Borealis, and sister ship Bolette, entered service with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines in the summer of 2021, replacing Boudicca and Black Watch after years of faithful service. They are larger ships, but not too much, and only have slightly more passengers than Balmoral.

We were on board from 28th August to 2nd September 2021, on a 5 nights cruise from Liverpool, and I give brief details of the itinerary below. At the bottom of the page, I have copied the notes from my daily blogs from while we were away, which will give you a better feel for the time we spent on board.

• Day 1 – departure from Liverpool
• Day 2 – cruising past Duart Castle, through the Sound of Mull, past the Dutchman’s Cap, and by Fingal’s Cave
• Day 3 – Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands
• Day 4 – Lerwick in the Shetland Islands
• Day 5 – at sea
• Day 6 – arrive back in Liverpool

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, read my summary, and then there are some facts and figures about the ship.

Summary

Having cruised with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines on several occasions in the past, on Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch, we wondered how the two new ships would fit into the Fred. Olsen family, although I had already received positive feedback on Bolette from a regular customer. We needn’t have worried, as we felt just the same as we always have done with Fred. Olsen, as soon as we walked onboard. The friendly crew members were there to greet us as we boarded, ready to help everyone find their cabins if needed. As we moved around the ship, the themed Fred. Olsen carpets were immediately recognisable, as were many of the venue names.

Although Borealis and Bolette are larger than Balmoral, they only carry a small number of additional passengers. This is because the additional space is mainly used for larger cabins, and additional venues. For instance, there is now a two-tiered Neptune Lounge for watching shows, and a two-tiered restaurant, speciality dining restaurants, and a swimming pool which can be covered in inclement weather. There is even a flower shop now, which is great if you are celebrating a special occasion on board and would like to buy some fresh flowers. One great addition is the Auditorium, where there are cookery demonstrations and other events.

The restaurant menus appeared to have slightly less choices than before, however there are more items which are available every lunch or every dinner. So for instance at night, steak with peppercorn sauce, chicken breast and salmon steak are among the dishes always available. I must say that the steak and peppercorn sauce was very nice.

You will find a good selection of shops and boutiques, and everything on board is priced in sterling. Drinks in the bars are still sensibly priced, and I heard several people commenting that they are no more expensive than pub prices. We enjoyed the choice of activities during the day, and entertainment in the evening, so everyone should find something to keep them occupied.

I would say that Borealis has all the things that passengers know and love from Fred. Olsen cruise, plus much more. We will be cruising with them again in the future.

Ship Facts & Figures

Launched in 1997 as the MS Rotterdam for Holland America Line, Borealis is 61,849 gross tonnes, and entered service for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines in 2021. She will carry just 1,360 passengers at standard capacity, with a crew of around 660, meaning plenty of space around the ship.

Accommodation

There are 17 grades of accommodation, from single inside cabin up to the Olsen Suite. The cabins are a good size with, for instance, inside cabins being 182 sq ft, picture window cabins being 214 sq ft, and suites range from 244 – 1181 sq ft. Suite grades PS and BJ, and cabin grades B and F, have some adapted cabins available. There are more than 50 single cabins and single suites, ranging from an inside cabin up to a balcony suite

All cabins have a hairdryer, a safe, and tea & coffee making facilities, and individual air-condition controls. They also have an ensuite shower, and some have a bathtub. There was a UK 3-pin socket, as well as US sockets, and there were also two USB sockets.

We found that our D grade outside cabin had plenty of drawers and wardrobe space. The wardrobes also had handy drop-down shelves, meaning you could decide how much space you wanted for full-length hanging, half-length hanging, and shelves.

You will find a large bottle of water in your cabin, which will cost £2.50 if you wish to purchase it. However, the tap water is fine to drink, and you can ask your cabin steward for a carafe to be put in your cabin.

In the bathroom there was a dispenser of Cole & Lewis lemon and burgamot handwash at the sink, and a dispenser of Cole & Lewis lemon and burgamot body wash in the shower.

