Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Mini Cruises 2020 / 2021

Looking for a mini cruise holiday on a cruise ship? Experience the characterful Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ships

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' Balmoral
This deal has expired but there are still great prices available.

Experience small ship cruising without committing to a week or two at sea with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

The trusted British-style cruise operator has a range of short taster mini cruise breaks planned for 2020/2021, conveniently sailing from ports dotted along the British coastline.

Why choose a Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines mini cruise break?

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines can be traced back to 1848 when three Olsen brothers – Fredrik Christian, Petter and Andreas – bought their first ships and founded an international shipping company in Hvitsten, a small town on Oslofjord in Norway.

The Fred. Olsen group, now with headquarters in Oslo and Tenerife, operates companies within the cruise and passenger shipping trade, and also has interests in the luxury hotel sector, estate management, property development, and electronics companies.

The Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines cruise ship arm is based in Ipswich, Suffolk, and operates a fleet of four small sized cruise ships.

Each ship boasts heritage, elegance and character. Importantly they all offer the familiar creature comforts of home. Purchases are made in Great British Pounds, tea and coffee making facilities can be found inside each cabin and classic British dishes can be found on the restaurant menus.

Ships cater for families but lack the facilities found on larger cruise ships. During peak holiday times (school summer holidays, etc) then family orientated, parent supervised children's activities are offered on each ship aimed at kids aged between five and 11 years old. These include arts and crafts, disco's, treasure hunts and similar events. Family pool times will also be advertised on-board.

Entertainment during the day and evening is offered on-board and this is in keeping with the traditional feel of the cruise line. Unlike the full-on entertainment found on large cruise ships the entertainment on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is more genteel.

In terms of leisure activities you can find a spa on-board each ship as well as a fitness room should you want to burn off those extra calories from the delicious food included in the price.

A cruise ship holiday is a step up from a mini cruise aboard a ferry and while the price reflects this, fares on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines often represent exceptionally good value for money. If you are considering booking a mini cruise and want the facilities, charm and character of a boutique hotel then look no further than Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

Note: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines doesn't normally offer 2 for 1 mini cruise deals but they do offer great value mini cruise fares throughout the year instead. Find details of upcoming sailings below.

The good and not so good

The good

  • Great way to try a cruise ship holiday without committing to a week or more.
  • Sail from a choice of British ports, normally no flights are required meaning there's no bag limits.
  • Your sailing is full board meaning your main meals and snacks are included.

The not so good

  • There won't be enough time on a mini cruise to fully explore and experience the ship, leaving you wanting more.
  • Drinks cost extra, aside from the in-room tea and coffee. An all-inclusive drinks packages is available° which may be better value depending on how much you intend to drink.

The fleet

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has a fleet of four small sized cruise ships - Balmoral, Boudicca, Black Watch and Braemar.

These ships are compact but perfectly formed. They offer a friendly, cosy atmosphere on-board with plenty of space to relax and enjoy yourself. The largest ship in the fleet, Balmoral, can accommodate just 1,300 passengers across 710 cabins so you can be assured that you won't find the ship busy or crowded.

Mini Cruise itineraries for 2020/2021

You can find the very latest list of mini cruise itineraries here°, together with current pricing and live availability.

If you want to dip your toes into the world of cruise ship holidays then a one- or two-night cruise is ideal. If you've been on a cruise ship holiday before, perhaps not with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, then a four- or five-night sailing would give you more time to explore the ship.

Tip: Where cruises are one-way around Britain (i.e. start and end at different ports), Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines usually offers a one-way coach transfer to get you back to your starting point. Remember to include this when you book online.

 

DateNightsShipItineraryPrices
14 February 20205Black WatchSouthampton to Amsterdam (overnight) to Antwerp (overnight) to SouthamptonPrices°
19 March 20203BoudiccaDover to Amsterdam to Rotterdam to DoverPrices°
24 March 20202Black WatchSouthampton to LiverpoolPrices°
9 April 20205BraemarSouthampton to Rotterdam to Amsterdam to Antwerp (overnight) to SouthamptonPrices°
1 May 20205BalmoralNewcastle to Eidfjord to Bergen to NewcastlePrices°
22 May 20201BalmoralNewcastle to RosythPrices°
23 May 20205Black WatchLiverpool to Kirkwall to Tobermory to Greenock to LiverpoolPrices°
23 May 20201BalmoralRosyth to Stavanger to Lerwick to RosythPrices°
9 July 20205BalmoralRosyth to Bergen to Eidfjord to RosythPrices°
10 July 20205BoudiccaDover to Antwerp (overnight) to Amsterdam to Rotterdam to DoverPrices°
23 July 20201BalmoralRosyth to NewcastlePrices°
27 August 20205Black WatchLiverpool to Kirkwall to Tobermory to Greenock to LiverpoolPrices°
27 August 20205BalmoralNewcastle to Bergen to Eidfjord to NewcastlePrices°
27 August 20205BoudiccaDover to Rouen (overnight) to St Malo to Honfleur to DoverPrices°
27 August 20205BraemarSouthampton to St. Mary's to Falmouth (overnight) to Plymouth to SouthamptonPrices°
24 September 20205BalmoralSouthampton to Rouen (overnight) to Honfleur (overnight) to SouthamptonPrices°
24 October 20205BoudiccaSouthampton to Rouen (overnight) to Honfleur (overnight) to SouthamptonPrices°
26 October 20205BraemarSouthampton to Rotterdam to Amsterdam to Antwerp (overnight) to SouthamptonPrices°
13 November 20205BalmoralSouthampton to Rotterdam to Amsterdam to Antwerp (overnight) to SouthamptonPrices°
17 December 20205BalmoralSouthampton to Rouen (overnight) to Honfleur (overnight) to SouthamptonPrices°
6 January 20212Black WatchLiverpool to SouthamptonPrices°
27 April 20212Black WatchSouthampton to LiverpoolPrices°
29 April 20215Black WatchLiverpool to Belfast (overnight) to Dun Laoghaire to LiverpoolPrices°
1 May 20215BoudiccaDover to Rotterdam to Amsterdam to Antwerp (overnight) to DoverPrices°
1 May 20215BalmoralNewcastle to Bergen to Eidfjord to NewcastlePrices°
27 May 20211BalmoralNewcastle to RosythPrices°
28 May 20215BalmoralRosyth to Eidfjord to Bergen to RosythPrices°
28 May 20215BraemarSouthampton to Rotterdam to Amsterdam to Antwerp (overnight) to SouthamptonPrices°
29 May 20215BoudiccaDover to Honfleur to Rouen to St Malo to DoverPrices°
29 May 20215Black WatchLiverpool to Dun Laoghaire to Falmouth to St Malo to LiverpoolPrices°
This deal has expired but there are still great prices available. If you think the deal is back on again please let me know and I'll let everyone else know the good news.

The dull-but-necessary small print

All deals are subject to availability and can be withdrawn by the operator without prior notice. The lead-in prices (otherwise known as the 'from' prices) are, unless otherwise stated above, based on two adults sharing the cheapest available cabin on the cheapest available date. Typically the best prices are available at the start of any promotion period so the earlier you book the better choice of sailing dates and cabin availability you should have. Mid-week sail dates are likely to be cheaper than weekend sail dates.

(Photo credit to David Fiske)

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