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If you go to the Fred Olsen site and follow link to Dress Codes, there is a paragraph for Day Wear on Board.

In fact in the Same section there is information on all dress code on and off the ship.

Now booking tours. All depends what and where you are going. Also if you are comfortable doing your own thing and relying on local buses or trains etc.

We tend to do our own thing when it's easy to walk round say the port of call or get to a beach. Or if there are taxi tours on the dock.

But we often pre book tours if the place of interest is along way away or not easy to access ourselves.

Also I would never trust buses or trains to ensure I get back to the ship.

That's just me. Lots of people do but I could not relax. Just me.

If it's your first cruise then perhaps tours are better. It all depends on how you feel.

In the Carribean we never go on tours. In Norway 50/50, In the Med depends, for instance would not trust going into Rome by ourselves.

Greenland and Iceland we will be doing all tours.

Hope this helps.

I'm from the UK too and I don't think you should generalise that nobody orders room service. We certainly do! We use it less on British ships which have a kettle in the cabin. On US ships we order our early morning tea from room service. We also use it sometimes when returning from excursions too tired to go up to the buffet. Sometimes for afternoon tea.

 

So just because you don't use it personally, don't assume that nobody else is either! Probably most people are.

So sorry if I offended you. Have fun with room service.

Hi Tizzy,

we keep saying let's try a land based holiday again, then we say "well after dinner what did we do, ah yes drinks and a stroll. "

So no shows, no quiz, no jive, rumba or cha cha, no comedienne after the show, no late night buffet, no Crows Nest late at night wondering if the Disco is still lively, no late night strolling along the Promenade Deck listening to the ocean.........:-) So it's always a cruise......

Our thoughts are ....no such thing as a bad cruise, just some better than others.

Take it easy and happy cruising.

Now there could be the problem.

We have never had an outside or balcony cabin so do not have a clue what we are missing.

Now if we had started with a balcony I bet wild horses wouldn't get us back into an inside cabin.

We do not mind as we have never experienced ..............

never having a view,

not having a clue if it's light or dark outside,

never been able to sit on the balcony having room service breakfast,

sipping a drink as we sail in and out of ports,

Pitch black cabin when lights go out.

But like I say we go for inside cabin so we can cruise more often.

Happy cruising :-)

Your welcome......

Whatever you choose have a good un.......

Always inside cabins. The difference between that a balcony pays for the drinks.

So we drink for free ....:-)

Always try for a cabin midships both ways, if you see what I mean. Length and height.

Always want cabins above and below us.

Don't get a cabin near a big white space on the deck plans.

Don't get cabins below or above kitchens or the drummer in the band.

Don't get a cabin near a Stewards storage. We had one once and every morning at 7 he pushed his squeaking trolley up and down getting his goods for the day.

We don't book a cabin near the laundrette.

We usually book well in advance so we can pick and choose, ok we pay for the privalage.

When we book a late deal we just keep our fingers crossed and accept we will end up with the best of the rest.

We only shower, change and sleep in cabin but we want to do it in comfort.

Now the one thing about Fred is that it's more of a lively Country House Atmosphere.

In all honesty you will not see too many children or teens.

On the Norway cruise there were about 5 or 6 families with under 5's.

No, I can not recall any teens at all. My wife has just told me she remembered two.

I think in School Holidays there may be some family groups.

I would say though that your teens sound balanced young adults and as such will be able to fit in with most on the cruise.

Our favourite ships are Balmoral and Breamar. The Boudica is our least favourite as the dining room does not seem as grand. Although saying that we are booked on the Boudica in July as we want to visit Greenland.

There was only about ten of us in the disco but we had a great time in it.

Sounds like the Balmoral is just what your after.

Yes they have other music in some of the bars and the other lounges.

Often they have a singer from the Show group later in the night.

From early evening we are either eating, at the main show, dancing somewhere or listening to music until bedtime.

On a Norway cruise in August last year we never got to bed before 1 am.

We had a great set of table companions and we always ended up in the late night "disco".