Things to do On Board

• Entertainment – a team of resident dancers and singers put on regular shows. There are often visiting acts as well, such as singers and comedians, to provide cabaret some evenings. Depending on which venue you are in, you can find the Borealis String Trio, Circle of Fifths, Derek Conlon, Ronald Apora, Funky Blue or Howard Johnson
• Dancing – the band will play music suitable for dancing, so you can enjoy a dance every day if you wish. As well as having dance instructors onboard
• Bars & lounges – there are several venues to choose from, including the Neptune Lounge, the Morning Light Pub & Lounge, Piano Bar, Crow’s Nest, Lido Bar, and the Bookmark Café and Lounge
• Other Facilities – fitness centre, Atlantis Spa, gaming tables, swimming pool, Jacuzzis, deck games, library, laundry room and various shops

Dining Options

• Breakfast – you can choose between The View buffet restaurant (staff will serve the food to you), waiter service in the Borealis Restaurant, or room service.
• Lunch – again you have the choice of open sitting in The View buffet restaurant, waiter service in the main restaurant, or perhaps a burger near the pool
• Afternoon Tea – this is served complimentary each day in The View buffet restaurant, although you can opt for a premium traditional afternoon tea, for a supplement (currently £9.95pp) which is generally served in the Crow’s Nest on most sea days
• Dinner – there are two sittings in the evening (usually 18.15 and 20.30) in the Borealis Restaurant You will be allocated a table which you will dine at each evening, giving you the opportunity to get to know your table companions over the course of the cruise. In time you will be able to opt for flexible dining in the Aurora Restaurant, but currently it is set dining as in the Borealis Restaurant
• Speciality Dining – for a supplement (currently £5pp) you can book a place in Colours & Tastes, which serves an Asian Fusion menu, or Vasco (currently complimentary), which offers a modern take on Indian and Goan food
• The View buffet restaurant is available for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and bedtime snacks
• Bookmark Café & Lounge – if you want to relax and treat yourself to a speciality coffee or tea, and perhaps some indulgent chocolates, this is the place to go

Drinks Prices

You will find that the price of drinks onboard compares favourably with what you would pay in many pubs in the UK. While I was 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), gin (£3.35 for Gordon’s) vodka (£3.50 for Absolut), and £4.60 for glass of house red, white or rose house wine. There are no service charges added to these prices either.

A drinks package can be booked 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.

Dress Code

Casual dress is appropriate during the day, and for breakfast and lunch, however swimwear is not permitted in the restaurants. It is smart casual for most evenings, but on formal nights it is normal to dress up a bit 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. You could dine in the buffet restaurant on these evenings if you really don’t want to dress up formally.

Miscellaneous

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

Here are the daily blogs I added to Facebook during our voyage.

Day 1 of our ‘Scenic Scotland in five nights’ cruise on Borealis from Liverpool

It was a sunny day in Liverpool when we arrived for our 5 nights cruise on Fred. Olsen’s new ship Borealis. We had wondered what check-in would be like, due to the Covid checks, but needn’t have worried in the slightest, as everything ran like clockwork.

We arrived at the car park, which we had booked for the duration of the cruise. We were checked off the list, had our cases taken for transfer to the ship, told where to park, and then where to head for check-in. We parked and walked through to the check-in area. Within minutes we had our passport checks done, and in a short queue for the Covid checks. We were then shown to socially distanced seating areas, while the tests were checked. Before we knew it, we were shown out to a coach and driven to the ship. We queued for 5 minutes, then had our photos taken and were given our key cards and walked to the quayside. Bags went through the scanner and a few minutes later we were on the ship. to be honest, we found the whole process less stressful than many cruise embarkations in the past.

We then went to our cabin, where we watched the short safety drill video on the television, and then to our lifeboat station and checked in with the crew member there. Again, this was far easier and less stressful than safety drills in the past, with corridors full of people carrying their lifejackets.

Having had a wander around, to get our bearings, we got changed as we were on first sitting dinner. We went on deck for the sailaway from Liverpool, and then enjoyed a lovely dinner. We went to the Neptune Lounge, and this evening’s entertainment was a comedian.

Looking forward to tomorrow, for the scenic cruising around some of the Scottish Isles. I will add a new update each day.

Day 2 of our ‘Scenic Scotland in five nights’ cruise on Borealis from Liverpool

After a leisurely breakfast in the Borealis restaurant, we went on deck to look at the Scottish scenery. While the weather wasn’t as good as in Liverpool, and a bit overcast and misty, it was still very nice. We cruised slowly past Duart Castle, which dates to the 13th century, and a local historian was giving information through the deck speakers. We then cruised through the Sound of Mull, with some amazing scenery on both sides of the ship.

The morning was then a mixture of wandering around the ship, taking photos, watching the scenery, and relaxing with a newspaper. Ellena went to one of the complimentary exercise classes.

