Dining & Restaurants
Dining in our elegant restaurants and dining venues is a high point of every Fred. Olsen cruise. There are deliciously-tempting dishes – expertly crafted by our chefs – on offer throughout the day, presented with the personal touch of Fred. Olsen's famous on board service. [ReadMoreMob]With something light like fresh fruits and cereals or perhaps something more substantial, like a hearty 'full English', you can tailor your breakfast to suit the day ahead.
At lunchtime, there are varied and interesting menus, complemented by hot and cold buffet options. Savour scrumptious sandwiches, scones and cakes during complementary Afternoon Tea, before the main event – a fabulous, five-course á la carte feast. For those who may be peckish at bedtime, our late buffet will get you through the night.
We will do our best to accommodate most dietary requests on board each of our ships. So, vegetarian, low fat, low cholesterol, low salt, dairy-free, lactose-free, wheat-free and gluten-free food are all catered for.
For anyone with food allergies/intolerances, you will have the opportunity at the beginning of your cruise to meet with the Maitre'd or Executive Chef to discuss any special requests.
We kindly request that you make us aware of any special dietary requests at the time of booking, and we’ll do our best to source exact products, or provide certain foods, such as diabetic desserts.
We can also provide a vegan option for our Traditional Afternoon Tea service, which is available on all sea days, and can be booked for just £11.99 per person.
Please note that we may not be able to source specific brands given our location or the availability at local ports.
Depending on the length of your cruise holiday there will be one or more formal evenings whilst you are on board. This is your chance to ‘dress to impress’ and add glitz and glamour to your dining experience.
Most men opt to wear either a dinner jacket, or dark suit and tie. Ladies are often seen looking fabulous in anything from a cocktail-style dress to a full-length ball gown.
All Fred. Olsen cruise ships feature a casual dining experience for those guests who do not wish to join the formal evenings. Dress code for these restaurants is smart casual every evening.
The exact number of formal nights, including any theme nights will be highlighted on your cruise ticket, but here's a quick guide so you know what to expect on various cruise durations:
|
3 nights or less |
Smart casual throughout |
|
3 - 5 nights |
Captain's Welcome Party, but no formal nights |
|
6 nights |
Captain's Welcome Party + 1x formal night |
|
7- 12 nights |
Captain's Welcome Party + 2x formal nights |
|
13- 20 nights |
Captain's Welcome Party + 3x formal nights |
|
22 nights + |
Captain's welcome Party + 1x formal night each week |
Dining included:
| Breakfast | À la carte & buffet |
| Lunch | À la carte & buffet |
| Afternoon Tea | À la carte & buffet |
| Dinner | À la carte & buffet |
| Supper Club | Buffet |
Extras:
Speciality Dining | £10pp before cruise departure | Booked on board £15pp*
Traditional Afternoon Tea | £11.99pp
The Bookmark Café | Coffees & Chocolates
*Pre-booking for our speciality restaurant booking is currently only available on board Bolette and Borealis.
Main Restaurants
Each of our ships has two or three main restaurants serving buffet and à la carte breakfast and lunches, as well as sumptuous five-course à la carte dinners every evening. Both breakfast and lunch are open seating while there are two seatings for dinner.
The table in the main restaurant will be allocated by the Maitre’D; we will happy take requests should you have a preference, although these are not guaranteed. During the day the dress code in all restaurants is casual; the evenings are usually smart-casual, apart from Formal Nights.
Bolette | Bloomsbury & Terrace Restaurants
Borealis | Borealis & Aurora Restaurants
Balmoral | Ballindalloch, Avon & Spey Restaurants
Braemar | Thistle & Grampian Restaurants
Relaxed Dining
For a more flexible, relaxed experience, with a casual dress code at all times, there is the option to eat in the buffet restaurant on each ship. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, you’ll find a wide variety of quality dining, where you’re free to help yourself to whatever you want.
Bolette | The View Buffet Restaurant
Borealis | The View Buffet Restaurant
Balmoral | Palms Café
Braemar | Palms Café
Speciality Dining
While the main restaurants are always popular, during your cruise you may be tempted to try something different for an evening or two. When you’re in the mood for something extra special, each ship in our fleet features speciality dining (a small supplement applies).
| Bolette | Colours & Tastes - £10pp Vasco - £10pp |
| Borealis | Colours & Tastes - £10pp Vasco - £10pp |
| Braemar | The Grill - £10pp |
Booking ahead is highly recommended at our speciality dining venues and this can be done in our My Cruises section of website from 13 weeks and up to 5 days before departure. Unfortunately Balmoral's speciality dining is currently only available to book once on board, we are working hard to rectify this situation, please keep checking back for up to date information.
Please note: prices shown are correct for those guests pre booking their speciality dining options, once on board our speciality dining will be charged to your on board account at £15pp. Find out more
Room Service
All rooms and Suites have tea and coffee making facilities as standard, so you can enjoy a pick-me-up first thing, and a relaxing drink at the end of the day. For those times when you’d like something more while you’re in your home-from-home at sea you can also order room service up until 11pm every day.
Continental breakfast can be ordered in advance for delivery at your preferred time, while snacks are available from 10am onwards. Should you prefer not to head to the restaurants, short lunch and dinner menus are also available. Whatever the time of day, you’ll never be hungry on a Fred. Olsen cruise.
Afternoon Tea
Each day complimentary afternoon tea is served, with sandwiches, scones and cakes, along with fresh tea and coffee, always a popular choice.
During sea days guests can book a very select experience: Traditional Premium Afternoon Tea*. Enjoy beautiful views from the stylish The Observatory Lounge, with musical accompaniment from our on board pianist and the careful attention of white-gloved waiters.
Your choice from a selection of premium teas by Taylors of Harrogate is served in porcelain teapots, along with elegant finger sandwiches, pastries and warm scones with jam and clotted cream. Such civilised indulgence – and all for only £11.99 per person*.
*Chargeable to your on board account. Please note our Traditional Afternoon Tea service takes place on sea days only at 3pm and must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.
