nb125

I have a feeling that when cruising finally resumes no one will be embarking early due to extra cleaning and longer check in to allow for termperature taking and whatever else they may be planning.

Oh sorry I have no knowledge at all of cruising from Rosyth, I suppose it could be different there.  We mainly sail from Newcastle and Liverpool but I know from others that this new system applies at Dover and Southampton as well.  It means that if you have an early check in you are allowed to board before your cabin is ready and go straight to lunch.  This seems to bring Fred in line with most other cruise lines who do it this way.

1 hour ago, Eglesbrech said:

I cant give you any specifics for the Bolette but Fred Olsen has (or at least had on the smaller ships) a really nice friendly atmosphere onboard. The smaller ships mean you tend to meet the same people more often so you get to know those travelling with you and the staff get to know your personal preferences. The staff are generally very friendly and helpful.

The entertainment is low key but enjoyable. Fred still tend to have live music around the ship at different times to enjoy while having a drink  and a conversation. There are shows at night in a main theatre, the usual music and dance, comedians etc. They also have a British night when some wear red white and blue. They will tell you about any themes in advance.

 

Guests tend to be a bit older than on other lines and the cruise offering is geared towards quieter tastes so no belly flop competitions in the pool😀.
 

There are formal nights and the dress code is pretty well adhered to but alternatives to main dining if that is not your thing.

 

Food onboard is very good, nothing too fancy but some interesting choices and decent vegetable. The lunchtime buffet's are higher quality than some other companies but your view on that will depend on who you have sailed with before. They do for example an Indian day and a seafood day.

 

Drinks prices are reasonable and there are all inclusive packages which are cheaper if purchased before sailing (and limited to a set number of people per voyage). 
 

They do some extra pay items like every other ship eg elegant afternoon tea.

 

As the ships are a bit smaller (though this new one is bigger than the others) you get on and off much quicker. Please note you don,t get lunch on the first day and embarkation can be mid to late afternoon.

 

Anything specific you want to know about Fred, someone will be able to help you I’m sure.

 

You have given a good overview of Fred but I would just like to correct the last part.  For the last few years embarkation usually starts between 11.00 am and 12.00 and lunch is available on boarding either in one of the restaurants or the buffet. 

Buffet lunch always available on embarkation.

I don't think we really want to have this discussion again.

It's not a question of having to look through terms and conditions, it's there on the cabin description when you are going through the booking process.  I just don't understand why people would not check on the things that are important to them when travelling with a cruise line they haven't used before.

Also I didn't say they had offered to move them to a terrace balcony, just that there would be nothing else they could do.

What, exactly did you think Customer Relations could do other than move you to a terrace cabin which you say you don't want.?

Shampoo and shower gel dispensers in the shower and soap dispenser on the sink.

From what I have seen and heard from others Fred is very accommodating for passengers with food intolerances.  There is a meetings with the Head Chef on the first day and you will be given your own menu to choose from the evening before for the next day.

Yes they were charging on Balmoral in August.

The dedicated ice cream bar on Balmoral did not do much business on our last cruise, the same with the smoothie station.  I think a lot of peeople are reluctant to pay for extras when they have already paid such a lot for the cruise.

It sounds dreadful and I'm not surprised it has put you off. I hope you followed up with a complaint when you returned. I know they rarely take much notice of complaints but the more people who let them know they were not happy the better.

We have experienced repairs, painting and varnishing on all the Fred cruise we have taken but nothing as excessive as your experience. May I ask if this was a French River cruise as I have read a post on one of the FB pages complaining about the amount of work being done on this cruise.

We have sailed with Fred from Southampton, Dover, Newcastle and Liverpool. We always arrive just before or at the first check in time and there have always been a lot of people before us.

This does not mean, however, that they embark any earlier as I there is usually a strict order to embarkation. This is usually by deck starting at the top but on our last cruise they called diamond elite first, then by deck order.

Yes she is very lucky to have survived due partly to the warmth of the water and the fact that she has had training having been cabin crew.

I don't suppose we will ever know the full story but she cannot possible have just been sitting at the stern of the ship as she said.

From the website

Anchor Fares

Anchor Fares have been designed to offer our guests promotional fares with a simplified pricing structure.

As Anchor Fares offer guests specially reduced prices, the following terms and conditions are applicable:

• Full payment is required at the time of booking
  
• 100% cancellation charges apply
  
• no refunds are permitted
  
• Non-transferrable to any other cruise once booked
  
• No room number and / or room grade is provided at the time of booking (room number will be advised on the cruise ticket)
  
• Oceans Cruise Club discounts are not combinable with Anchor Fares. Oceans points will be earned however.
  
• Dining sitting will be allocated at our discretion and will be advised within the cruise ticket. Anchor Fare guests can choose to book a specific dining sitting at the time of booking for a supplement of £2.00 per person per night.
  
• Table sizes cannot be requested when booking on an anchor fare.
  

Room upgrades are subject to availability and may be complimentary or payable. Free shuttle bus is to the local centre and is not offered where the local centre is within walking distance.

You will be given the boarding times on your booking details. It is usually between 1.30 pm and 4.30 pm unless the ship has just relocated when it can be considerably later.

The availability of tables for two varies between ships and Dining Rooms. We have normally been given one until our last cruise when we were put on a table for six. You mention paying £2 pppd so I am assuming you are booking anchor fare. I have no experience of this but would imagine that they will not meet your request in order to persuade you to pay the supplement.

If you are in the Ballindallach on Balmoral most of the tables for two are in reality a table for six as there is only a few inches between the table for two and the table for four.

We returned a week ago from a cruise on Balmoral and found the bar service to be slowest we have ever known on this ship. I did mention this in the survey I received by e-mail.

If the ports you are visiting have RIB tours available chances are Fred will be doing them but it is a lot cheaper to book them direct yourself.

People don't bother to wash their hands after using the public toilets. We always take our own antiviral spray which is more effective than the antibacterial spray used on board. We also wipe all our cabin worksurfaces down with Dettol wipes.

 

All I want to know is whether the Boudicca is still plagued with Norovirus. :):):):)

I don't think the problem is limited to Boudicca, it happens on all the ships. We have been on six cruises with Fred and only two of them had no incidence of norovirus at all. None of the other four were on Boudicca.

Forgot to say this was in May and breakfast was served until 8.30 am. We will be on Balmoral in two weeks and will report back on disembarkation and breakfast times.

Our record is this May disembarked Black Watch in Liverpool and was in the car ready to drive home at 8.00 am.

This was also at the end of May but on the Black Watch. The Braemar seems to have different rules to the rest of the ships. It is the only ship we have been refused doubles.

The scrapping of signing for drinks was trialled on Balmoral and would be rolled out to the rest in time, apart from Braemar, of course, as they have different rules:)

This rule seems to have been scrapped now, no problems getting doubles on our recent cruise on Black Watch. They were always offered. Now they are getting rid of the signing for drinks on all inclusive it should hopefully speed service up.