Fleet

Whilst Fred Olsen doesn't consciously market itself as a small ship operator in the way that some of the bespoke luxury lines do, its fleet is comprised of ships that are generally regarded as small by modern standards, and for many guests the more cosy atmosphere and lack of big scale entertainment and facilities is all part of the charm. It also has one of the oldest fleets of any major operator and although all four of its ships have been refurbished to a good standard you inevitably won't find the latest technological advances or same feeling of space that you would on a lot of newer ships.

Guests

Fred Olsen is a line that prides itself on doing things the right way and it retains an old school charm harking back to an earlier era. Unquestionably its ships do not have the high class feel of the newer luxury vessels operated by many of its competitors, and you would struggle to place it in the same category as some of its more upmarket rivals, but the line has a loyal following notwithstanding that.

Whilst Fred Olsen does theoretically cater for guests of all ages, there is no doubt that its resolutely traditional approach to cruising does primarily attract an older clientele. Young families are fairly few and far between and most guests choose the line because of a desire to avoid more modern forms of entertainment and sports facilities.

Style

As you might expect from a line that is home to some of the oldest cruise ships of any major operator, Fred Olsen does not market itself on the basis of being innovative. This is a line for people that enjoy reminiscing about the good old days and are not bothered by the absence of the more modern touches which are now the norm in the cruise industry.

In keeping with its traditional image, Fred Olsen has largely shunned the general move towards a more casual style of cruising. There are of course options to cater for all tastes, but formality of dress and behaviour is still the norm around most of the dining and entertainment venues in the evenings.