We take immense pride in our smaller-sized, understated ocean-going cruise ships, which is why we are continuously enhancing the fleet to ensure that they are at their best for many years to come. Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch offer more variety and choice now than ever before, with their comfortable, spacious accomodation, stylish bars and lounges and premium dining venues, yet retain the welcoming, home-from-home feel and country house hotel style they're renowned for. These understated qualities are the essence of Brabant, our dedicated river cruising boat, too.

Sharing your adventures with hundreds – not thousands – of others, you can relax on board and enjoy a memorable cruise experience without feeling overcrowded. In fact, you’ll feel like part of a family as you explore the world with your friends, loved ones and like-minded people that share your interests and attitude to life. Fewer guests also means we are always able to provide the personal, attentive service you deserve from the moment you step on board.

Our number one priority will always be the enjoyment and satisfaction of our guests. We want you to feel comfortable and welcome from the moment you board any of our vessels. From our uniquely rich, award-winning itineraries to the crew member that will treat you as an individual, it's the attention to detail that will ensure you experience the holiday you dream of.

All of the Fred. Olsen team have been carefully selected for their warm and welcoming personalities. Every member understands that your enjoyment is paramount, which is why they go out of their way to provide service with a smile and ensure you have a great time on board with us. It’s the little things that matter, so don’t be surprised when we remember your name, favourite tipple and even how you like your eggs at breakfast – it’s what we do. Perhaps this is why, based on over 14,000 independent guest surveys, 97% of our guests rated our crews as 'Excellent' or 'Good'. 

Another advantage of our smaller cruise vessels is that they can take you closer to some of greatest destinations on earth and help you discover towns, cities and scenic wonders that may be out of reach to larger ships and boats.

Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch can sail the world’s oceans to idyllic islands and breathtaking countries, into narrow Norwegian fjords and along size-restricted rivers into the heart of delightful cities such as Seville and Bordeaux where a plethora of highlights await your discovery from the moment you step foot off your ship.

Aboard Brabant you can experience incredible journey’s through the winding valleys of the Rhine, Main and Moselle rivers, taking in fairytale-esque castles, forts and cities along way; sail the Danube all the way to the Danube Delta, stopping in captivating capitals such as Vienna and Budapest en route; and negotiate impressive lock-laden canals and picturesque gorges.

We're taking exploration to the next level on our endlessly rewarding cruise holidays with our exciting on board RIBs.

In keeping with the reputation Fred. Olsen has built for taking guests to breathtaking sights and incredible experiences out of reach to larger ships, our Rigid Inflatable Boats can take you even closer than ever before to spectacular landscapes, magnificent natural wonders, inspirational waterways and much more that regular cruise line guests never see.

We believe that our unique blend of Norwegian history and experience of British cruising means we offer the very best cruise holidays to our guests. Our seafaring history dates back to 1848, giving us over 170 years of sailing the world, so rest assured that you are in good hands. This expertise comes to the fore with our ever-popular Norwegian fjords cruises, using intercoastal pilots to divert away from regular route to present even more of the wonders of Fred. Olsen's homeland through spectacular scenic cruising. 

We know that getting to and from your ship as conveniently and smoothly as possible is an important part of your holiday, so we ensure this is efficient and organised to suit you. This includes helping you to explore further afield with our exotic fly-cruise holidays, so you can start your holiday in your chosen region of exploration. With five departure ports and a choice of airports across the UK, a Fred. Olsen departure is never too far away. 

There’s never been a better time to cruise with Fred. Olsen and we’ll strive to give you the holiday of a lifetime – but don’t just take our word for it. Pleasingly, this has been recognised by Fred. Olsen winning a number of high profile awards over the past few years, including Cruise Critic’s ‘Best for Itineraries’ and 'Best Ocean Cruise Line' at the Silver Travel Awards for three consecutive years, and gaining the highest rating for cruises under £200 per night in the 2018 Which? Cruise Survey.

Equally reassuring is that from over 30,000 independent guest reviews on Feefo, Fred. Olsen has a guest experience rating of 4.5 out of 5, along with Feefo's 'Trusted Gold Merchant' status – awarded for the fifth time. Meanwhile, from over 14,000 guest surveys we conducted in 2018, for destinations, dining and overalls experience the average rating was 90% and above. The highest score of all was achieved by the crew – 97% of guests rated them as 'Excellent' or 'Good'. Perhaps that’s why people who try us once so often choose to cruise with us again.

From our long-standing partnership with the RNLI, to a variety of other fundraising activities – both on board and ashore – we continue to support charities and causes locally, nationally and internationally. We are proud to see our company work together to provide support to local agencies too, assisting with vital relief efforts. 

On our ships and in our offices, we work to reduce the impact on the globe, from removing single-use plastics wherever possible, to reducing energy demand, to maintaining strict waste management processes. We are committed to protecting the environment today and forever, so we can continue to bring the beautiful world closer.