Bolette joined the Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines as the flagship of the fleet in late summer 2021, around the same time as Borealis. These two ships joined the fleet as replacements for Black Watch and Boudicca, which had served in the fleet for many years.

We were onboard for 4 nights, early December 2021, and our itinerary was as follows: –

Day One – departure from Southampton
Day Two – arrive in Amsterdam, for an overnight stay
Day Three – depart Amsterdam late evening
Day Four – in the port of Rotterdam
Day Five – arrival back in Southampton

Launched in 2000 as the MS Amsterdam for Holland America Line, Bolette is 62,735 gross tonnes. She has 690 cabins, and can carry 1,338 passengers at standard occupancy, looked after by 615 crew members. Bolette is very similar, but not identical to Borealis. You can click on the following link for a more detailed review and video of Borealis.

If you would like further information, or a specific quotation for a Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines voyage, call GoCruise & Travel with Ian on 08002922850 or 01455821770.

Take a trip around Borealis with this video I produced, using photos I took while onboard, read my summary, and then there are some facts and figures about the ship.

Summary

We had a most enjoyable time on Bolette, as we did on Borealis in September, and I have to say that these two ships are a welcome addition to the Fred. Olsen fleet. They still have all the things you would expect from Fred. Olsen, such as the friendly crew, tea and coffee in the cabins, good food, competitively priced drinks, the Morning Light Pub, and even the carpet designs so you know where you are on the ship. However, in addition, the bigger ships mean that you get larger cabins, more public rooms, a two-tier Neptune Lounge, a two-tier restaurant, and more speciality dining venues, all without increasing the number of passengers onboard by much. One major plus for Bolette and Borealis, is the Promenade Deck 3. There is a traditional wooden deck, on which you can walk all the way around the ship with having to go up or down steps. In additon, although open to the sea, the deck above covers the Promenade Deck, so you can do your daily laps whatever the weather.

If you are looking for ships which aren’t too large, offering lots of ex UK departures from ports right around the UK, with friendly crews offering great service, then you would find the offering from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines hard to beat. They offer some unique itineraries, which are constantly being updated, including some fly cruises as well.

Accommodation – there are 17 grades of cabins and suite, ranging from an inside cabin at 182 sq ft, up to the Olsen Suite at 1,181 sq ft, with many options in between, including adapted cabins, balcony cabins and single cabins. Cabins are all a good size, and they have a UK, a European and a US power socket, as well as two USB sockets.

Dining Options – there is a selection of dining venues onboard, and I give brief details below, but times can vary depending on where the ship is at the time.

• Breakfast can be enjoyed in the main restaurants, as well as the casual venues, and it is usually served between 07.30 and 10.30
• Lunch would be in the same venues, and usually between 12.00 and 14.00
• Afternoon Tea is served in the buffet service restaurant between 15.45 and 16.45
• Poolside dining available between 10.00 and 17.00
• Dinner is taken in the main restaurant, with first sitting at 18.15 and second sitting at 20.30. Bolette also offers open dining in the main restaurant, to eat at a time to suit you. If you want something less formal, you can choose the open sitting dinner in The View
• Speciality Dining – there will be three speciality dining venues, with ‘Colours and Tastes’ for £5 per person cover charge, and Vasco which is complimentary.

Dress Code

During the day, and for breakfast and lunch, casual dress is the norm, but swimwear is not permitted in the restaurants. Most evenings are smart casual but on formal nights it is normal to dress up a little more. This could mean a dinner suit or dark suit and tie for gents, with ladies opting for a ball gown or smart cocktail dress. On longer cruises there are also some optional themed nights. If you really don’t want to dress up formally, then you could dine in The View on these evenings.

Things to do On Board

• Entertainment – this is a team of resident dancers and singers to arrange regular shows. There are often some visiting acts, perhaps singers or comedians, to provide cabaret some evenings. Depending on which venue you are in, you can find other musicians
• Dancing – the band will play music suitable for dancing, in order that you can enjoy a dance every day if you wish. There are usually dance instructors onboard as well.
• Bars & lounges – there are several venues to choose from, including the Neptune Lounge, which is a two-deck high theatre in this ship, the Morning Light Pub & Lounge, Piano Bar, Observatory, Lido Bar, and the Bookmark Café and Lounge
• Other Facilities – fitness centre, Atlantis Spa, gaming tables, swimming pool (with a retractable roof), Jacuzzis, deck games, library, laundry room and various shops

Drinks Prices

The price of drinks onboard compares favourably with what you pay in many UK pubs. Onboard prices included £4.00 for a pint of Heineken lager, £4.25 for a pint of Newcastle Brown, £4.25 for a pint of Strongbow cider, £3.20 for a house whisky (£3.30 for Famous Grouse or Bells), gin (£3.35 for Gordon’s) vodka (£3.50 for Absolut), and £4.60 for glass of house red, white or rose house wine. No service charges are added to these prices either.

You can pre-book a drinks package in advance of your cruise, and the price is currently £19 per person per night, for cruises of 6 nights or longer, or £35 per person per night, for cruises of 5 nights or less and on speciality sailings.

Miscellaneous

• Gratuities – the recommended amount is £5 per day, which is for all passengers aged 12 and over, which covers tips for your cabin and dining room stewards. It is added to your onboard account, but they are not compulsory, so you can have them amended or removed if you prefer to tip directly to the crew.
• Onboard Currency – everything onboard is priced in sterling, so no issues with exchange rates. All purchases onboard will be charged to your cabin account, so you will need to pre-register a payment card.