Everything Fred. Olsen Does Better Than Other Cruise Lines

This is a sponsored post for Fred. Olsen.

My first Fred. Olsen cruise couldn’t have been more different from the cruises I usually take.

I boarded Borealis in Liverpool for the first few days of a world cruise, surrounded by guests who were settling in for an 80-day adventure. The ship was smaller than I was used to, there were no waterslides in sight, and nobody seemed to be rushing anywhere.

And honestly? It was one of the most relaxing cruises I’ve ever taken.

Since then, I’ve realised that Fred. Olsen isn’t trying to compete with the giant ships packed with rollercoasters, surf simulators and endless queues. Instead, it focuses on doing a handful of things exceptionally well.

Some of them are small details. Others completely change how a cruise feels…

1. Sailing From All Around The UK

For many people, the holiday starts with a long drive to Southampton. Which is fine, but it’s not ideal for everyone.

Fred. Olsen takes a different approach. As well as Southampton, the cruise line offers departures from ports around the UK including Liverpool, Newcastle and Rosyth, making it much easier to start your holiday closer to home.

That might not sound exciting, but it can make a huge difference.

A two-hour drive to the port feels very different to an eight-hour journey, an overnight hotel stay and expensive parking fees before you’ve even stepped onboard.

Cruising from Liverpool was incredibly easy for me – at the time, I only lived an hour’s drive from the port. From entering the terminal to stepping onto the ship took just a few minutes, and before I knew it I was sitting on deck with a drink in hand. Sometimes convenience is underrated.

2. Fly-Cruises Without The Hassle

While Fred. Olsen is known for its regional departures, that’s not your only option.

If you’d rather skip the Bay of Biscay and head straight for warmer weather, the cruise line also offers fly-cruises to destinations such as the Mediterranean.

I think this gives guests the best of both worlds.

Some people love setting sail from a UK port and watching the coastline disappear as the holiday begins. Others would rather maximise their time in the sunshine and get straight to the destination.

With Fred. Olsen, you can choose whichever style of cruising suits you best.

It’s easy to think of the cruise line as being all about traditional no-fly cruises, but that’s only part of the picture. Their fly-cruise itineraries open up a much wider range of destinations while still delivering the smaller-ship experience that Fred. Olsen is known for.

3. Visiting Places Bigger Ships Can’t Reach

Cruise ships have become enormous, haven’t they? Some carry over 7,000 guests and are so large that they’re restricted to a relatively small number of ports.

Fred. Olsen’s smaller ships have a lot more flexibility. They can sail further into fjords, access smaller ports and get closer to destinations that larger ships simply can’t visit.

That means you’re often docking closer to the places you actually want to see, rather than taking lengthy transfers from industrial cruise terminals. It’s one of the reasons Fred. Olsen has built such a strong reputation among destination-focused cruisers.

4. Scenic Cruising Is Treated As An Attraction

Most cruise lines focus on where you’re going. Fred. Olsen often makes the journey itself part of the experience.

Whether it’s sailing through the Norwegian fjords, navigating scenic waterways or cruising past dramatic coastlines, there’s a genuine emphasis on slowing down and appreciating the views.

I’ve noticed that many cruise lines treat scenic cruising as something that happens in between ports. Fred. Olsen treats it as an event in its own right.

The result is that you spend less time staring at open ocean and more time enjoying spectacular scenery from the deck.

5. Inclusive Pricing Makes Budgeting Easier

One of the biggest changes at Fred. Olsen is the enhanced value included with Freedom Fare bookings.

Alongside full-board dining, entertainment and leisure facilities, selected house beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks are now included with lunch and dinner. Gratuities are included too.

For many cruisers, that’s exactly what they want.

You can enjoy a glass of wine with dinner, a beer at lunch or a soft drink with your meal without constantly calculating what it’s adding to your onboard account. And at the same time, you’re not paying sky-high prices for a drinks package that you don’t make the most of, because between meals you only want one or two drinks.

The inclusion of gratuities is another welcome touch because it removes one of those extra charges that can catch people by surprise.

It’s not fully all-inclusive, but it covers the things many guests use most often.

6. Cruising Feels Wonderfully Uncomplicated

Modern cruising sometimes feels like it requires a degree in technology.

• Download this app.
• Book that restaurant.
• Reserve this show.
• Scan this QR code.

Fred. Olsen goes in the opposite direction.

