Review Time
The food and wine were excellent and the decor attractive. Complimentary wine was an excellent idea. I wish every port had an introductory and free walking tour. The staff were helpful and the general atmosphere friendly.
We have spent over £50,000 with Fred. Olsen on two holidays, including a large family cruise booked via them with Princess Cruises.
At the time of booking, we clearly told the Fred. Olsen agent that our daughter-in-law was pregnant and that a baby would need to be added later. We were explicitly told this would be fine and would cost no more than £300.
When we later contacted them to add the baby (now 9 months old at time of travel), we were first told we’d need to upgrade the room for £1,700. When we instead offered to add the baby to our suite, the price suddenly became £999.
We explained what we were told at the time of booking and asked them to review the recorded call. They flatly refused, would not escalate the issue, and simply repeated “this is our policy.”
This isn’t about Princess Cruises’ pricing — it’s about Fred. Olsen misrepresenting costs at the point of sale and then refusing to investigate when challenged.
Very disappointing customer service, zero accountability, and not what you expect after spending this level of money. We are now having to consider formal escalation purely because Fred. Olsen won’t review their own call recordings.
Response to your reply: Your company is within the same group, interesting that you are only trying to distance yourselves
Our first Olsen cruise. Side trips good. Cabin and ship generally in need of a make-over. As we like to eat at c. 1830 we did not attend our designated sitting but ate in the Thistle where the food was only average. The male waiters in the main restaurants from the maitre d's down were mainly po- faced, unlike any other cruise we have been on.
This was our second cruise with Fred Olsen. We chose this particular cruise due to the fact the cruise embarked and disembarked from Liverpool which is close to where we live.
Fred provides very good value for money when compared with other cruise lines. This is not to say that Fred has standards which are lower than its more illustrious competitors. The onboard service throughout the ship was unfailingly polite, courteous, friendly and professional. Their food offering is comparable in quality to any other cruise line we have travelled whether in the main dining room or self service area or specialist restaurant.
Fred is not exempt from the same cost pressures affecting all cruise lines but somehow, Fred are able to build and maintain a camaraderie amongst staff and passengers which significantly enhances our enjoyment of their cruises.
I would very happily recommend Fred and will be booking my next trip with them very soon.
Another two big positives for Fred is the use of smaller ships which provide a more intimate atmosphere and the use made of embarkation points from around the UK. This ensured a strong regional representation of fellow cruisers from the North and North West of England which added to the very friendly onboard vibe.
Fred Olsen has truly enhanced the experience! The addition of complimentary wine and other beverages with meals, along with included gratuities, is a fantastic improvement. We thoroughly enjoyed our recent cruise on the vessel and these inclusions made everything more convenient and enjoyable. The food has also been exceptional, although my waistline is feeling the effects!
I find this organization to be quite disappointing, particularly in how it handles disabled individuals. I reached out to inquire whether I needed to book an adapted or partially adapted cabin for my folding mobility scooter. I was informed that, according to the 2026 policy, an adapted or partially adapted cabin was necessary, and to my surprise, the cost was nearly twice that of a standard inside cabin. While I understand there should be a supplement, it feels excessive to charge double, especially when it isn't actually required.
The vessel is stunning and exceptionally well-designed, featuring plenty of seating options along with bars and coffee areas. The food was outstanding, and the service staff were always eager to assist. The entire crew was friendly and consistently appeared cheerful, which was quite contagious. After a few days, this seemed to inspire the passengers to follow suit. The ship was spotless and maintained in excellent condition. While I'm not particularly fond of theater, the shows I attended were enjoyable—especially the comedian, whose performance had me laughing for 45 minutes straight. A special shoutout to the six dance hosts, led by two who were welcoming and well-organized, patiently teaching someone like me with two left feet, all while maintaining a cheerful demeanor. I appreciated all the lectures and would recommend adding an occasional afternoon session, as I recall only one afternoon talk that drew a good crowd. Sometimes, after a morning excursion, the afternoons can feel a bit dull. My cabin steward was exceptional, ensuring everything was neat and tidy.
This was our first experience on a smaller vessel, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The service and food were exceptional, with 95% of the staff being fantastic (only a couple seemed to think they were doing us a favor). Overall, it was a wonderfully relaxing cruise around the Baltic. The evening shows in the theater were high-quality and very professional, and the option to sit at our own table with ample legroom made it stand out compared to other ship theaters. I can't wait to save up for another trip!
I enjoyed the mystery cruise immensely. Although the itinerary was adjusted due to poor weather, it didn’t affect our experience since we were uncertain about our destination. We ultimately visited Belgium, France, and concluded in charming Belfast. The sea was calm, with minimal movement. The ship was stunningly decorated for the holiday season. As always, the food, service, and entertainment were exceptional. I only wish we could have extended our stay!
Just returned from a fantastic trip on a cruise ship. No matter how many different cruise lines we explore, we always find ourselves coming back to this one, where the crew and atmosphere make us feel at home. The welcome we received was impeccable, and the food, entertainment, and the ship itself met all our expectations. While it may lack the sparkle of some other lines, it truly offers a genuine holiday experience.
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