The AI package is great by the way.

So our flat caps, clogs and whippet will be frowned on for the Black Pudding Night.......:-)

Hi .......the Avon and Spey we find a little "quiet". We much prefer the bustle of the MDR the Ballindalloch.

Other people will prefer the Avon and Spey, they are smaller and seem a little more intimate. If I recall not many tables for 8 or 6 in them.

Always enough wardrobe space for us, and my wife has a different dress for every night and I have formal attire, a linen suit, two jackets etc etc.

We always have inside cabins.

The Balmoral is at a push our favourite ship.

If you enjoy Ballroom Dancing you will be ok on the Balmoral as on all Fred's ships

Try to get to the Dolphin Racing on sea days, it's a Fred Olsen tradition. Although on our last two 7 day cruises they didn't do it.

You don't say where or when you are going.

We have danced lots of times on deck at night in the warm climates.

Never had a problem with beds and the pools are always quiet.

Depending on who you have cruised with before you may find the age group higher than you are used to.

We have three cruises booked for 2014 and 2015 so we love Fred.

We were on A402.

Just remember they have a tropical and a 60/70's night, which I class as casual.

As far as I can recall we had 4 formal, 4 jacket and rest casual.

I may be wrong as i often wear jacket on a casual night so don't actually count them up.

I used the P and O site before to check though.

It is annoying if they do alter them.

So am I.....:-)

Every reply just gets better and better...... :-)

Hi cbr....... You are just describing what sounds perfection....please stop.....it's room service at the first opportunity in July to Greenland.....

On reflection my comment was a little harsh.

We have only cruised once with HAL so to judge HAL on one cruise is not fair.

From all your replies, it's obvious we are missing out.

Next cruise let's give it a go......:-)

In Bronte Country, near Haworth.

In fact if you watch the. "Old" Railway Children film, with Jenny Agutter, our house is just out of shot at Oakworth Station........

Just remembered we did have room service once on Fred Olsen cruise. It was a birthday celebration with champagne, lobster, eggs Benedict etc. not the same tho in an inside cabin....:-) still fantastic tho.

We also cruise with friends so I suppose if we were by ourselves it may be an option for room service......

Hi everybody, we are from the UK and cruise usually with UK based lines P and O , Fred Olsen and Thomson.

We cruised with HAL On a back to back Jan 2013.

I read all the forums and and find it very interesting that on the so called UK lines nobody ever considers room service yet on the USA lines it always seems important.

We have cruised for the last six years and I have never met anybody who thought about room service for meals.

To us it seems totally unbelievable to go on a cruise and eat meals in your cabin.

Not decrying it just wondering maybe it is different mind set.

Suppose it could be that our ships tend not to have as many balconies.

Anyway...it was just a thought as I was reading the forums.

Happy cruising

Expect to be in bed by 10 every night.

Simples ........ :)

We flew out on Friday, and first night want to the MDR but were not seated at our allocated table. They just filled tables up as you came in.

Thanks Susan. Just this afternoon hit the sales for outdoor trousers and jackets.

We have them already but apparently we need some more for the cruise...:-)

Looking forward to the cruise, the photos on the web look fantastic

Heaven forbid...... :-)

Hope so Susan.......

A couple of questions...

Did you have any problems with mosquitoes. I have just been looking at info and they mention them.

Is it layers for clothes. The temperatures on the tourist info look fairly cold, but many photos show people in shorts etc.......

Thanks.....

Unusual for a dress code post not to start a heated debate on the subject...:-)

Some really sensible posts and with good advice.

We have just come off the Azura and on Formal nights I hardly saw anybody not adhering to the code.

We did dine in the MDR and also stayed in the bars and lounges that required formal dress, but walking around the ship it was unusual to see anybody casual.

When we cruise have cruised with Thomson I always wear my Tux on the formal night and do not feel out of place.

Sorry if it's true that Azure next year are going to only two codes, casual and formal.

Looks like only Fred Olsen are sticking with three codes.

Happy cruising.