On my cruise, everything I needed was clearly explained in printed guides. My dining details were waiting in my cabin. There was a pocket-sized daily programme I could carry around the ship.

I barely used my phone all cruise! Trust me, for me that’s rare. And rather than feeling old-fashioned, it felt refreshing.

7. The Smaller Ships Create A More Personal Atmosphere

One thing that struck me almost immediately was how relaxed everything felt.

The lounges weren’t crowded. Finding a seat was easy. Getting around the ship never involved navigating through thousands of people all moving in different directions.

Smaller ships create a completely different atmosphere. You start recognising familiar faces. The public spaces feel calmer, and it becomes easier to strike up conversations if you want to.

For cruisers who find mega-ships overwhelming, Fred. Olsen offers something increasingly rare:

Space to breathe.

8. The Crew Have Time To Get To Know You

Good service exists on almost every cruise line. I don’t think I’ve ever had a cruise where the experience was bad.

But genuinely personal service – the kind that many cruise lines love to boast about? That’s harder to achieve when there are thousands of guests onboard.

One thing Fred. Olsen is famous for is how well the crew get to know people. By the end of my short sailing, crew members were greeting guests by name, remembering favourite drinks and chatting with passengers like old friends.

It never felt forced or scripted either. It’s the kind of thing that could easily feel ‘gimmicky’, but this didn’t.

The smaller ship environment allows crew members to build genuine connections with guests, and that creates a very different onboard atmosphere.

9. Proper Promenade Decks Still Exist

This might sound like a strange one, but experienced cruisers will understand.

Many modern cruise ships have abandoned the traditional wraparound promenade deck entirely.

Fred. Olsen hasn’t.

On Borealis, I loved walking around the full promenade deck while enjoying the sea views. It was sheltered, spacious and ideal for a morning wander. It’s one of those little touches that I don’t think could ever feel outdated.

Sometimes the simplest cruise traditions are still the best ones. You don’t need a zip wire when you’ve got a beautiful sea view and a peaceful place to walk.

10. Longer Voyages Are A Real Specialty

Few cruise lines embrace longer voyages quite like Fred. Olsen.

World cruises, Grand Voyages and extended itineraries have become a huge part of the cruise line’s identity.

While many cruise lines focus heavily on one-week cruises, Fred. Olsen continues to attract guests who want to spend weeks or even months exploring the world.

There’s something quite special about boarding a ship and meeting people who are setting off on an adventure that will last literally months.

It creates a different atmosphere onboard and attracts guests who genuinely love cruising.

Having said that, don’t worry if you don’t have 80 nights spare to go on a cruise! There are still plenty of options for week-long sailings, or shorter.

11. The Focus Is On Enrichment, Not Adrenaline

Not every cruiser wants a surf simulator. Or a go-kart track. Or a rollercoaster at sea. Or a swing that extends out over the sea. Or… well, you get the point.

Fred. Olsen understands that.

Instead of filling ships with attractions designed to grab attention in marketing photos, there’s more focus on enrichment activities, crafts, talks, live music and destination-focused experiences.

On my cruise, I joined a jewellery-making class and spent time simply enjoying the ship itself. It was lovely!

Plus, it reminded me that cruising doesn’t always have to be about doing more. Sometimes it’s about slowing down and just relaxing. Speaking of that…

12. Relaxation Comes Naturally

This is probably the hardest thing to describe, but it’s the thing I remember most about my Fred. Olsen cruise – everything felt calm.

There was no pressure to constantly spend money. No frantic rush for pool loungers. No packed venues or crowded decks.

People seemed genuinely relaxed, and the atmosphere onboard felt more like a comfortable country house hotel than a busy resort.

That won’t appeal to everyone, and that’s absolutely fine. But if your idea of a great cruise involves beautiful destinations, friendly people, good food and the chance to properly switch off, Fred. Olsen does that better than most.

Final Thoughts

Fred. Olsen isn’t trying to be the biggest cruise line, the flashiest cruise line or the most action-packed cruise line.

What it does offer is something that’s becoming surprisingly rare in modern travel – a genuinely relaxing holiday.

From sailing closer to home and visiting smaller destinations to creating a more personal onboard atmosphere and including more in the fare, there are plenty of reasons why loyal guests keep coming back again and again.

After my first Fred. Olsen cruise, I could certainly see the appeal.

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