Having cruised on each of Fred. Olsen’s other ships I, and many of my customers, wondered if the new ships, Borealis and Bolette, would feel part of the family. There was no need to worry, as it is apparent from the moment you step on board that you are on a Fred. Olsen ship. Whether it is the amazing and friendly crew, the familiar names such as the Morning Light Pub, or even the familiar carpet designs, we just felt at home. I had already heard from my most loyal Fred. Olsen customers, who were on Bolette recently, and I know that they felt just the same.

After an enjoyable lunch in the Borealis Restaurant, we spent some more time relaxing and reading, and more blog writing at the laptop for me. Later in the afternoon we even played prize bingo, but our luck wasn’t in.

We made a bit of an effort when dressing up for dinner, as it was an optional formal night. The Captain attended both dinner sittings, and introduced all his senior crew, before proposing a toast, with the complimentary glass of bubbly we had been served on our table. The filet mignon I chose for my main course was excellent.

The entertainment in the Neptune Lounge was a singer from Scotland, called Gordon Cree, and he was excellent. After that we went to the Crow’s Nest and listened to the ship’s singers performing songs from the musicals, before heading back to our cabin.

Day 3 of our ‘Scenic Scotland in five nights’ cruise on Borealis from Liverpool.

We arrived in an overcast Kirkwall around 8am today. As we have been before on a couple of occasions, we decided not to book any excursions. We are staying on board for the day, as current rules don’t allow independent disembarkation, although it is allowed from 1st September. The day was therefore filled with relaxing, reading, eating, and writing my blog, although Ellena went to her first ever Pilates lesson, priced at just £6.

Rather than the main restaurant for dinner, we had booked one of the speciality dining restaurants. We ate at ‘Colours & Taste’, the Asian Fusion restaurant, which has a very modest cover charge of just £5 each. The food was very good, and I have attached the menu, which is one of two they offer on different days.

The evening show in the theatre was ‘Hits from the Flix’, performed by the Borealis Theatre Company. It was a very energetic show, and of a very high standard. Even better, as far as we were concerned, was that it ended with a few songs from Les Misérables.

Day 4 of our ‘Scenic Scotland in five nights’ cruise on Borealis from Liverpool

Today we were at anchor just off Lerwick, with passengers on excursions going ashore by tender. We chose to stay onboard again and relax. At 10am we went to watch a cookery demonstration in the Auditorium and learned how to make ‘Korean Bulgogi Beef Bao Buns’, and even got one each to try at the end. This venue is a great addition for Fred. Olsen, and is proving very popular.

Although there was a variety of other activities going on around the ship, we spent most of the day either relaxing or walking around the decks. I also spent some time on the laptop of course, writing my blog, sorting out photos, and dealing with some work. We spoke to other passengers, who had been on the various excursions, and had enjoyed their time ashore.

During dinner Borealis left her anchorage and started to make her way back to Liverpool. After dinner we went to the Neptune Lounge to see the variety show, which consisted of the comedian from Saturday evening, Gordon Cree, the excellent singer and musician from Sunday evening, as well as some of the entertainment team singing. We then enjoyed a relaxing drink in the Piano Bar, listening to Derek Conlon, who plays piano and sings. He takes requests and puts his own spin on things.

Day 5 of our ‘Scenic Scotland in five nights’ cruise on Borealis from Liverpool

After a good sleep, we headed off to breakfast at around 8.30, before sitting on the Lido deck for the morning. We were travelling slowly, on a calm sea, with the sun beating down, just the way you want to spend a sea day. We even watched the ice carving demonstration by the poolside.

For a change, instead of going to one of the restaurants for lunch, we ate at The Poolside, where they offer a small selection of casual bites. The burger had been recommended to me, so we shared a burger and a fish and chips and have to say that both were of a very good quality. This was followed by a small portion of meringue sandwich of mango and Chantilly cream.

I spent the afternoon reading and catching up on the laptop, as we had intermittent 4G connection as we got close to land. All too soon, it was time for our last dinner onboard, and to say farewell to our nice dining companions. Then we went to watch the show in the theatre, which was ‘Legends of Las Vegas’, which was another energetic and enjoyable show. There was then just time for a wander around the ship, a final drink in the Piano Bar, before heading to our cabin to pack.

Day 6 of our ‘Scenic Scotland in five nights’ cruise on Borealis from Liverpool

We were up bright and early, and had breakfast in The View, before self disembarking. We caught the first shuttle bus to where we had parked our car and were then on the road before 8am. We had an enjoyable time on Borealis, which most definitely has the Fred. Olsen feel, and we will be cruising with them again in the future.