first Fred cruise I was worried about the quality of Fred Olsen’s food compared to AZ and SS too. 

I was very pleasantly surprised! I would rate it far above P&O and also above Cunard....unless you are in The Grills.
 

It’s not gourmet food but excellent quality. In the MDR we had lobster, beef wellington, sole stuffed with prawns, a fabulous authentic chicken curry, an Italian night with great pasta dishes and the desserts tasted just as good as they looked. And as someone above said....the food was served hot. Even on SS they don’t always manage that. 

I went to the speciality restaurant The Grill on Balmoral twice. I have done two more Fred Olsen cruises since my Braemar one that I reviewed on here...that’s how much I like Fred Olsen. 😄

 

For the first visit I had scallops to start, then Filet Mignon and Pina Colada panna cotta. On my second visit I chose Goat’s Cheese and Red pepper cushion,  Grilled Lobster and Vanilla Mille Feuille. Both meals were absolutely delicious. 
I can also recommend the wonderful “posh” afternoon tea in The Observatory. Just skip lunch first because there is so much delicious sandwiches and cake....including proper clotted cream for the scones! It’s great value at £8.95 each. 

 

Did you know that you can go to the smaller restaurants (as opposed to the larger MDR) for breakfast and lunch? You have to stick to your assigned table/restaurant for dinner though. I found the service and ambience quieter in the smaller one and after the first day used it every time for breakfast/lunch. 

We are going on Black Watch in just over two weeks. It’s an Andalusia intensive cruise for 13 nights. I will try to remember to take some food pix for you and post them here when I’m back home in March.